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Masonry is an orthotropic material that exhibits distinct directional properties due to the existence of mortar joints acting as planes of weakness. Therefore, a constitutive model employed in the numerical analysis should be capable of describing the anisotropic behavior. The main objective of this research is to implement a macroscopic failure criterion which describes the failure conditions in structural masonry. For this purpose, a comprehensive framework is outlined for modelling of the mechanical behaviour of structural masonry. In this framework, the anisotropic material properties are described using the microstructure tensor approach (Pietruszczak and Mroz, 2001). Then, a mathematical formulation defining the conditions at failure is discussed. The formulation contains several material parameters as well as material functions that describe the anisotropic behaviour. The identification procedure for these functions is outlined and is verified using the experimental tests conducted by Page (1983). Later, an extensive numerical study, including a set of numerical simulations of biaxial compression-tension and biaxial compression tests for different bedding plane orientations, is conducted to evaluate the performance of the proposed macroscopic failure criterion. In the last part of the thesis, some 3D finite element simulations of a shaking table test are performed involving a reduced scale model of four storey masonry building subjected to seismic excitation. A linear dynamic analysis, in which the proposed macroscopic failure criterion is incorporated through the UMAT subroutine, is carried out to assess the plastic admissibility of the stress field. The results including the distribution of the value of the failure function are then compared with the crack pattern in the experimental test. / Thesis / Master of Applied Science (MASc)

The feasibility of using ground improvement at existing highway bridges to mitigate the risk of earthquake-induced liquefaction damage has been studied. The factors and phenomena governing the performance of the improved ground were identified and clarified. Potential analytical methods for predicting the treated ground performance were investigated and tested. Key factors affecting improved ground performance are the type, size, and location of the treated ground. The improved ground behavior is influenced by excess pore water pressure migration, ground motion amplification, inertial force phasing, dynamic component of liquefied soil pressure, presence of a supported structure, and lateral spreading forces. Simplified, uncoupled analytical methods were unable to predict the final performance of an improved ground zone and supported structure, but provided useful insights. Pseudostatic stability and deformation analyses can not successfully predict the final performance because of their inability to adequately account for the transient response. Equivalent-linear dynamic response analyses indicate that significant shear strains, pore water pressures and accelerations will develop in the improved ground when the treated-untreated soil system approaches resonance during shaking. Transient seepage analyses indicate that evaluating pore pressure migration into a three-dimensional improved zone using two-dimensional analyses can underestimate the pore pressures in the zone. More comprehensive, partially-coupled analyses performed using the finite difference computer program FLAC provided better predictions of treated ground performance. These two-dimensional, dynamic analyses based on effective stresses incorporated pore pressure generation, non-linear stress-strain behavior, strength reduction, and groundwater flow. Permanent movements of structures and improved soil zones were predicted within a factor of approximately two. Predictions of ground accelerations and pore water pressures were less accurate. Dynamic analyses were performed with FLAC for an example bridge pier and stub abutment on an approach embankment supported on shallow foundations and underlain by thick, liquefiable soils with and without improved ground zones. Ground improvement that restricted movements of the pier and stub abutment to tolerable levels included improved zones of limited size extending completely through the underlying liquefiable soils and formed through densification by compaction grouting or cementation by chemical grouting or jet grouting. A buttress fill at the abutment was unsuccessful. / Ph. D.

We develop a methodology for systematic inversion of quantitative stratigraphic models. Quantitative stratigraphic modeling predicts stratigraphy using numerical simulations of geologic processes. Stratigraphic inversion methodically searches the parameter space in order to detect models which best represent the observed stratigraphy. Model parameters include sea-level change, tectonic subsidence, sediment input rate, and transport coefficients. We successfully performed a fully automated process based stratigraphic inversion of a geologically complex synthetic model. Several one and two parameter inversions were used to investigate the coupling of process parameters. Source location and transport coefficient below base level indicated significant coupling, while the rest of the parameters showed only minimal coupling. The influence of different observable data on the inversion was also tested. The inversion results using misfit based on sparse, but time dependent sample points proved to be better than the misfit based on the final stratigraphy only, even when sampled densely. We tested several inversion schemes on the topography dataset obtained from the eXperimental EarthScape facility simulation. The clustering of model parameters in most of the inversion experiments showed the likelihood of obtaining a reasonable number of compatible models. We also observed the need for several different diffusion-coefficient parameterizations to emulate different erosional and depositional processes. The excellent result of the piecewise inversion, which used different parameterizations for different time intervals, demonstrate the need for development or incorporation of time-variant parameterizations of the diffusion coefficients. We also present new methods for applying boundary condition on simulation of diffusion processes using the finite-difference method. It is based on the straightforward idea that solutions at the boundaries are smooth. The new scheme achieves high accuracy when the initial conditions are non vanishing at the boundaries, a case which is poorly handled by previous methods. Along with the ease in implementation, the new method does not require any additional computation or memory. / Ph. D.

