Orientador: Heraldo Luiz Giacheti / Co-orientador: Roger A. Rodrigues / Banca: George de Paula Bernardes / Banca: Giovana Bizão Georgetti / Resumo: O principal objetivo deste trabalho é estudar o comportamento geomecânico de um solo tropical não saturado, a fim de avaliar o efeito da sucção nos resultados de ensaios de resistência e de deformabilidade. As amostras são classificadas como areia fina pouco argilosa, de composição granulométrica semelhante nas três profundidades estudadas (1,5, 3,0 e 5,0 m). Além desses solos apresentarem praticamente nenhuma plasticidade, as curvas de retenção da água mostraram que eles têm valores de entrada de ar próximo a 2 kPa e zonas de dessaturação verticalizadas. As envoltórias de resistência determinadas a partir de ensaios triaxiais saturados e não saturados mostraram que o acréscimo no ângulo de atrito e na coesão é devido principalmente à sucção e às características físicas do solo de cada profundidade. Verificou-se que a previsão da resistência não saturada pode ser feita empregando uma função hiperbólica em conjunto com uma função da porosidade quando a razão entre os ângulos de atrito ϕb/ϕ' no estado saturado é menor que a unidade. Estudou-se também a variação do módulo de cisalhamento máximo (G0) para diferentes condições de sucção, confinamento e de carregamento. A determinação de G0 desses solos foi feita por meio de ensaios triaxiais equipados com transdutores de flexão, chamados de bender elements. Esses resultados mostraram que a variação de G0 em função do estado de tensões e de deformações pode ser adequadamente representada por modelos matemáticos que levam em conside... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The objective of this work is to study the geomechanical behavior of a tropical unsaturated soil in order to evaluate the influence of the soil suction on shear strength and deformability test data. The soil samples are classified as clayed fine sand with similar grain size constitution in the three studied depths (1.5, 3.0 and 5.0 m). Besides these soils have almost no plasticity, the water retention curves indicated that these soils present air entry value near to 2 kPa and a vertical desaturation zone. Shear strength envelopes determined via saturated and unsaturated triaxial tests showed that the increase in friction angle and cohesion is mainly due to the suction and to the soil physical characteristics at each depth. When the saturated friction angle ratio (ϕb/ϕ') is less than one, the unsaturated shear strength prediction can be made using a hyperbolic function together with a function of porosity. The variation of the maximum shear modulus (G0) at different conditions of suction, liquid confining pressure and loading are also studied. The G0 values were determined for these soils in triaxial tests equipped with bender elements. These results indicated that the variation of G0 as a function of the stress and strain state can be properly represented by mathematical models, which take into account the effect of the suction and porosity variation besides the stress state. It was also found by means of the experimental data that the compressibility of these soils can be pl... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

Orientador: Heraldo Luiz Giacheti / Banca: Otávio Coaracy Brasil Gandolfo / Banca: George de Paula Bernardes / Resumo: Este trabalho apresenta o sistema e metodologia para realização e interpretação de ensaios sísmicos up-role durante uma sondagem de simples reconhecimento (SPT). Este ensaio híbrido, conhecido também como S-SPT, incorpora a medida de velocidade de propagação de ondas de cisalhamento (Vs) ao ensaio SPT, visando uma melhor investigação do subsolo. A possibilidade de se medir, ao mesmo tempo e no mesmo furo, os valores de N do SPT e Vs, permitem calcular o módulo de cisalhamento máximo (Go), abrindo uma nova perspectiva para investigação de solos tropicais colapsíveis, a partir da relação Go/N, similar a relação Go/qc. O sistema é composto por um hardware (geofones, trigger e sistema de aquisição de dados) e softwares, um para registro dos sinais sísmicos e outro para sua interpretação. A metodologia de execução dos ensaios foi aperfeiçoada, a partir da realização de várias campanhas de ensaios de campo. Para a interpretação dos sinais e cálculo das velocidades foi elaborado um software, que possibilita definir os perfis de Vs sem a necessidade de outras ferramentas. Esse software possibilita o processamento e visualização dos registros, além de permitir aplicar um método específico para cálculo das velocidades de onda considerando a refração das ondas durante sua propagação através das diversas camadas do meio, conforme a Lei de Snell. Foram realizadas campanhas de ensaios S-SPT em um campo experimental localizado na cidade de Bauru, interior do estado de São Paulo, Brasil, para desenvolver o sistema e validar sua aplicação. Os resultados desses ensaios foram comparados com valores de Vs referência, determinados através de ensaios sísmicos down-hole, tipo SCPT. O ensaio S-SPT mostrou ser uma técnica interessante e aplicável, uma vez que a diferença entre os valores de Vs medidos com os de referência foi baixa, com um valor médio inferior a 10% para as áreas investigadas. Deste modo, pode ser / Abstract: This work presents a system and methodology for performing and interpreting up-hole seismic tests together with the Standard Penetration Test (SPT). This hybrid test, also known as S-SPT, incorporates the measurements of shear waves velocity propagation (Vs) in the SPT, for a better site investigation. The possibility of measuring simultaneously in the same borehole, the N SPT and the Vs values which allows calculating the maximum shear modulus (Go), opens new perspectives for the investigation of collapsible tropical soils, from Go/N ratio, similar to Go/qc. The system consists of a hardware (geophones, trigger and data aquisition system) and software, one to record of the seismic signals and the other for its interpretation. The methodology for carrying out the tests was improved after several field trials. A software was developed for interpretation of records and calculating velocities, which allows to define the Vs profiles without the need of additional tools. This software enables processing and displaying records, and also allows applying a specific method for calculating velocities considering the waves refraction during their propagation through the various layers of the soil mass, according to the Snell's Law. The S-SPT campaigns were carried out in an experimental field located in the city of Bauru, São Paulo, Brazil, to develop the system and validate its application. The results of these tests were compared with Vs reference values, which were determined by the down-hole seismic test, SCPT type. The S-SPT test proved to be an interesting applicable technique, since the differences to the Vs reference values were small, wich and average lower than 10% for the investigated site. The S-SPT test can be considered as an option for determining the maximum shear modulus, with the advantage of being performed together with the most widely used test for site investigation, the SPT / Mestre

