Alaskan Way Earthquake Simulation, Seattle WA
Video produced by WSDOT showing earthquake damage to the Alaskan Way viaduct and seawall. Pretty scary to think about, pretty cool to watch.
Masters Thesis Finished
I’m all finished with my master’s thesis. All that is left is make 4 copies on expensive paper, and take them to the ASU bookstore and spend too much to get them bound. Of course Murphy has had a hand in my life the last couple days, our nice color duplex laser printer needs a new drum and transfer belt. $300 is too much to pay right now, and I need them today, not in a couple weeks or whenever UPS delivers them, so we have to buy a new printer, which will be cheaper than printing it at Kinko’s.
You can download my thesis following this link:
http://media.amosfamily.net/doc/Pavement_Design_on_Exapansive_Subgrade-A_Comparison.pdf
My abstract:
Using a pavement design model presented by Hong et. al. the pavement structural number was computed in a 0.1 degree grid pattern for the entire state of Arizona. This model takes into account the expansion potential and suction envelope within the subgrade soil using a model nearly identical to that used in post-tensioned slab design. The pavement structural number for each of the points on the grid was also obtained using the pavement design model currently endorsed by the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT). It was determined by comparing these two models that the method proposed by Hong et al., referred to as the “Texas method,” determines the structural number to be larger than that obtained using the ADOT model. In locations with soils with high expansion potential, the structural number estimated by the Texas Method was three to four times the structural number provided by the Arizona Method. Pavement performance data is needed to determine which method provides a more accurate design.
In order to properly model the Texas method, data was collected from various sources and analyzed. Climatic information was collected and maps generated. Soil property maps were also generated. Sensitivity analyses were performed on the mean principal stress compression index and on the wetting and drying cycle frequency. The latter parameter was analyzed for wetting and drying cycle frequencies of one day, one week, one month, and one year. It was found that the frequency contributed greatly to the depth of suction equilibrium and had a large effect on the structural number estimated by the Texas method.
Thesis Defense
Wish me luck, on Wednesday morning I will defend my thesis. If you’d like to read the draft you can download it here.
http://media.amosfamily.net/doc/Brian Amos - Thesis.pdf
I’ll put the final up here after I turn it in for binding.
Small Project
Last August while Laurie and the kids were staying cool at more northerly latitudes I was here. I decided to remodel our office desk. When we moved in it was a door across two cabinets. Not too attractive. I bought the wood to make the new desk. I joined the planks glued them together and planed them to make each panel for the desk and then I waited for Laurie to get home and clean off the desk. She came home and still I waited. Birthday’s, Thanksgiving, Christmas, they all came and still I waited. But finally late last week she cleaned off the desk, so I could measure, alter, fit, glue, sand and finish the desk. Here are a couple photos:
Before:
Finished:
Completed with everything replaced and running.
Next project: Tackle the cords. Maybe I should invest in that wireless power technology that Tesla invented in the 1800’s that we still have yet to see applied to everyday life.
Free Educational Materials
I don’t usually mention specific websites, at least not here. I stumbled on an awesome website a few minutes ago.
It is targeted to be an aid for ‘tonights homework.’ I think it is pretty cool, maybe that is just the nerd in me. Whenever I find a repository of so much information, neat information that is worth learning about, I get very excited. I think this may become one of my favorite websites. Check it out.
P.S. I really enjoy the engineering section.