River-floodplain connectivity is the degree of water-driven transport of matter, energy, and organisms between rivers and their floodplains. Recent advancement of high-resolution lidar data and numerical modeling is helpful to explore river-floodplain connectivity precisely to improve our predictions of sediment transport and deposition on floodplains. In the present work, we studied floodplain sediment transport and deposition, and juvenile mussel settling in three river systems in the US. A two-dimensional hydrodynamic model was developed and simulated model results were coupled with field measurements to study river-floodplain systems of the East Fork White River in Indiana, South River in Virginia, and Dan River in North Carolina. Results show that the East Fork White River in Indiana is capable of supplying sand to the channels on the floodplain and these floodplain channels can transport sand in suspension and gravel as bedload. These floodplain channels are supply limited under the current hydrologic regime and identified as net erosional. On the South River floodplain in Virginia, incorporating hydrologic flowpaths as an explicit measure of river-floodplain connectivity can improve predictions of floodplain sediment deposition. Three regression models were developed incorporating flow pathways and the best model was applied to hydrodynamic model results to create a spatial map of floodplain sedimentation rate. The deposition map highlights how floodplain topography and river-floodplain connectivity affect sedimentation rates and can help inform the development of floodplain sediment budgets. Lastly, streamflow conditions were investigated in the Dan River, North Carolina as they affect juvenile freshwater mussel settling. Two uplooking velocity sensors on the river bed were deployed and hydraulic parameters were measured for a 7-mo period in May-November 2019 to estimate the juvenile mussel settling. Results show that juvenile freshwater mussels as large as 280-508 µm could always be suspended during our study period and not be able to settle onto the river bed at the location of our velocity sensors. Therefore, the flow and shear velocity during our study period was high enough to prohibit the recruitment of juvenile freshwater mussels from settling out of suspension at the sensor locations. Modest flow obstructions such as large boulders, downed trees, or large wood that create downstream wakes may be important features that provide suitable conditions for the settling of juvenile freshwater mussels onto the river bed. Furthermore, low flows have been increasing since the year 2000 which may be exacerbating the decline in freshwater mussel populations. / Doctor of Philosophy / Human civilization has developed near rivers due to the wide range of benefits provided by rivers. Rivers provide food, water, and energy to more than 2.7 billion people around the world. However, the health of the rivers is degrading rapidly to meet the increasing demand of the growing population. We studied water, sediment, and mussel transport in the three rivers in the US: East Fork White River in Indiana, South River in Virginia, and Dan River in North Carolina. These rivers play an important role in agriculture, water supply, sediment, and nutrient transport of the surrounding environment. Our research work on East Fork White River in Indiana, USA shows that the area directly adjacent to the river is eroding, which is important information for river managers and policymakers. As part of that work, we identified the potential of various sizes of sediment to move over this area at different flows and developed a method to predict the largest sediment size that could be moved in water and hopping along the ground. This method is also applicable to other areas along rivers and the coast. We estimated the sediment deposition rate, deposition volume, and prepared a spatial map of the sediment deposition pattern for the South River floodplain in Virginia. From this map, deposition hot spots could be identified. We estimated that 66% of the sediment deposited adjacent to the South River was located in 32% of the area. This information will be helpful for understanding how sediment and sediment-associated pollutants deposit around rivers. Our work on the Dan River in North Carolina was focused on freshwater mussels. Our results showed that juvenile freshwater mussels could not have settled onto the river bed at the location of our measurements. Historical data reveal that freshwater mussels are declining at an alarming rate in that river, posing a threat to the river environment. We identified that streamflow has been increasing over the last two decades, which could be a potential cause of declining freshwater mussels.

