REU Poster: Lime Stabilization of Expansive Soils

Fig.1. REU poster

REU Reflection Paper

UT Arlington REU 2012: Reflection Paper

The Research Experience for Undergraduate (REU 2012) at the University of Texas Arlington (UTA) has definitely been educational and satisfying for me.  It was a great opportunity or probably the best engineering experience I have had so far. As a student from a small school with limited resources, I was able to get a taste, for the first time, of how highly advanced geotechnical tests are conducted. My research at UTA has gone beyond the expectations I had before the actual program. Initially, I thought we would only spend most of the time reading engineering textbooks and conducting tests, but I was surprised to see more events I never expected before. My major expectations for the REU program included the interaction with knowledgeable faculty staff, real world application of engineering and science, preparation of high-level studies such graduate school, and so on. Also, I was looking forward to working with students from other schools and make connections. 

Three-Dimensional Swell Test

University of Texas at Arlington

Civil Engineering Department

Laboratory Test Report

Three-Dimensional Swell Test on Soil from Burleson, Texas

Written by:

Richard Benda

Joseph Muhirwa

Robert Sargent

July 11, 2012

Table of Contents                                                                                                           Page
Abstract..............................................................................................................................3
Introduction........................................................................................................................4
Equipment and Materials...................................................................................................5
Methods and Procedure......................................................................................................5
Data, Results, and Discussion............................................................................................6
Conclusion.........................................................................................................................8
References.........................................................................................................................8
Appendices

            Appendix A: Dial Readings and Corresponding Vertical Swell…………………10

Unconfined Compressive Strength Test

University of Texas at Arlington

Civil Engineering Department

Laboratory Test Report

Unconfined Compressive Strength on Soil from Austin, TX.

Written by:

Richard Benda

Joseph Muhirwa

Robert Sargent

July 11, 2012

Table of Contents                                                                                                        Page
Abstract...........................................................................................................................3
Introduction.....................................................................................................................4
Equipment and Materials................................................................................................4
Methods and Procedure...................................................................................................5
Data, Results, and Discussion.........................................................................................6
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................7
References.......................................................................................................................8

One-Dimensional Swell Test

University of Texas at Arlington

Civil Engineering Department

Laboratory Test Report

One-Dimensional Swell Test of Soil from Austin, Texas

Written by:

Richard Benda

Joseph Muhirwa

Robert Sargent

July 10, 2012

Table of Contents                                                                                                          Page
Abstract...............................................................................................................................3
Introduction.........................................................................................................................4
Equipment and Materials....................................................................................................5
Procedure............................................................................................................................5
Results, Data, and Discussion.............................................................................................7
Conclusion...........................................................................................................................8
References...........................................................................................................................9
Appendices

            Appendix A: Dial Gauge Readings………………………………………………..10

            Appendix B: Sample Calculations………………………………………………...13

Hydrometer Test

University of Texas at Arlington

Civil Engineering Department

Laboratory Test Report

Hydrometer Test for Grain Size Analysis on soil from Burleson, Texas

Written by:

Richard Benda

Joseph Muhirwa

Robert Sargent

July 11, 2012

Table of Contents                                                                                                   Page
Abstract.......................................................................................................................3
Introduction.................................................................................................................4
Equipment and Materials............................................................................................4
Methods and Procedure..............................................................................................5
Data, Results, and Discussion....................................................................................7
Conclusion.................................................................................................................9
References.................................................................................................................10
Appendices
            Appendix A: Hydrometer Analysis Table and Sample Calculations............11

Determination of Sulfate Content in Expansive Soil

University of Texas at Arlington

Civil Engineering Department

Laboratory Test Report

Sulfate Content of Soil from Austin, Texas

Written by:

Richard Benda

Joseph Muhirwa

Robert Sargent

July 1st, 2012

Table of Contents

Page

Table of Contents ….........................................................................................1
List of Tables and Figures................................................................................2
Abstract….......................................................................................................3
Introduction.......................................................................................................4
Equipment and Materials………………………………….....................…….4

Methods and Procedure......................................................................................6
Data, Results, and Discussion.............................................................................7
Conclusion.........................................................................................................9
References.......................................................................................................10
Appendices

            Appendix A: Sample Calculations……………………………...........11

Atteberg Limits Test for Austin's clayey soil

University of Texas at Arlington

Civil Engineering Department

Laboratory Test Report

Atterberg Limits of Soil from Austin, Texas

Written by:

Richard Benda

Joseph Muhirwa

Robert Sargent

June 28th, 2012

Table of Contents                                                                                         Page

Table of Contents ….........................................................................................1
List of Tables and Figures.................................................................................2
Abstract….........................................................................................................3
Introduction........................................................................................................3

Equipment and Materials……………………………………………...............4
Methods and Procedure.....................................................................................4
Data, Results, and Discussion............................................................................6
Conclusion.........................................................................................................8
References..........................................................................................................8

Leaning Tower of Pisa.

I. Introduction

            On rare occasions, a project may be known for its failures rather than its successes. One notable example of this occurrence can be found in the Leaning Tower of Pisa, located in Pisa, Italy. When construction began in 1173, geotechnical engineering methods were either not well established or nonexistent, which could most likely explain the poor choice of having the tower located above soft subsoil. A shallow foundation depth of roughly 3 meters could likely be accounted to poor engineering methods as well. Construction on the tower continued until 1178, when work on the third floor of the tower was still in progress. At this point the tower began to sink into the foundation. Since the Republic of Pisa was engaged in battles with neighboring regions at this point, construction was halted which would hopefully allow the soil beneath the foundation to settle.