Thesis (M.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Civil Engineering, 1982. / MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND ENGINEERING. / Bibliography: leaves 275-277. / by Maureen Anne Kestler. / M.S.

Thesis (M.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Civil Engineering, 1979. / MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND ENGINEERING. / Bibliography: leaves 133-135. / by William Eugene Hadge. / M.S.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Civil Engineering, 1980. / MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND ENGINEERING. / Vita. / Bibliography: p. 482-499. / by Jacques-Noel Levadoux. / Ph.D.

Thesis (M.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Civil Engineering, 1979. / MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND ENGINEERING. / Bibliography: leaves 174-178. / by Chee-Kuen Yip. / M.S.

Thesis. 1978. Sc.D.--Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Civil Engineering. / Vita. / Bibliography: leaves 342-349. / Sc.D.

Thesis (M.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Civil Engineering, 1980. / MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND ENGINEERING. / Bibliography: leaves 163-166. / by Theodore von Rosenvinge IV. / M.S.

Some normally consolidated soft soils manifest strength sensitivity, ie these soil manifest strain softening when shear in an undrained mode. These soils, referred to as sensitive soft soils, have the typical features of strain hardening in drained shearing and strain softening in undrained shearing. The consolidation lines of these soils are also curved (concave upwards) in the semi-log space. However, under high consolidation stress or upon large shearing, these soils re-gain the features of re-constituted soil. Ground improvement methods like stone columns were reported as not effective when installed in the sensitive soft clays. But mechanism of the un-effectiveness of the stone columns remains unknown because of lack of a suitable and simple model for simulating the stress-strain behaviours of sensitive soft soils. Although these soils have a meta-stable micro-structure, models that developed for simulating structured firm soils are not suitable for simulating sensitive soft soil features. Thus, a new model was formulated. The new model can degenerate back to a Modified Cam Clay model. The ability of new model in simulating a range of behaviour was verified by using the finite difference (FD) method in solving the partial differential equations of the soil model for a range of tri-axial test conditions. The model was further implemented in coupled analysis formulation and coded into FEM program AFENA. Various cases with different soil parameters were then simulated and compared with the FD solutions for various triaxial tests so as to check the stability of the FEM code. The coupled FEA was then used to simulate the performance of geosynthetic-encased stone columns. A new stone column element and a geo-encasement element were developed and coded into AFENA. The stone column simulations were then done for both non-sensitive soils (represented by Modified Cam Clay model) and sensitive soft soil (represented by the new model). Parametric study was conducted to examine the performance of the geo-encased stone columns in both types of soils. Furthermore, two different installation methods: wished-in installation and full displacement installation were studied numerically. Cross comparison was done to investigate how the sensitive soft soil features interact with the installation method in affecting the performance of the geo-encased stone columns. A range of factors that influence the geosynthetic-encased stone columns performance installed in soft soils were also made clear.

