Doctoral Dissertations

Keywords and Phrases

Porous soil nailing (PSN)

Abstract

"Many failures of earth structures, slopes and foundations supported on saturated sands have been attributed to liquefaction of the sands. Recent studies have shown that many embankments and earth dams are seismically vulnerable.

An innovative retrofit technique combining the advantages of in-situ strengthening and improving drainage is the use of small diameter (5 cm) porous pipes containing highly permeable geotextile driven vertically into the embankment. The shear force due to an earthquake is counteracted by the shear capacity of the soil nails' cross- section. The excess porewater pressure is dissipated through the geotextile thereby increasing the effective stresses within the embankment and dramatically improving its stability. The feasibility of the Porous Soil Nailing (PSN) technique to seismically retrofit embankment dams was the objective of this research. A case history of a failed road embankment on Highway 94 in Michigan has been selected as a study model. Vibratory tampers conducting a seismic reflection survey on a roadway embankment in Michigan's Upper Peninsula triggered a liquefaction failure. The embankment was then subjected to the El-Centro earthquake time history and its response evaluated.

The two-dimensional finite difference computer program, FLAC 3.4, was selected to analyze the problem. The study has illustrated the viability of the Porous Soil Nailing (PSN) technique for seismically retrofitting dam embankments. The use of the PSN technique to increase shear strength and reduce liquefaction potential has the advantages of rapid construction, use of light equipment, and low cost"--Abstract, page iii.

Advisor(s)

Richardson, David Newton

Committee Member(s)

Petry, Thomas M.
Prakash, Shamsher
Prakash, Shamsher
Roy, Samit

Department(s)

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering

Degree Name

Ph. D. in Civil Engineering

Publisher

University of Missouri--Rolla

Publication Date

Fall 2000

Pagination

xv, 192 pages

Note about bibliography

Includes bibliographical references (pages 179-191).

Geographic Coverage

Michigan

Rights

© 2000 Saad Abdel-Hamid Farag, All rights reserved.

Document Type

Dissertation - Restricted Access

File Type

text

Language

English

Subject Headings

Shear strength of soils -- TestingEarth dams -- Earthquake effects -- MichiganSoil liquefactionEarthquake engineering

Thesis Number

T 8568

Print OCLC #

62204727

Electronic OCLC #

993782918

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