Geotechnical Innovations: From Research to Practice · Geotechnical Innovations: From Research to Practice Purdue Geotechnical Society Workshop J. David Frost, Ph.D., P.E., P.Eng

Geotechnical Innovations: From Research to Practice

Purdue Geotechnical Society Workshop

J. David Frost, Ph.D., P.E., P.Eng.Professor & Vice Provost

Georgia Institute of Technology

Who knows what this is …..

Outline of presentation• A few comments about innovation• In-situ penetration tests• Laboratory tests• Geosynthetics• Digital soils• Non-disruptive technologies• Full-scale tests• Insight inspired innovation• Emerging opportunities

A Definition of Innovation:

The successful exploitation of a new idea, method, device or system that creates a

new dimension of performance…..

Innovation Path (can be long and tortuous)

Basic Research

Applied Research

Translational Research

System Realization

Commercialization

Practice tends tofocus on this end…

Academia tends tofocus on this end…

Innovation Path (iPath)

Innovation can begin/occur anywhere along the path

Invention not same as Innovation!

Innovation Characteristics

TYPES

• Transformational• Incremental• Device• System• Project specific• Method

METRICS

• Relative to what base• Cost to develop• Revenue generated• Return on investment• Simplicity

Characteristics of Innovators

TRAITS

• Inquisitive mind• Willingness to explore• Not afraid to fail• Pioneer spirit• Enjoys working at

interfaces

WHO

• Individual• Group of individuals • Team• Owner• Thread of above

Innovation Enablers/Detractors

SUPPORT FACTORS

• Situational• Constraint motivated• Insight inspired• Accidental• Environment driven

IMPEDIMENTS

• Resources• Ethics• Environment• Competitors• Constructability• Sustainability

Cycle of Innovation

SURVIVABILITY

• One time event• Short life• Long life• Multiple incarnations

Rogers Diffusion “S” Curve

Identified Geo-Innovations• Electronic data acq.• Data visualization• Numerical analysis• DEM• Osterberg Load Cell• System analysis• Geosynthetics• Ground improvement• Suction piles

• Real-time monitoring• Wave based char.• Probabilistic methods• Soil nailing• Penetration testing• Small strain • New materials• Higher resolution tools• Tomography

In-Situ Penetration Tests

Penetration Testing

Vision Cone Penetrometer

(courtesy Hryciw)

(courtesy Hryciw)

Multi-sensor Technology

Conve

ntional 15 c

m2

CPT M

odule

Multi-

Fric

tion S

leev

e Pe

net

rom

eter

Att

achm

ent

qc

fs

fs#1

u2

fs#2

fs#3

fs#4

Attachment Digital HousingAttachment Digital Board

Digital Housing

Digital Board

Dual Axis Inclinometer

Friction Sleeve

Tip

Pore Pressure

61 c

m109 c

m

Friction Sleeve

Friction Sleeve

Friction Sleeve

Friction Sleeve

Mandrel

Mandrel

Mandrel

Mandrel

4.37 cm

Conve

ntional 15 c

m2

CPT M

odule

Multi-

Fric

tion S

leev

e Pe

net

rom

eter

Att

achm

ent

qc

fs

fs#1

u2

fs#2

fs#3

fs#4

Attachment Digital HousingAttachment Digital Board

Digital Housing

Digital Board

Dual Axis Inclinometer

Friction Sleeve

Tip

Pore Pressure

61 c

m109 c

m

Friction SleeveFriction Sleeve




MandrelMandrel

MandrelMandrel

MandrelMandrel

MandrelMandrel

4.37 cm

Georgia Institute of Technology - Geosystems Group Multi Friction Sleeve CPT Attachment DataTest Site: Timian Yard - South Royalton, VT Oper: JD, GLH, DF MS #2: SM2 MS #5: N/ADate: Variable Tip Conf: 15cm2 CPT MS #3: Variable Pen. Rate (cm/s): 2Test ID: Variable MS #1: SM1 MS #4: SM4 Meas Rate (Sa/cm): 1Notes: Response of Sleeve Texture to Silica Sand at the SRVT test site - APF Corrected

0

1

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3

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5

6

7

8

9

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11

12

13

0 5000 10000 15000

qT Tip Stress kPa)

Dep

th (m

)

0 200 400 600

Smooth Comp (kPa)

0 200 400 600

H0.125 Comp (kPa)0 200 400 600

H0.25 Comp (kPa)0 200 400 600

H0.50 Comp (kPa)0 200 400 600

H1.00 Comp (kPa)0 200 400 600

H2.00 Comp (kPa)0 200 400 600

ALL Sleeves (kPa)

Georgia Institute of Technology - Geosystems Group Multi Piezo Friction Sleeve CPT Attachment DataTest Site: Shenton Park Sand Site Oper: GLH, James, Andrew (Probedrill WA) MS #2: 30H.5S3 MS #5: N/ADate: Tip Conf: 15cm2 CPT MS #3: 30H1S3 Pen. Rate (cm/s): 2Test ID: MP30L0409C MS #1: 30H.25S3 MS #4: 30H2S3 Meas Rate (Sa/cm): 1Notes: MPFA - No fs, MS1 Page: 2 of 2

