Acknowledgements ?C- ju8]|
This work would not have been possible without the help, dedication, and j^WYMr,
support of Professor Ellen M. Rathje. It is a great fortune for me to work for her t1G__5wp
and I will be forever grateful. &;~?\>?I
During the research process, Professor K. H. Stokoe has been very 9s*QHCB0
generous and is great help to us. He also provides many precious opinions and zXU
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useful suggestions in the instrumentation designs and data interpretations. I really @AM11v\:
appreciate his assistances in this research. Also, I am very thankful to my i]OEhB
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committee members, Professor Wilson, Professor Williamson, and Professor rNurzag
Wright for their constructive opinions and valuable time. mkhWbzD'S
In addition, I am very grateful many faculty members at UT-Austin. The ^!x! F
list includes: Professor Olson, Professor Gilbert, Professor Rauch, and Professor u:Ye`]~o
Wright. I have learned so much from all of you, and I appreciate all you have -+M360
done to prepare me for the future. R:3=!zav
Mostly, I would like to thank my wife Pei-Shan and daughter Alison for &H
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their tremendous patient during my preparation of this dissertation. My wife in rxqSi0p
particular has had to carry more than her fair share of the duties taking care of our SUv'cld
daughter. Also, to my incredible parents, I am so lucky to have you. wph8ln"C-
vi BzS\p3&
I am indebted to many former and current graduate students in ;xiwyfqgE
geotechnical engineering group at UT-Austin. They had been help me preparing $VB
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the specimen, conducting field and laboratory tests, encouraging me in bad days, EeT69o
and sharing joys in good days. 3fA+{Y8S
I would also like to thank all the people at Capitol Aggregates for 9X,iQ
providing a test site and concrete both essential to this work.