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- Al-Naqshabandy, Mohammed Salim
(författare)
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Strength variability in lime-cement columns and its effect on the reliability of embankments
- 2011
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Licentiatavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Ground improvement by deep mixing (DM) is a generic term used for a number of methods in which a binding agent, often lime and/or cement, is mechanically mixed with the soil to increase its engineering properties. The inherent variability with respect to the engineering properties of the improved soil is high due to the variations in geology and the complex mixing process. High variability introduces uncertainty in estimating improved soil properties and the performance of the structure.Current design methodology deals with soil properties deterministically and the uncertainties involved are incorporated in a single value represented by a total factor of safety (FS). The chosen FS is highly dependent on the engineer’s judgment and past experience, in which both of these factors vary between different geotechnical designers. Therefore, current design methodology used in practice for DM does not deal with uncertainties in a rational way. In order to design a geotechnical system with the desired level of confidence, the uncertainties involved must be integrated in the DM design. This can be achieved by using reliability-based design (RBD) methods.The research work in this thesis is presented as a collection of three papers. In the first paper, a comprehensive statistical analysis of cone penetration test (CPT) data is described. The objective was to make a contribution to empirical knowledge by evaluating the strength variability of lime-cement columns within the group of tested columns. In the second paper, the effect of the spatial variability and statistical uncertainty with regard to the embankment’s reliability was investigated within the framework of RBD. The study in the third paper investigated the strength variability in lime-cement columns based on two test methods, namely CPT and column penetration test (KPS). In this study, the effect of different test methods on the evaluation of the design value was addressed.The main conclusions from this study can be summarized as follows. First, the probability distribution function (PDF) for the undrained shear strength of lime-cement columns can be modeled in RBD as normal or log-normal distributions. However, the use of log-normal distribution is recommended for RBD analyses. Second, the evaluated scales of fluctuation indicate ranges of 2 to 4 m and 0.2 to 0.8 m in the horizontal and the vertical directions respectively. This means that in order to fulfill the requirements of independent/uncorrelated samples for assessment of the design value, the spacing between samples must exceed the horizontal scale of fluctuation. It is therefore proposed that the spacing between individual samples should be at least 4 meters. Third, the design values evaluated using CPT and KPS were approximately the same. However, the inherent variability evaluated differs due to the larger volume tested with the KPS probe than with the CPT probe. However, this difference was not significant between the two tests. Fourthly, due to the limitation in the deterministic design in terms of dealing with uncertainties, it is recommended that RBD design should be used in parallel with the deterministic design of lime-cement column.
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| 2. |
- Bagheri, Mehdi
(författare)
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Model uncertainty of design tools to analyze block stability
- 2009
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Licentiatavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Block failure is one of the most common failure modes in tunnels. Design tools have some simplifications and, therefore, they also have some model uncertainties. The purpose of this licentiate thesis is to assess the model uncertainty for different design tools in order to estimate block stability. Different approaches of kinematic limit equilibrium (KLE) including conventional KLE, limited joint length, limited joint length and stress field consideration and probabilistic KLE were compared to that of DFN-DEM. In this approach, the results of the calibrated DFN-DEM with field mapping were considered to be of true value. The results show that the conventional KLE is overdesign due to it’s over simplification. By considering fracture length and stress field, the volume of predicted unstable blocks is reduced. The probabilistic approach of KLE by considering finite joint length and stress field predicts the volume of unstable blocks to be lower than DFN-DEM approach. Therefore there is a great model uncertainty of our standard design tools for block stability analysis. The assumption made in this study is that the results from DEM were considered to have a true value; the results from analytical solution based on joint relaxation process were compared to those of DEM in a different condition of depth, K0, apical and friction angle, Kn and Ks value, and ratio of Kn/Ks. The comparison shows that for shallow depth with K0 less than 1, analytical solution leads to an overestimation of block stability. The analytical solution predicts that the block is stable, while the analyses from numerical solution show the block is unstable. The analyses show that by increasing K0, accuracy of analytical solution also increases. Moreover, for the cases with close value of friction angle to semi-apical angle, the use of analytical solution is not recommended. As the ratio of Kn/Ks increases, the accuracy of analytical solution decreases. Increasing the angle ratio (ratio between semi-apical angle to friction angle) is one source of increasing uncertainty in the model. The analytical solution is very uncertain in cases with a low value of K0, and a high value of stiffness ratio and angle ratio. On the other hand, the analytical solution is more certain in conditions with a high value of K0 and a low value of stiffness ratio and angle ratio. According to current information (K0, angle ratio, stiffness ratio), one can determine the value of model uncertainty by using the diagrams presented in Chapter 6 of the thesis. The analyses show that by having more information about the key parameters, the model uncertainty could be identified more precisely. However, having more information means spending more money, and this increase in cost must be compared to the cost of failure or delay in the project or overdesign.
