E-raamat: Centrifuge Modelling for Civil Engineers

Preface The first time I ever heard the word centrifuge modelling was during the late afternoon lectures given by Prof Chandrasekaran at the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay. The course was about finite element methods in geomechanics but Prof Chandrasekaran would philosophise that if we wanted real understanding of the failure mechanisms we should really be doing centrifuge modelling. On my arrival in Cambridge Prof Andrew Schofield drove me to the centrifuge centre to show the beam and drum centrifuges. In those days I was still an ardent numerical modeller so I was looking for the big main frame computers. Only a year later did I slowly realise the unique opportunity centrifuge modelling provides and started my first centrifuge tests on towerstructures subjected to earthquake loading. Over the last 25 years I have been involved in a wide variety of centrifuge tests and often complement them with numerical analysis. This combination of centrifuge modelling to clarify mechanisms and use of centrifuge data to verify numerical procedures is a powerful one and is reflected in this book. The origins of this book took shape from my lecture course that introduces new research students to centrifuge modelling. It also benefits from the various short courses I gave at IIT Bombay with support from the Royal Society, UK and the Department of Science and Technology, India and the training course offered at IFSTTAR centrifuge facility in Nantes, France under the EU funded SERIES project. I felt that thereis a need for a book which makes the principles of centrifuge modelling, the scaling laws and the techniques used accessible to practising civil engineers-- The textbook reflects Madabhushis experience with centrifuge modeling to clarify mechanisms and using centrifuge data to verify numerical procedures. He introduces graduate students and practitioners in civil engineering to the principles of centrifuge modeling, the scaling laws, and the techniques used. Among his topics are modern geotechnical engineering design in civil engineering, error and limitations in centrifuge modeling, centrifuge data acquisition systems, modeling shallow foundations, modeling the construction sequences, and dynamic centrifuge modeling. Annotation ©2014 Ringgold, Inc., Portland, OR (protoview.com) Solve Complex Ground and Foundation ProblemsPresenting more than 25 years of teaching and working experience in a wide variety of centrifuge testing, the author of Centrifuge Modelling for Civil Engineers fills a need for information about this field. This text covers all aspects of centrifuge modelling. Expertly explaining the basic principles, the book makes this technique accessible to practicing engineers and researchers.Appeals to Non-Specialists and Specialists AlikeCivil engineers that are new to the industry can refer to this material to solve complex geotechnical problems. The book outlines a generalized design process employed for civil engineering projects. It begins with the basics, and then moves on to increasingly complex methods and applications including shallow foundations, retaining walls, pile foundations, tunnelling beneath existing pile foundations, and assessing the stability of buildings and their foundations following earthquake-induced soil liquefaction. It addresses the use of modern imaging technique, data acquisition, and modelling techniques. It explains the necessary signal processing tools that are used to decipher centrifuge test data, and introduces the reader to the specialist aspects of dynamic centrifuge modelling used to study dynamic problems such as blast, wind, or wave loading with emphasis on earthquake engineering including soil liquefaction problems.Introduces the equipment and instrumentation used in centrifuge testingPresents in detail signal processing techniques such as smoothing and filteringProvides example centrifuge data that can be used for sample analysis and interpretationCentrifuge Modelling for Civil Engineers effectively describes the equipment, instrumentation, and signal processing techniques required to make the best use of the centrifuge modelling and test data. This text benefits graduate students, researchers, and practicing civil engineers involved with geotechnical issues.