Elastodynamic solutions for multi-layer systems and analysis techniques for drilled shafts stabilized slopes

The nondestructive testing has been widely used for the evaluation of the structural capacity of a pavement system. A complete evaluation process actually involves back and forward calculations in which a realistic model and the corresponding analysis scheme are critical to producing reliable results. In this study, focus is placed on the fundamental study of wave propagation within a multilayered pavement under dynamic loads.; Analytical solutions for a multilayered pavement model have been developed in time domain respectively for the following loads: (a) axisymmetric dynamic loads applied on the surface, and (b) impulsive ring sources acting within the layered media. In addition, efficient numerical procedures were developed to compute these solutions. Illustrative examples demonstrated that the derived solutions can be easily implemented, while providing fairly accurate results. The solutions can be directly used for the determination of the wave propagation within the multilayered pavement system.; Drilled shafts have been used as an effective means to stabilize a soil slope. One of the main mechanisms of drilled shafts in enhancing the stability of the soil slope is through soil arching. The second part of this dissertation is concentrated on the fundamental study of the soil arching mechanism and the methodology for the drilled shafts reinforced slope analysis.; A finite element analysis approach for quantifying the soil arching mechanisms associated with the drilled shafts stabilized soil slopes was developed. The parametric study has been extensively carried out, in which the load transfer characteristics due to soil arching were quantified to relate the arching-induced stress transfer behavior to the shaft parameters and the soil properties. Based on these results, a limit equilibrium based slope stability analysis technique was developed that would allow for the determination of the safety factor of the reinforced slope and the forces acting on the drilled shafts. The efficiency of using drilled shafts to stabilize a slope was discussed by examing the influence of the shaft location, size and spacing on the calculated safety factor. Finally, a practical case involving the use of the proposed approach was presented.