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| 5. |
- Bjureland, William
(författare)
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On reliability-based design of rock tunnel support
- 2017
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Licentiatavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Tunneling involves large uncertainties. Since 2009, design of rock tunnels in European countries should be performed in accordance with the Eurocodes. The main principle in the Eurocodes is that it must be shown in all design situations that no relevant limit state is exceeded. This can be achieved with a number of different methods, where the most common one is design by calculation. To account for uncertainties in design, the Eurocode states that design by calculation should primarily be performed using limit state design methods, i.e. the partial factor method or reliability-based methods. The basic principle of the former is that it shall be assured that a structure’s resisting capacity is larger than the load acting on the structure, with high enough probability. Even if this might seem straightforward, the practical application of limit state design to rock tunnel support has only been studied to a limited extent.The aim of this licentiate thesis is to provide a review of the practical applicability of using reliability-based methods and the partial factor method in design of rock tunnel support. The review and the following discussion are based on findings from the cases studied in the appended papers. The discussion focuses on the challenges of applying fixed partial factors, as suggested by Eurocode, in design of rock tunnel support and some of the practical difficulties the engineer is faced with when applying reliability-based methods to design rock tunnel support.The main conclusions are that the partial factor method (as defined in Eurocode) is not suitable to use in design of rock tunnel support, but that reliability-based methods have the potential to account for uncertainties present in design, especially when used within the framework of the observational method. However, gathering of data for statistical quantification of input variables along with clarification of the necessary reliability levels and definition of “failure” are needed.
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| 7. |
- de Frias Lopez, Ricardo
(författare)
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Granular Materials for Transport Infrastructures : Mechanical performance of coarse–fine mixtures for unbound layers through DEM analysis
- 2016
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Licentiatavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Granular materials are widely used as unbound layers within the infrastructure system playing a significant role on performance and maintenance. However, fields like pavement and railway engineering still heavily rely on empirically-based models owing to the complex behaviour of these materials, which partly stems from their discrete nature. In this sense, the discrete element method (DEM) presents a numerical alternative to study the behaviour of discrete systems with explicit consideration of the processes at particulate level governing the macroscopic response. This thesis aims at providing micromechanical insight into the effect of different particle sizes on the load-bearing structure of granular materials and its influence on the resilient modulus and permanent deformation response, both of which are greatly influenced by the stress level. In order to accomplish this, binary mixtures of elastic spheres under axisymmetric stress are studied using DEM as the simplest expression for gap-graded materials, which in turn also can be seen as a simplification of more complex mixtures.First, the effect of the fines content on the force transmission at contact level was studied. Results were used to define a soil fabric classification system where the roles of the coarse and fine fractions were defined and quantified in terms of force transmission.A behavioural correspondence between numerical mixtures and granular materials was established, where the mixtures were able to reproduce some of the most significant features regarding the resilient modulus and permanent strain dependency on stress level for granular materials.A good correlation between soil fabric and performance was also found. Generally, higher resilient modulus and lower deformation values were observed for interactive fabrics, whereas the opposite held for instable fabrics.Mixtures of elastic spheres are far from granular materials, where numerous additional factors should be considered. Nevertheless, it is the author’s belief that this work provides insight into the soil fabric structure and its effect on the macroscopic response of granular materials.
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| 8. |
- Deckner, Fanny, 1984-
(författare)
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Ground vibrations due to pile and sheet pile driving : influencing factors, predictions and measurements
- 2013
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Licentiatavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Ground vibrations due to pile driving are part of a complex process. Vibration is generated from the pile driver to the pile. As the pile interacts with the surrounding soil, vibrations are transferred at the pile-soil interface. The vibration propagates through the ground and interacts with structures, both above ground and underground. The vibration continues into the structure where it may disturb occupants and/or damage the structure.In this thesis the study of the vibration transfer process due to pile driving is limited to the vibration source and the wave propagation in the soil. Vibration transmission to adjacent buildings and structures is not studied. However, impact of vibrations on buildings is briefly discussed in the literature study.It is important to accurately predict the magnitude of ground vibrations that result from pile driving in urban areas, both over- and underestimated vibration levels lead to increased costs. A lot of research has been performed within this field of knowledge, but a reliable and acknowledged prediction model for vibrations induced by pile or sheet pile driving is still needed.The objective of the research project is to increase the knowledge and understanding in the field of ground vibrations due to impact and vibratory driving of piles and sheet piles. This research project also aims to develop a reliable prediction model that can be used by practising engineers to estimate vibration due to pile driving. This licentiate thesis presents the first part of the research project and aims to increase the knowledge and understanding of the subject and to form a basis for continued research work.The most important findings and conclusions from this study are:The main factors influencing vibrations due to pile and sheet pile driving are; (1) the vibrations transferred from the pile to the soil, (2) the geotechnical conditions at the site and (3) the distance from the source.The vibrations transmitted from the pile to the soil depend on the vibrations transferred to the pile from the hammer, the pile-soil interaction and the wave propagation and attenuation in the plastic/elasto-plastic zone closest to the pile.There is today no prediction model that fulfils the criteria of the “perfect” prediction model; reliable but yet easy to apply.Future research should study the transfer of vibrations at the pile-soil interface, including the generation of a plastic/elasto-plastic zone in the area closest to the pile and how that affects the transfer of vibrations from the pile to the soil.