Braunkohle ist aktuell immer noch ein wichtiger Rohstoff für die Energieversorgung in Deutschland. Ein großes Abbaugebiet befindet sich in Nordrhein-Westfalen. Im sogenannten rheinischen Braunkohlenrevier liegen mächtige Braunkohleflöze, welche seit einigen Jahrzehnten im Tagebaubetrieb abgebaut werden. Allerdings fallen auch große Mengen an Abraum (die Deckschichten über der Braunkohle) an, welche meist auf der, dem Abbauort, gegenüberliegenden Seite, wieder verkippt werden. Dort bilden die verkippten Massen eine Böschung, die im Fall des Tagebaus Hambach ein Böschungssystem mit über 400m Höhe erreicht hat. Diese sich ständig verändernden Böschungen müssen, wie alle hohen Böschungen, durch Fachpersonal auf ihre Standsicherheit überprüft werden. Für diese Standsicherheitsberechnungen bedarf es Kennwerte, u. a. die undrainierte Scherfestigkeit für die Nachweise der kurzfristigen Standsicherheit, für die vorliegenden verkippten Böden. Diese liegen nach der Verkippung meist heterogen vor und verändern durch eine fortschreitende Konsolidation ihren Zustand. Diese Arbeit beschäftigt sich mit der Bestimmung des Kennwertes der undrainierten Scherfestigkeit in fein- und gemischtkörnigen Böden. Dazu werden zunächst die Klassifikations- und Zustandseigenschaften während der Verkippung der Böden für die in den Tagebauen Inden und Hambach verwendeten Materialklassen vorgestellt. Dabei wird auch auf die Besonderheiten der Böden im Tagebau, wie z.B. die Zustandsänderung während des Transportes oder die vorliegende Heterogenität, eingegangen. Es werden analytische und numerische Prognosemodelle zur Bestimmung der undrainierten Scherfestigkeit vorgestellt. Die Grundlage dieser Modelle bilden die Konsolidationstheorien, mit welchen sich die Zustandsvariablen, wie die Porenzahl oder die effektive Spannungen, berechnen lassen. Über verfügbare Stoffmodelle, wie z.B. das hypoplastische Modell nach Mašín können anhand der Zustandsvariablen die undrainierten Scherfestigkeiten abgeleitet werden. Mit den in dieser Arbeit verwendeten Modellen lassen sich undrainierte Scherfestigkeitskennwerte zu verschiedenen Zeitpunkten prognostizieren, mit denen wiederum z.B. Standsicherheitsberechnungen von Böschungen durchgeführt werden können. Die statistischen Auswertungen der Klassifikationseigenschaften und Zustände erlauben eine Beurteilung von im Tagebaubetrieb häufig verwendeten Kennwerten (z.B. Fließgrenze oder Wassergehalt) und deren Streubreiten innerhalb der Materialklassen. / Lignite was and still is an essential source for producing energy in Germany. One huge extraction site is located in North-Rhine-Westphalia (in between Mönchengladbach, Cologne and Aachen). The so called Rhenish lignite district contains very thick lignite deposits, which are mined in open pit mines since a few decades. There are huge overburdens (on top on the lignite) which are transported and dumped on the opposite to the excavation side. The dumped soil masses create slope systems, that can amount to 400m of height (in open pit mine Hambach). These large slopes undergo permanent changes and have to be assessed considering their safety and stability by specialists. Characteristic properties regarding shear strength of the heterogeneous fine- and mixed grained soils are required for such calculations. The main challenge is the description of the state of the soil, as it is permanently changing due to consolidation. One essential characteristic is the undrained shear strength. The main focus of this thesis is the determination of the undrained shear strength. Therefore, the soil properties are determined with classification tests and the state of the soils at the time of dumping is assessed. The results are categorised using the material classes of the open pit mines Inden and Hambach. The particularities of dumped soils in open pit mines are shown, for instance the change of state during transport or the heterogeneity. Moreover, analytical and numerical models are employed to predict the undrained shear strength. The basis of all these models are consolidation theories, which are applied to determine the state variables such as void ratio and effective stresses. The undrained shear strength can then be predicted by using constitutive models such as the hypoplastic model for clays according Mašín. Using the approach presented in this thesis the undrained shear strength can be predicted and employed for example for slope stability analyses. The statistic evaluation of the soil properties allows a review of the soil characteristics that are typically employed in open pit mining. Furthermore, the scattering of properties of the material classes in the open pit mines can be assessed.