Matching Items (6)
Filtering by
- Genre: Doctoral Dissertation
- Resource Type: Text
Description
Laterally-loaded short rigid drilled shaft foundations are the primary foundation used within the electric power transmission line industry. Performance of these laterally loaded foundations is dependent on modulus of the subsurface, which is directly measured by the Pressuremeter (PMT). The PMT test provides the lateral shear modulus at intermediate strains, an equivalent elastic modulus for lateral loading, which mimics the reaction of transmission line foundations within the elastic range of motion. The PMT test, however, is expensive to conduct and rarely performed. Correlations of PMT to blow counts and other index properties have been developed but these correlations have high variability and may result in unconservative foundation design. Variability in correlations is due, in part, because difference of the direction of the applied load and strain level between the correlated properties and the PMT. The geophysical shear wave velocity (S-wave velocity) as measured through refraction microtremor (ReMi) methods can be used as a measure of the small strain, shear modulus in the lateral direction. In theory, the intermediate strain modulus of the PMT is proportional to the small strain modulus of S-wave velocity. A correlation between intermediate strain and low strain moduli is developed here, based on geophysical surveys conducted at fourteen previous PMT testing locations throughout the Sonoran Desert of central Arizona. Additionally, seasonal variability in S-wave velocity of unsaturated soils is explored and impacts are identified for the use of the PMT correlation in transmission line foundation design.
ContributorsEvans, Ashley Elizabeth (Author) / Houston, Sandra (Thesis advisor) / Zapata, Claudia (Thesis advisor) / van Paassen, Leon (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2018
Description
Trichloroethene (TCE) and hexavalent chromium (Cr (VI)) are ubiquitous subsurface contaminants affecting the water quality and threatening human health. Microorganisms capable of TCE and Cr (VI) reductions can be explored for bioremediation at contaminated sites. The goal of my dissertation research was to address challenges that decrease the efficiency of bioremediation in the subsurface. Specifically, I investigated strategies to (i) promote improve microbial reductive dechlorination extent through the addition of Fe0 and (ii) Cr (VI) bio-reduction through enrichment of specialized microbial consortia. Fe0 can enhance microbial TCE reduction by inducing anoxic conditions and generating H2 (electron donor). I first evaluated the effect of Fe0 on microbial reduction of TCE (with ClO4– as co-contaminant) using semi-batch soil microcosms. Results showed that high concentration of Fe0 expected during in situ remediation inhibited microbial TCE and ClO4– reduction when added together with Dehalococcoides mccartyi-containing cultures. A low concentration of aged Fe0 enhanced microbial TCE dechlorination to ethene and supported complete microbial ClO4– reduction. I then evaluated a decoupled Fe0 and biostimulation/bioaugmentation treatment approach using soil packed columns with continuous flow of groundwater. I demonstrated that microbial TCE reductive dechlorination to ethene can be benefitted by Fe0 abiotic reactions, when biostimulation and bioaugmentation are performed downstream of Fe0 addition. Furthermore, I showed that ethene production can be sustained in the presence of aerobic groundwater (after Fe0 exhaustion) by the addition of organic substrates. I hypothesized that some lessons learned from TCE Bioremediation can be applied also for other pollutants that can benefit from anaerobic reductions, like Cr (VI). Bioremediation of Cr (VI) has historically relied on biostimulation of native microbial communities, partially due to the lack of knowledge of the benefits of adding enriched consortia of specialized microorganisms (bioaugmentation). To determine the merits of a specialized consortium on bio-reduction of Cr (VI), I first enriched a culture on lactate and Cr (VI). The culture had high abundance of putative Morganella species and showed rapid and sustained Cr (VI) bio-reduction compared to a subculture grown with lactate only (without Morganella). Overall, this dissertation work documents possible strategies for synergistic abiotic and biotic chlorinated ethenes reduction, and highlights that specialized consortia may benefit Cr (VI) bio-reduction.
