Thesis (M.S.)--Brigham Young University. Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 163-165).

Thesis (M. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 2005.

Thesis (M.S.)--Brigham Young University. Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 227-231).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2005. / The entire dissertation/thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file. Title from title screen of research.pdf file viewed on (November 7, 2006) Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.) University of Missouri-Columbia, 2006. / The entire dissertation/thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file. Title from title screen of research.pdf file (viewed on August 22, 2007) Includes bibliographical references.

No description available.

The conventional design methods for sheet-pile cellular cofferdams were developed in the 1940's and 1950's based on field and limited experimental observations. The analytical techniques of the day were unable to account for the complexities involved. The procedures used only rudimentary concepts of soil-structure interaction which do not exhibit the true response of the cofferdam for most circumstances. During the past decade it has been demonstrated that with proper consideration of the soil-structure interaction effects, the two-dimensional finite element models can be powerful tools in the investigation of cellular cofferdam behavior. However, universal implementation of the findings of these analyses was difficult to justify, since uncertainties remain about the assumptions made in arriving at the two-dimensional models. The only way to address these uncertainties was to perform a three-dimensional analysis. This investigation has focused on the study of the three-dimensional behavior of Lock and Dam No. 26 (R) sheet—pile cellular cofferdam. The work involved the development of a new three-dimensional soil-structure interaction finite element code for cellular cofferdam modeling, and the application of the new code to the study of the behavior of the first- and second-stage cofferdam at Lock and Dam No. 26 (R). The new code was used to study the cell filling process where the main cell is filled first with the subsequent filling of the arc cell. The finite element results show that interlock forces in the common wall were 29 to 35 percent higher than those in the main cell which are less than those calculated by conventional methods and compare well with the observed values. After cell filling, the new code was used to model the cofferdam under differential loading due to initial dewatering of the interior of the cofferdam and changes in river levels. The finite element analysis results show that increasing differential water loads cause the confining stresses in the cell fill to increase which results in a decrease in the level of mobilized shear strength in the cell fill. This explains why the cellular cofferdam can withstand extremely high lateral loads and lateral deformations without collapsing. / Ph. D.

A study was conducted to verify the design of a diaphragm wall with steel piles. The original design was based on analysis performed on a soil-structure interaction program using soil parameters calibrated in a previous study. Original and "as-built" design models were compared to measured results of the constructed structure. A second study was conducted to identify the sensitivity of moments and deflections to changes in wall stiffness and soil stiffness. A comparison of the effects of these changes was provided. / Master of Science

Hot-rolled sheet piling has long-been believed to have a better flexural performance than cold-formed sheet piling based on a test conducted by Hartman Engineering twenty years ago. However, cold-formed steel can have similar strength to the hot-rolled steel This experimental program studied the flexural behavior of hot-rolled and cold-formed steel sheet pilings. This program quantified the influence of transverse stresses from soil pressures on the longitudinal flexural strength. Four cross-sections with two pairs of equivalent sectional modulus were investigated. Sheet-piling specimens were subjected to simulated soil pressure from an air bladder loaded transversely to their longitudinal axis. The span lengths were varied, while the loading area remains unchanged to examine the effect of different transverse stresses. Lateral bracings were provided at discrete locations to establish a sheet piling wall behavior and allow the development of transverse stresses. Load-pressure, load-deflection, load-strain, and moment-deflection responses were plotted to demonstrate the behavior of each specimen. The moment-deflection curves were then normalized to the corresponding yield stress from tensile coupon tests to make a meaningful comparison. The results indicate that transverse stresses influence the flexural capacity of the sheet pilings. The longer span length has less amount of transverse strains, resulting in a higher moment capacity. The hot-rolled sheet pilings have better flexural performance also because of less transverse strains. / Master of Science / Sheet piling wall is an essential structure used during the excavation process. Sheet piling can be hot-rolled and cold-formed. Hot-rolled sheet piling has long-been believed to have a better bending performance based on a test conducted by Hartman Engineering twenty years ago. However, cold-formed steel can have similar strength to hot-rolled steel. This experimental program studied the bending behavior of hot-rolled and cold-formed steel sheet pilings. This program quantified the influence of lateral loading from soil pressure on the moment capacity of the sheet piling. Four cross-sections with two pairs of equivalent bending properties were investigated. Sheet-piling specimens were set up as beam members and subjected to simulated soil pressure from an air bladder. The span lengths of the specimens were varied, while the loading area remains unchanged to examine the effect of different amounts of load. Lateral bracings were provided at discrete locations to establish a sheet piling wall behavior and allow local deflection of the cross-section. Load-pressure, load-deflection, load-strain, and moment-deflection responses were plotted to demonstrate the behavior of each specimen. The moment-deflection curves were then normalized to the corresponding material property of each specimen to make a meaningful comparison between different specimens. The results indicate that lateral loading of the soil pressure influences the bending capacity of the sheet pilings. The longer span length has less amount of transverse strains, resulting in a higher bending capacity. The hot-rolled sheet pilings have better bending performance also because of less transverse strains.

The classical use of 0.3 for the static coefficient of friction for sheet pile interlocks was investigated in this study. The effects of cyclic displacements on the coefficient of friction of the interlocks was also examined. A broad range of values for the coefficient of friction was observed for over 2000 observations of the shear force required to initiate interlock displacement. The mean observed value of the coefficient of friction was greater than 0.3 for low interlock stress. The mean coefficient of friction decreased with increased interlock stress. At interlock loads of five kips per inch the mean coefficient of friction was approximately equal to 0.3. The relationship between interlock stress and the coefficient of friction was found to be nonlinear. An exponential model to predict the coefficient of friction for interlock loads between 1 and 5 kips per inch was developed. To study the effects of cyclic displacements on interlock friction the specimen interlocks were displaced approximately one hundred times. No significant effect on interlock friction was observed. / M.S.