            After approximately 94 years, construction on the tower resumed. In order to rectify the tilt of the structure, one side of each floor was built taller than the other, giving the tower a slight curve to help compensate. The seventh floor of the tower was finally completed in 1319, with the bell chamber being finished in 1372. In 1990, the tower was closed to the public to commence renovation efforts. Various methods of stabilizing the soil were employed, some successful and others not. After eleven long years of arduous work, the Leaning Tower of Pisa finally reopened to the public in 2001. Though the tower now only tilts at less than 0.2 arc-seconds (less than 1/10000th of a degree) per year, the tower’s lean will always be a reminder of how crucial proper site work is to any engineering project.

Fig.1. Leaning Tower of Pisa

 

Research Log for the REU 2012 at UT Arlington

Week 1:

• June 18, 2012: Orientation Day.

Today was the official starting or opening day of the summer 2012 Research Experience for Undergraduate (REU) at the University of Texas Arlington (UTA). The main event of the day was the orientation of all the REU participants at UTA.

At the beginning of the day, Dr. Yazdani briefly described the REU program and introduced all the faculty staff, Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs), and other people that were going to help us in the six-week program.  These include Dr. Yvetter Weatherton of Environmental engineering department and Dr. Stephanie Daza. After that, Dr. Yazdani gave on overview of the project including all the upcoming activities and our responsibilities. He mentioned that our task was going to be huge in the following days and showed us some examples of the works of previous years' participants such as: websites, posters, powerpoint slides , and Research log. After Dr Yazdani's overview of the project, the five projects to be worked on were briely introduced. These are Mitigation of Expansive soil Damage and Earhquake Research; Air Dispersion Modeling: Planning for Airborn Terrorism Releases; Effects of extreme wind loads on structures; Hacker Detection: Evaluation and Improvement; and Power Grid Failure. These were presented by either the faculty staff in charge (mentors) or GTAs.  After the presentation of Aravind Pedarla who's a geotechnical PhD student at UTA, I become more interested in the expansive soil and Earthquake project. He showed us some pictures of the soil stabilization  technique or the application of that method in the real world. The next presenter was Terrie Davis who talked  about participant reimbursements. After her presentation, we took an hour lunch break which was followed by Dr Daza's presentation. Dr Daza mainly talked about benefits of the REU and the past experience of the REU programs (2010 and 2011) at UTA. Furthermore, she went over the informed consent for UTA REU Site Participants which is a document comprising the facts and implications that each REU participants has to agree with. Each partipant had to read through the informed consent and sign it.

The last event of the day was to complete the pre-survey that basically REU organizers use to know what each REU participants thinks about the REU program and what he thinks about engineering, mathematics, science, and technology.

Below is an example of how a UTA-REU informed consent looks like:

Fig1. Informed consent.

Other than REU  orientation, we did not do too  much of anything else. Though, I did not had an assignment related to my project, I used my free time to update my blog website.

Social Events and Daily life @ UTA for a 6 weeks REU Program

Week 1:

• June 17, 2012

Today was the check-in day.  After a 3-hour flight from Ontario, CA Airport to Dallas Forth Worth, TX (DWF) airport, I had to find a ride from DWF to UT Arlington. Luckily, a friend of mine from California called his friend from Dallas and this guy sent his wife to pick me up from the airport. What a great mum?

I am so thankful to Mrs Avril.

After arriving on campus, finding the dormitory we were to stay in was big challenge for me. This is was due to the size of the campus I never experienced before. I mean it's approximately 3 times of the school I go to. After 15 minutes of searching, I found KC Hall ( Kalpana Chawla hall) which is right next to Mitchel Street. 

The first REU colleagues I talked to was Richard Rascal Benda who is acool guy. After introducing each other, we found out that we were to be working on the same project. 

After 3 and a half hours waiting for the checkin process, people in charge finally allowed us in KC hall rooms. Some of the cool stuff we were given are: linens, pillows, towels, a 1 private room, swipe cards for KC  hall, for meals plan,and for access to other facilities, and so on. 

After checking in, we headed to UTA cafeteria which is a buffet-like food place and they had some good food such as beef stew, rice, green beans, salad and all kinds of drinks.

The Next thing for me was bed time because I was tired from the flight.

Below are pictures of my new room at UTA.

Fig.1. my room during the 2012 REU @ UT Arlington.

Video about Field Lime Stabilization of Subgrade and Base of a road

Below is a cool video explaining how expansive soils, with a high swelling potential, are stabilized. this video is mainly about the improvement of subgrade layer of a highway that is to be built in a region with a soil of a very high clayey content or predominance of expansive soil.

In this video about expansive soil stabilization, some typical additives or chemicals used to stabilize an expansive soil are given. These include lime, cement, and CDK.  For a brief demonstration of how to stabilize an expansive soil of the road's sub-grade , please refer to the above link

Fig.2. Stabilization of a Toll way's sub-grade in Illinois state

SO Excited to be part of the REU @ UT Arlington

Alright. Here it comes. The summer 2012 REU @ UT Arlington.  Only, four days remain till I start to conduct my own engineering research on daily basis. Though I feel a little nervous of what’s waiting me ahead, I do also have this unusual feeling of excitement since this is going to be my first civil-engineering-related research experience in my life. After spending a long time applying and preparing for this REU, now I can say that the main knowledge I was seeking is coming up soon. I hope this is going to be a time of learning more about civil engineering , conducting experiments, working together with new people in  a new environment,  and most importantly a time of  preparing my future career.