ContributorsMohana Rangan, Srivatsan (Author) / Krajmalnik-Brown, Rosa (Thesis advisor) / Delgado, Anca G (Thesis advisor) / Torres, César I (Committee member) / van Paassen, Leon (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2022
Description
The potential of using bio-geo-chemical processes for applications in geotechnical engineering has been widely explored in order to overcome the limitation of traditional ground improvement techniques. Biomineralization via urea hydrolysis, referred to as Microbial or Enzymatic Induced Carbonate Precipitation (MICP/EICP), has been shown to increase soil strength by stimulating precipitation of calcium carbonate minerals, bonding soil particles and filling the pores. Microbial Induced Desaturation and Precipitation (MIDP) via denitrification has also been studied for its potential to stabilize soils through mineral precipitation, but also through production of biogas, which can mitigate earthquake induced liquefaction by desaturation of the soil. Empirical relationships have been established, which relate the amount of products of these biochemical processes to the engineering properties of treated soils. However, these engineering properties may vary significantly depending on the biomineral and biogas formation mechanism and distribution patterns at pore-scale. This research focused on the pore-scale characterization of biomineral and biogas formations in porous media.
The pore-scale characteristics of calcium carbonate precipitation via EICP and biogenic gas formation via MIDP were explored by visual observation in a transparent porous media using a microfluidic chip. For this purpose, an imaging system was designed and image processing algorithms were developed to analyze the experimental images and detect the nucleation and growth of precipitated minerals and formation and migration mechanisms of gas bubbles within the microfluidic chip. Statistical analysis was performed based on the processed images to assess the evolution of biomineral size distribution, the number of precipitated minerals and the porosity reduction in time. The resulting images from the biomineralization study were used in a numerical simulation to investigate the relation between the mineral distribution, porosity-permeability relationships and process efficiency. By comparing biogenic gas production with abiotic gas production experiments, it was found that the gas formation significantly affects the gas distribution and resulting degree of saturation. The experimental results and image analysis provide insight in the kinetics of the precipitation and gas formation processes and their resulting distribution and related engineering properties.
The pore-scale characteristics of calcium carbonate precipitation via EICP and biogenic gas formation via MIDP were explored by visual observation in a transparent porous media using a microfluidic chip. For this purpose, an imaging system was designed and image processing algorithms were developed to analyze the experimental images and detect the nucleation and growth of precipitated minerals and formation and migration mechanisms of gas bubbles within the microfluidic chip. Statistical analysis was performed based on the processed images to assess the evolution of biomineral size distribution, the number of precipitated minerals and the porosity reduction in time. The resulting images from the biomineralization study were used in a numerical simulation to investigate the relation between the mineral distribution, porosity-permeability relationships and process efficiency. By comparing biogenic gas production with abiotic gas production experiments, it was found that the gas formation significantly affects the gas distribution and resulting degree of saturation. The experimental results and image analysis provide insight in the kinetics of the precipitation and gas formation processes and their resulting distribution and related engineering properties.
ContributorsKim, Daehyun (Author) / van Paassen, Leon (Thesis advisor) / Kavazanjian, Edward (Committee member) / Zapata, Claudia (Committee member) / Mahabadi, Nariman (Committee member) / Tao, Junliang (Committee member) / Jang, Jaewon (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2019
Description
Expansive soils pose considerable geotechnical and structural challenges all over the world. Many cities, towns, transport systems, and structures are built on expansive soils. This study evaluates stabilization of expansive soils using silicate solution extracted from rice husk taking advantage of an agricultural material waste. Rice husk ash production was optimized considering several factors including rinsing solution, rinsing temperature, burning time, and burning temperature. Results indicated that washing the rice husk with HCl (1M) produced an ash with surface area of 320 m2/g and 97% of silicon oxide. Two local soils were treated with sodium silicate solution, silica gel at pH 1.5, and silica gel at pH 4 to evaluate its mechanical properties at curing times of 1 day, 7 days, and 14 days. Results indicated that sodium silicate solution reduced the one-dimensional swell by 48% for Soil A, however, swell for soil B remained about the same. Silica gel at pH 1.5 reduced the one-dimensional swell by 67% for soil A and by 35% for soil B. Silica gel at pH 4 did also reduce the free swell by 40% for soil A and by 35% for soil B. Results also indicated that the swell pressures for all treated soils increased significantly compared to untreated soils. Soils treated with sodium silicate solution showed irregular compaction curves. Silica gel-treated soils showed a reduction in the maximum dry unit weight for both soils but optimum water content decreased for soil A and increased for soil B. Atterberg limits were also reduced for sodium silicate and silica gels-treated soils. Swelling index for bentonite showed a reduction by 53% for all treated bentonites. Soil-water characteristics curves (SWCC) for sodium silicate-treated soils remined almost the same as untreated soils. However, silica gels-treated soils retain more water. Surface area (SSA) decreased for sodium silicate-treated soil but increased for all silica gels-treated soils. It was concluded that curing times did not show additional improvement in most of the experiments, but the results remained about the same as 1-day treatment. The study demonstrated that silicate solution is promising and sustainable technique for stabilization of expansive soils.
