Acknowledgements tQo"$ JN}
This work would not have been possible without the help, dedication, and if#$wm%
support of Professor Ellen M. Rathje. It is a great fortune for me to work for her |06J4H~k
and I will be forever grateful. Yk?uxZ4)H
During the research process, Professor K. H. Stokoe has been very ;u}MG3Y8
generous and is great help to us. He also provides many precious opinions and mUcHsCszH
useful suggestions in the instrumentation designs and data interpretations. I really c7wza/r>
appreciate his assistances in this research. Also, I am very thankful to my sDJ5'ul
committee members, Professor Wilson, Professor Williamson, and Professor KC q3S
Wright for their constructive opinions and valuable time. nfRo:@
In addition, I am very grateful many faculty members at UT-Austin. The 9L!Vj J
list includes: Professor Olson, Professor Gilbert, Professor Rauch, and Professor 8'`&f&
Wright. I have learned so much from all of you, and I appreciate all you have >%Y.X38Z[
done to prepare me for the future. FCqs'
Mostly, I would like to thank my wife Pei-Shan and daughter Alison for 7F}I.,<W
their tremendous patient during my preparation of this dissertation. My wife in <C${1FO7If
particular has had to carry more than her fair share of the duties taking care of our -cY/M~
daughter. Also, to my incredible parents, I am so lucky to have you. O}IS{/^7
vi w$61+KH K
I am indebted to many former and current graduate students in G!0|ocE}
geotechnical engineering group at UT-Austin. They had been help me preparing IQ2<Pinv
the specimen, conducting field and laboratory tests, encouraging me in bad days, A{&Etu(K
and sharing joys in good days. RR`?o\
I would also like to thank all the people at Capitol Aggregates for 6"&&s
providing a test site and concrete both essential to this work.