7/30/2004

0

1

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13

14

0 10000 20000

Tip Stress (kPa)

Dep

th (m

)

-50 0 50 100Pore Pressure (kPa)

0 5 10

Sleeve Stress (kPa)-50 0 50 100

MP#0 (kPa)-50 0 50 100

MP#2 (kPa)

0 50 100

MP#3 (kPa)-50 0 50 100

MP#4 (kPa)-50 0 50 100

ALL MP (kPa)

-50 50

MP#1 (kPa)

Integrated Digital Data Management

Laboratory Tests

Moist Tamping System

Schematic View of Moist Tamping System

Tamping Rod Reference Collar

Linear Bearing

Membrane Protection Collar

Load Cell

Tamping Disc

Vacuum Line

Split MoldRubber Membrane

Bottom Platen

Base of Frame

O-Ring

(a) (b)

4th Layer (Target Density)

7th Layer(+9%)

6th Layer(+6%)

5th Layer(+3%)

3rd Layer(-3%)

2nd Layer(-6%)

1st Layer(-9%)

Bottom Platen

Top Platen

Base of Frame

Membrane

O-Ring

Moist Tamped Specimen with Undercompation Ratio of 3 %

Base of Frame

Forces Applied to MT Specimen

Forc

es, l

bs

Tamping Number

7th Layer

6th Layer

5th Layer

4th Layer

3rd Layer

2nd Layer

1st Layer

Cum

ulat

ive

Forc

es, l

bs

261.0

227.9

208.4

123.9

150.0

214.3

143.0

05

101520

05

101520

05

101520

05

101520

05

101520

05

101520

05

101520

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

0

100

200

300

0

100

200

300

0

100

200

300

0

100

200

300

0

100

200

300

0

100

200

300

0

100

200

300

Peak Stress Measurement

Avg. Peak Stress,kPa

Laye

r

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

0 50 100 150 200

10%25%40%50%75%

Top

Bottom

10 25 40 50% 75% ← Target DR

Global Response of Dilatant Specimens

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20Axial Strain, %

Dev

iato

r Stre

ss q

', kP

a

H/D=1, Non-lubricated

H/D=1, Thin Lubricated

H/D=1, Thick Lubricated

H/D=2, Non-lubricated

50 kPa confining pressure

Typical GeomaterialsSteel FRP

Wood Concrete

Geomembranes

Interface Shear Device (End View)

Curved Shear BoxCurved Shear Box

Shear Box on Top of Pipe Coupon Photograph of the Underside of the Shear Box

Geosynthetics

Geosynthetics

(courtesy Hebeler)

Geosynthetics

(courtesy Hebeler)

Geosynthetics

(courtesy Hebeler)

Geosynthetics

(courtesy Hebeler)

Digital Soils

Tomography & Imaging Technologies

Serial Sectioning and Image Capture

Polishing Off 8μ Capturing Images

Reference Marks for Alignment

Cone for Removal Check

MultiPrep System Leica DM 4000Illustration of Reference Marks

Mosaic Generation

Image 101 Image 102

Image 201 Image 202

Four Neighboring Images with 20% Overlap

3-D Reconstruction

20 mm

12 mm8 μ600 slices ≈

5 mm

Slice used in 3D reconstruction Dimensions of the Reconstructed Volume

Reconstructed Ottawa 50-70 Block

3-D Reconstructed Specimens

Sub-volume of a specimen Extracted Pore Structure Extracted Particles

3-D Analysis: Pore Structure

Colors represent relative distance (red - close, blue -far) to the nearest particle surface. (Particles are not shown)

Medial Axis Analysis:

•Shortest Paths

•Tortuosities

A Volume of 256x256x 300

3D Medial Axis of the Volume

= +

Medial Axis Paths from Face 1 to Face 2 All Medial Axis Paths Shortest Paths

Face 1

Face 2

3-D Particle Visualization

Back

Top Bottom Right

Front

Left

3-D Pore Visualization

Volume size: 117 x 87 x 65 voxels

Estimated pore size:

Length = 600 ~ 700 micron

Width = 200 ~ 300 micron

Height = 400 ~ 500 micron

(i) (ii) (iii)

(iv) (v) (vi)

• Surface Texture, roundness and sphericity influence strength properties and deformation characteristics of granular materials.

• There are few experimental studies that link strength properties and instability phenomena of unbound granular materials to their micro-properties.

Influence of particle surface toughness on friction and dilatancy angle under Plane strain Loading

(courtesy Al-Shibli)

Particle Shape Modeling in DEM

Ellipses/EllipsoidsTing, Ng, Lin, others

SuperquadraticsWilliams et al.