Contributorsalharbi, hani (Author) / Zapata, Claudia (Thesis advisor) / Kavazanjian, Edward (Committee member) / van Paassen, Leon (Committee member) / Khodadaditirkolaei, Hamed (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2020
Description
Enzyme-induced carbonate precipitation (EICP) is an emerging technology for ground improvement that cements soil with calcium carbonate to increase strength and stiffness. EICP-improved soil can be used to support new facilities or it can be injected under existing facilities to prevent excessive deformation. The limitations for commercial adoption of EICP are the cost and the lack of implementation at field-scale. This research demonstrated two ways to reduce the cost of EICP treatment at field-scale. The first was a modification to the EICP solution such that lower amounts of chemicals are needed to achieve target strengths. The second was to use a simple and inexpensive enzyme extraction method to produce the enzyme at a large-scale. This research also involved a two-stage scale-up process to create EICP biocemented soil columns using a permeation grouting technique. The first stage was at mid-scale where 0.6 m x 0.3 m-diameter EICP biocemented soil columns were created in boxes. This work confirmed that conventional permeation grouting equipment and methods are feasible for EICP soil treatment because the columns were found to have a uniform shape, the injection method was able to deliver the EICP solution to the edges of the treatment zone, and downhole geophysics was effectively used to measure the shear wave velocity of the biocemented soil mass. The field-scale stage was performed in the Test Pit facility at the Center for Bio-mediated and Bio-inspired Geotechnics' Soils Field Laboratory. Seven biocemented soil columns were created with diameters ranging from 0.3-1 m and heights ranging from 1-2.4 m. Effective implementation at this scale was confirmed through monitoring the injection process with embedded moisture sensors, evaluating the in situ strength improvement with downhole geophysics and load testing, and testing of the excavated columns to measure shear wave velocity, dimensions, carbonate content, and strength. Lastly, a hotspot life cycle assessment was performed which identified ways to reduce the environmental impacts of EICP by using alternative sourcing of inputs and extraction of byproducts. Overall, this research project demonstrates that EICP is a viable ground improvement technique by way of successfully producing field-scale biocemented soil columns.
ContributorsMartin, Kimberly Kathryn (Author) / Kavazanjian, Jr., Edward (Thesis advisor) / Zapata, Claudia E. (Committee member) / van Paassen, Leon (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2021
Description
Enzyme induced carbonate precipitation (EICP) treatment is a stabilization method of dust mitigation that applies a spray-on treatment to form a soil crust and increase the wind erosion resistance of a disturbed soil surface. The purpose of this work was to evaluate the EICP treatment with multiple field and laboratory test methods for measuring the wind erosion resistance of EICP treated soil. The threshold friction velocity (TFV) is defined as the minimum wind speed required to initiate continuous particle movement and represents the wind erosion resistance of a soil surface. Tested soil type and textures included a clean fine sand to a loamy sandy soil that contained a significant amount of fines. Dry untreated soil and disturbed field soil surfaces were compared to a chloride salt solution treatment and an EICP treatment solution in both laboratory and field testing to evaluate the wind erosion resistance of the treatments.
ContributorsWoolley, Miriam Arna (Author) / Kavazajian, Edward (Thesis advisor) / van Paassen, Leon (Committee member) / Khodadaditirkolaei, Hamed (Committee member) / Hamdan, Nasser (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2023