Dynamic Plasticity in Pile-Soil Interaction Problems

The dynamic soil-pile interaction problem is solved by the method of characteristics. The nonlinear, non-homogeneous problem was idealized as a piecewise linear problem. The numerical instability of semi-infinite soil column model has been reported, and a stable model, wherein the soil column below, the pile tip is replaced by a single spring and dashpot, has also been presented. The results obtained from the method of characteristics have been compared with those obtained by explicit finite difference scheme. The convergence and stability were studied numerically

Automated Slope Stability Analysis of Zoned Dams

The study pertains to the pseudo-static stability analysis of zoned dams with geologic discontinuities in the foundation. Sequential unconstrained minimization technique in conjunction with Janbu\u27s generalized procedure of slices has been used for finding the critical slip surface and the corresponding minimum factor of safety. The method has been found to be quite efficient in solving such problems

Stability of a Mast Foundation: A Case Study

The paper describes details of analysis for stability and deformation of mast foundations during installation operations for a chemical reactor in alluvial deposits. Brief details of the loads involved, foundation type, installation procedure, and evaluation of geotechnical design parameters have also been presented. The successful installation of the reactor seems to support the predicted response of the foundation

A maritime risk and transportation model for the transport of crude oil and petroleum products

Marine transportation is an integral component of any country\u27s transportation system and is essential to the nation\u27s economy as well its national security. The entire transportation infrastructure, including ports and waterways, must able to handle the projected increases in waterborne trade. The public in favor of air, rail, and highway based transport systems often overlooks the importance of waterways. Increasing the efficiency of waterway usage has economic and environmental benefits.The aim of this work is to present a comprehensive maritime oil transportation system that could be used by a regulatory agency or a shipper to understand the dynamics of maritime oil transportation and to evaluate possible improvements of the system. The maritime transportation system provides efficient routing for various vessels carrying crude oil and petroleum products from multiple origins to multiple destinations. The routing of these vessels is provided while minimizing the costs of transporting such products by different vessels, and minimizing the risk costs, due to damages caused by oil spills, associated with the routes of a maritime transportation network. In order to evaluate these risk cost estimates, a novel methodology is presented to determine and assign oil spill risk costs to the routes of a maritime transportation system. Also presented are approaches to determine the voyage costs associated with transporting various products by different vessels. In order to solve this multiobjective problem, an interactive solution methodology is presented to solve maritime oil transportation problem. This methodology is then implemented on an internet ready software package called IOTS. Application of the oil transportation methodology is then provided for a real world example of the oil transportation network in the Gulf of Mexico