Acknowledgements n@e|PWu
This work would not have been possible without the help, dedication, and fl9J
support of Professor Ellen M. Rathje. It is a great fortune for me to work for her 0.Nik^~
and I will be forever grateful. vn5]+-I
During the research process, Professor K. H. Stokoe has been very @h\u}Ee
generous and is great help to us. He also provides many precious opinions and \h/aD1&g
useful suggestions in the instrumentation designs and data interpretations. I really D #twS
appreciate his assistances in this research. Also, I am very thankful to my q(@hYp#O"3
committee members, Professor Wilson, Professor Williamson, and Professor /Big^^u
Wright for their constructive opinions and valuable time. ZYW=#df R
In addition, I am very grateful many faculty members at UT-Austin. The Jo ]8?U(^
list includes: Professor Olson, Professor Gilbert, Professor Rauch, and Professor
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Wright. I have learned so much from all of you, and I appreciate all you have Q[F$6m%o
done to prepare me for the future. [[:wSAO>6'
Mostly, I would like to thank my wife Pei-Shan and daughter Alison for 4THGHS^
their tremendous patient during my preparation of this dissertation. My wife in FZtIC77X5
particular has had to carry more than her fair share of the duties taking care of our 3m`y?Dd
daughter. Also, to my incredible parents, I am so lucky to have you. Pd<>E*>}c.
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I am indebted to many former and current graduate students in )![?JXf
geotechnical engineering group at UT-Austin. They had been help me preparing U,u\o@3A
the specimen, conducting field and laboratory tests, encouraging me in bad days, {7X80KI
and sharing joys in good days. 1~q|%"J
I would also like to thank all the people at Capitol Aggregates for RV:%^=V-
providing a test site and concrete both essential to this work.