GeoWade--
The displacement at which peak strength is mobilized is usually based on experience.
K.H. Head has a discussion on this subject in Volume 2 of his "Manual of Soil Laboratory Testing" (Pentech Press, 1994). In the Second Edition, this is in section 12.7 on pp 247. He includes a...
0070--
You can easily relate vertical strain to void ratio by using a phase diagram.
Vertical Strain = (Delta e)/(1+e0)
BigH actually gives this above, but less bluntly. Also, as BigH states, the strain-log p' plots are actually preferred by many, since they simplify some settlement...
Solid overview of construction (light on design):
"Earth Retention Systems Hndbk" by Al Macnab (2002) McGraw-Hill
Comprehensive, but slightly dated:
"Slurry Walls" by Petros Xanthakos (1979) McGraw-Hill
Also:
"Foundation Engr Handbk" Edited by Fang (1991) Van Nostrand
bandraoi--
Please see my response in the thread in the "Geotechnical Engineering--Other Topics" forum on this subject:
http://www.eng-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=102365
Here are some short answers to your questions:
((1))
There are not many programs in the US currently that are doing...
The University of Washington geotechnical labs have been employing a "cyclical" deairing system for more than a decade now. The units were constructed in-house, designed primarily by graduate students, and basically consist of 2 deairing tanks that work cyclically--while one unit is being...
I think Focht3 is referring to "Foundation Analysis" by Ronald F. Scott (Prentice-Hall, 1981). One of the best Fndn Engr texts around in incorporating background and theory. Another excellent text in that regard is Perloff & Baron's "Soil Mechanics" (Wiley, 1976) which was unfortunately...
Whew! That's a tall order (see layfieldman's comment)
But a pretty nice starting point for peer-reviewed literature on this subject is contained in Giroud's "Geosynthetics Bibliography" published by IFAI and available from any number of sources, including NAGS, or most major university...
The "blowcount by Japanese Standards" may refer to the variation of energy input in the SPT test. This depends on many factors, like hammer release system type, hammer type, anvil, etc etc. N-values are typically corrected to a common energy level of 60% (ratio of the imparted energy to the...
talves--
A main issue regarding loading rates applied in cyclic trixial tests appears to be stress and porewater redistribution during shear. "Back in the day" Seed and his boys used to test at frequencies of 1 Hz (and faster) to simulate EQ loading conditions. A problem with this is that the...
ASCE's official policy statement (with "Issues" and "Rationale") on "Academic Prerequisites for Licensure and Professional Practice" can be found at:
http://www.asce.org/pressroom/news/policy_details.cfm?hdlid=15
Note that ASCE is a professional organization (not a governing body) for civil...
If interested in ballast strength, a good (and recent) source is Indraratna et al. (1998) "Shear behavior of railway ballast based on large-scale triaxial tests" ASCE JGGE 124(5).
Self-filtration, also known as "bridging", is the formation of a "filter bridge" in the base soil immediately adjacent to the filter (whether it's a granular or geosynthetic filter). This refers to the ability of a base soil to retain its own finer particles near the base-filter interface. The...
Check out "Micropile Design and Construction Guidelines Implementation Manual" by Tom A. Armour, PE, Paul Groneck, PE, James Keeley, PE, and Sunil Sharma. It's an FHWA publication, available through them or (more easily) through ADSC-IAFD (Int'l Association of Foundation Drilling) for $50...