Graduation Semester and Year

2012

Language

English

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Civil Engineering

Department

Civil Engineering

First Advisor

Sahadat Hossain

Abstract

Shallow slope failures are predominant in North Texas and pose a significant maintenance problem. The traditional slope repair and stabilization techniques become expensive in some instances with direct costs associated in maintenance and repair of landslides. A new approach for slope stabilization has been developed using Recycled Plastic Pins ( RPP) to reinforce slope movements. The engineering properties of RPP in compression and bending strength along with environmental considerations dictate the design and repair of slopes using RPP. Two other materials have also been considered as an alternative: (1) Wood lumber and (2) Bamboo. Wood has many advantages as an engineering material. It is strong, light, and fairly simple to work with. Bamboo is typically thought of for decoration is recently becoming more popular as a structural element. Bamboo is one of the fastest growing plant in the world and readily available in developing countries like: South Asia. However, to administer their application in slope stabilization, it is necessary to have a clear understanding of their structural behavior under in situ conditions. The current study focuses on determining engineering properties of Recycled Plastic Pins (RPPs), wood lumber and bamboo and their applicability in soil slope stabilization. The RPPs, manufactured by Bedford Technology Ltd., was collected from Minnesota, the bamboo samples were collected from Benson Tropical Sea Imports and the wood lumber was collected from local stores . An extensive experimental program was developed to determine the engineering characteristics of these materials. The tests that were performed were the flexure test and the uniaxial compression as they govern to match the field load orientation. Three different strain rates were applied during the test were based on the ASTM standards and field conditions. For each strain rate, three samples from each of the respective specimen were taken. Three different environmental conditions, to match the Texas soil, were considered for the current study, 1) Acidic condition of a pH of 5.5 representing Texas red clay 2) Alkaline condition of a pH of 8.5 representing Texas black clay 3) Neutral condition of a pH of 7.0 simulating rainwater and moist conditions in field. The test results showed that wood possess highest peak strength, both in flexure and compression, but RPPs extended to accommodate more soil movments, which was upto 19% in compression at the lowest strain rate. However, the strength of wood and bamboo were decreased by 50% for wood and 65% for bamboo under different environmental conditions where the strength reduction for RPPs was only 8%. The results, both the flexure and the axial compressive tests in environement and non-environment conditions, reflect that RPPs could be utilized over wood and bamboo to stabilize slope failures in field conditions. However, for the solid condition with a pH of 7.0, all three materials can be used for slope stabilization.

Disciplines

Civil and Environmental Engineering | Civil Engineering | Engineering

Comments

Degree granted by The University of Texas at Arlington

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