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| 9. |
- Dinegdae, Yared Hailegiorgis
(författare)
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Reliability-based Design Procedure for Flexible Pavements
- 2015
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Licentiatavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Load induced top-down fatigue cracking has been recognized recently as a major distress phenomenon in asphalt pavements. This failure mode has been observed in many parts of the world, and in some regions, it was found to be more prevalent and a primary cause of pavements failure. The main factors which are identified as potential causes of top down fatigue cracking are primarily linked to age hardening, mixtures fracture resistance and unbound layers stiffness. Mechanistic Empirical analytical models, which are based on hot mix asphalt fracture mechanics (HMA-FM) and that could predict crack initiation time and propagation rate, have been developed and shown their capacity in delivering acceptable predictions. However, in these methods, the effect of age hardening and healing is not properly accounted and moreover, these models do not consider the effect of mixture morphology influence on long term pavement performance. Another drawback of these models is, as analysis tools they are not suitable to be used for pavement design purpose. The main objective of this study is to develop a reliability calibrated design framework in load resistance factor design (LRFD) format which could be implemented to design pavement sections against top down fatigue cracking.For this purpose, asphalt mixture morphology based sub-models were developed and incorporated to HMA-FM to characterize the effect of aging and degradation on fracture resistance and healing potential. These sub-models were developed empirically exploiting the observed relation that exist between mixture morphology and fracture resistance. The developed crack initiation prediction model was calibrated and validated using pavement sections that have high quality laboratory data and observed field performance history. As traffic volume was identified in having a dominant influence on predicted performance, two separate model calibration and validation studies were undertaken based on expected traffic volume. The predictions result for both model calibration and validation was found to be in an excellent agreement with the observed performance in the field.A LRFD based design framework was suggested that could be implemented to optimize pavement sections against top-down fatigue cracking. To achieve this objective, pavement sections with various design target reliabilities and functional requirements were analyzed and studied. A simplified but efficient limit state equation was generated using a central composite design (CCD) based response surface methodology, and FORM based reliability analysis was implemented to compute reliabilities and formulate associated partial safety factors. A design example using the new partial safety factors have clearly illustrated the potential of the new method, which could be used to supplement existing design procedures.
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| 10. |
- Draganovic, Almir
(författare)
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Separations- och filtreringsstabilitet hos cementbaserat injekteringsbruk
- 2007
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Licentiatavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Bleeding of cement based grout Bleeding of cement based grout is a complex problem. How it occurs and which basic mechanism causes and influences bleeding have been questions for discussion. Therefore the aim of the thesis is to illustrate what really happens with grout during bleeding and which factors influence it. In this way relevant measuring methods can be developed as well as the knowledge regarding how to interpret measuring results to joints in rock. The bleeding tests show that there are two basic mechanisms which cause bleeding. They are sedimentation and consolidation. It also means that the bleeding process is influenced by sample height. It was found that bleeding of coarse cement (ANL) was mainly a result of sedimentation of the grout. Experiment with fine cement (INJ30; d95<30 µm) shows that the consolidation part of bleeding was larger. The study shows that the bleeding process for a low sample height (10 mm) occurs fast. Extrapolation of experiment results and theoretical analysis shows that bleeding in a joint happens very fast and takes place during grouting itself. It means that results measured by standard methods can not be applied straight off for joints in rock. Theoretically bleeding occurs relatively slowly in vertical or inclined joints due to increased height. Bleeding will be resisted by arching and hardening. Reasonably, very little bleeding will take place. Filtration of cement based grout How far grout penetrates into a joint is not just influenced by the rheology of the grout like viscosity and shear strength, but also by the tendency of the grout to get stuck which means to build a plug. Factors which influence the building of a plug are properties of the grout, geometry of the joints including rawness of the joints and proceeding of the grouting. Today there are many different ways to measure filtration of a grout or the building of a plug. The different methods give different results and thus the importance of the influence of different factors is interpreted differently. The experiments in this thesis are done in a 100 mm long, 50 mm wide aperture with 1 mm width. Thereafter the width of the aperture decreases to 0.02 – 0.3 mm over a 10 mm long distance. The results of the experiments in this thesis, measured by own method, show that the best penetration ability with respect to filtration has a grout based on relatively fine-graded cement (INJ30; d95<30 µm).The penetrability of the grout based on more graded cement decreases because of flocculation. In total tens measurements have been done. The measurements confirm others’ experiments which show that the concentration of fine-graded particles (< 4 µm) has a large influence on flocculation and with that the building of larger grains. It is important to remind that the mixing of grout has been done by a laboratory mixer, which is not a mixer of colloidal type. This issue has to be further tested. The research shows that filtration of grout is also influenced by grain size of cement and the water cement ratio. The filtration test carried out by own measuring method with varying pressure showed a better penetrability for a larger pressure. It influenced both arching and erosion of the accumulated particles.
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