PolygonsGhaboussi, Williams

Bonded ClustersJensen, Bray, O’Sullivan

Overlapping ClustersAshmawy, Sukumaran

(courtesy Sukumaran)

Non-disruptive Technologies

Machines

Jacking ForcesJFtotal = JFface pressure + JFfriction

JFfriction

JFface pressure

Intermediate Jacking Stations

• For Pipelines 36-inch and Larger

• Long Lead Time Items

• Must be inserted at Proper Location or they are useless

No Lube – Lube – No Lube – Lube – No Lube

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350

Length [feet]

Jack

ing

Forc

e [to

ns]

Actual Jacking Forces Predicted Lubricated

6.0int =μ μint.effective =0.35μint.lube =0.06 μint.lube =0.06

Non-LubricatedLubrication Begins LubricationBegins Non-Lubricated

μint.effective =0.5

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350

Length [feet]

Jack

ing

Forc

e [to

ns]

Actual Jacking Forces Predicted Lubricated

6.0int =μ μint.effective =0.35μint.lube =0.06 μint.lube =0.06

Non-LubricatedLubrication Begins LubricationBegins Non-Lubricated

μint.effective =0.5

Full-scale Man-induced and Natural Tests

Osterberg Load Cell

(courtesy LoadTest)

D. Fratta

Bridge in Biloxi – Post KatrinaHurricane Storm Surge

(courtesy Santamarina)

BiloxiD’Iverville

I-110 Bridge

Pile 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

Bathymetry: 200 kHz

Sub bottom profiling: 20 kHz

Hurricane Storm Surge

D. Fratta


Insight Inspired

Shearing MechanismsOttawa 20-30 Sand Specimen with Dyed Sand Layers

Structure Preservation After Shearing: Phenolic Resin (1% by weight)

Confining Stress = 50 kPa

Rod/Sleeve Displacement = 67.5 mmDyed Sand Layers

Specimen

Rod & Sleeve

Membrane

Chamber

End Cap

Rubber Seal

Dial Gage

Sle

eve

Rod

Sand

Displacement System w/ Worm Gear Motor

Shearing MechanismsUnaffected

Zone

Smooth SleeveDirection of Sleeve Displacement

Unaffected Zone

Shear Zone

Diamond SleeveDirection of Sleeve Displacement

Discrete Element Modeling

Random Cluster Generation

Consolidation Shearing

N N


Avg. Part. Horiz. Disp. (mm)0 2 4 6 8 10

Laye

r

02468

101214

Horizontal Disp. (mm)0 2 4 6 8 10

Top

Wal

l Dis

p. (m

m)

0.0

0.3

0.6

0.9

1.2

Avg. Part. Rotation (Deg.)0 1 2

Laye

r

02468

101214


She

ar S

tress

(kP

a)

0.0

50.0

100.0

150.0

Normal Force

Displacement

• Smooth Surfaceμp-p = 0.4μp-c = 0.3

Normal Force

Displacement


Avg. Part. Horiz. Disp. (mm)0 2 4 6 8 10

Laye

r

02468

101214


Top

Wal

l Dis

p. (m

m)

0.0

0.3

0.6

0.9

1.2

Avg. Part. Rotation (Deg.)0 1 2

Laye

r

02468

101214


She

ar S

tress

(kP

a)

0.0

50.0

100.0

150.0

• Textured Surfaceμp-p = 0.4μp-c = 0.3

Emerging Opportunities

Gas Hydrate Bearing Sediments

Kvenvolden and Lorenson, 2001


-10

-9

-8

-7

-6

-5

-4

-3

-2

-1

0

2 4 6 8Resistance [kΩ ]

Dep

th [c

m]

-10

-9

-8

-7

-6

-5

-4

-3

-2

-1

0

2 4 6 8Resistance [kΩ]

Dep

th [c

m]

PhotographX-Ray

Varved Clay

Spatial Variability: Electrical Needle Probe


In-Vivo Optical Molecular Imaging

The Kodak In-Vivo MultispectralImaging System FX locates andmonitors changes in molecular activity of specific cells and organslong before morphological changescan be detected…….

Editors Choice – Bioscience Technology March Innovations.

(courtesy Kodak)

12

3

16

15

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11

1098

7

6

5

4

12

3

16

15

14

13

12

11

1098

7

6

5

4

Resistivity Tomography ERT

high σ

V

23

4

5

67

8

V

V

V

V

V

V

V

116

9

1514

13

1211

10

12

3

16

15

14

13

12

11

109

8

7

6

5

4

low σ


Shear Wave Imaging – Stress around tunnels

Vs (m/s)

35

50

65

80

95

110

>125


Next Generation...

Thank You.

(courtesy Hebeler)

Documents

Geotechnical Innovations: From Research to Practice · Geotechnical Innovations: From Research to Practice Purdue Geotechnical Society Workshop J. David Frost, Ph.D., P.E., P.Eng