This thesis examines the 2018 failure of the Northern Tailings Storage Facility at Cadia Valley Operations, located in New South Wales, Australia. First, the importance of examining and understanding failure mechanisms and post failure kinematics is described. Within which we understand that in the current state of affairs it is exceedingly difficult, or nigh impossible to perform without the use of large strain analyses, which have yet to permeate into the industry to a significant degree. Second, the initial construction and state of the dam just prior to failure is defined, with the materials and their properties laid out and discussed in depth as well as our means of modeling their behavior. Third, we validate and discuss our results of the base model of the dam based on key topographic features from initial and post-failure field measurements. After validation, we examine the influences of each of the different materials on the runout, comparing final topographies of different simulations with the actual final topography observed. This study was a valuable method of validating the Material Point Method as a means of modeling large deformations, as well as demonstrating its powerful applications towards catastrophic disaster prevention. The study validates and provides a greater understanding of the event of the Cadia Tailings Storage Facility Failure, and presents a framework of steps to perform similar examination on future tailings dams as a means of providing risk management in the event of failure. / Master of Science / Tailings dams are structures integral to the life cycle of mining and mineral processing. After mining and the processing of mined materials, the leftover material, known as "tailings" are pumped and stored behind these structures, usually indefinitely. These structures are unique because they are usually expanded as additional storage space for these materials is required. Over the past several decades, the rate at which catastrophic or serious tailings dam failures occur out of failures has been on the rise. Because of this, it becomes necessary to better understand the failure and post-failure movements of the dam. This thesis presents one such failure, the Cadia Tailings Dam Failure of 2018, which is located in New South Wales, Australia. It applies the Material Point Method, a numerical method which allows for largestrain deformations, to examine the post-failure mechanism and interpret various influences by the different materials on the final runout. Because of this, the paper provides insights on the importance of understanding large strain analyses, discussing and presenting the incidents of the failure. The model used for reference is validated using topographic and field data taken after the failure, allowing for a comparison with future models which vary the geometry and material characteristics of the event. A procedural plan is proposed to apply to future analyses, allowing for the analysis to be applied to other events and tailings dam structures, for further insight on influences of variability and material properties on post-failure topography and geometry.

Sediment pulses are defined as large amounts of loose sediment that are suddenly deposited in river corridors due to the action of external factors or processes of natural or anthropogenic origin. Such factors and processes include landslides, debris flows from tributaries, volcanic eruptions, dam removal projects, and mining-related activities. Their occurrence is associated with a surplus in sediment load to downstream reaches, and therefore, with severe channel aggradation and degradation, significant floodplain deposition, increase in flood frequency, damage of infrastructure, and impairment of aquatic habitats. The main objective of this research is to develop a better understanding of the fundamental mechanisms that govern the propagation of these sediment-flow hazards in alluvial sand-bed rivers. Specifically, the study presented herein is divided into three separate parts to achieve this overarching goal. First, a component intended to improve the numerical modeling of morphodynamic processes in alluvial sand-bed rivers by proposing a novel solution methodology that applies either the decoupled or the coupled modeling approach based on local flow and sediment transport conditions. Secondly, a detailed numerical analysis to characterize the behavior of fine-grained sediment pulses (i.e. composed of granular material in the sand size range) in alluvial sand-bed rives by identifying the properties of these types of pulses, as well as the characteristics of riverine environments, that are most relevant to their downstream migration. And lastly, a case study application to assess the effect of the magnitude, duration, and frequency of severe hydrologic events on the overall propagation behavior of fine-grained sediment pulses in alluvial sand-bed rivers. Ultimately, this research aims to contribute towards reducing the uncertainty associated with the impact of these phenomena, and hence, improving the resilience of rivers corridors. / Ph. D.

Hydrothermal systems associated with oceanic spreading centers account for a quarter of Earth's total heat flux and one third of the heat flux through the ocean floor. Circulation of seawater through these systems alters both the crust and the circulating fluid, impacting global geochemical cycles. The warm vent fluids rich in nutrients support a wide variety of unique biological communities. Thus, understanding hydrothermal processes at oceanic spreading centers is important to provide insight into thermal and biogeochemical processes. In this dissertation I present the results of numerical modeling efforts for mid-ocean ridge hydrothermal systems. In the three manuscripts presented, permeability emerges as a key controlling factor for hydrothermal venting. In the first manuscript, I use 2-D numerical models to find that the distribution of permeability in the crust controls fluid velocity as well as the amount of mixing between hot hydrothermal fluids and cold seawater. This, in turn, effects the temperature and composition of fluids emerging on the surface. For the second manuscript, I construct single-pass 1-D models to show that a sudden increase in permeability caused due to magmatic or seismic events in the seafloor causes a sharp rise in the fluid output of the system. This, in conjunction with steep thermal gradients close to the surface, results in a rapid increase of venting temperatures. In the third manuscript, I develop a particle tracking model to study fluid trajectories in the subsurface. The results show that permeability distribution in the subsurface governs fluid paths and consequently, the residence time of fluids in the crust. Based on the work presented in this document, I conclude that permeability distribution, both local and field scale, exerts a major control on hydrothermal circulation in the subsurface and on the temperature and composition of venting fluids on the surface. / Ph. D.