Acknowledgements l"h6e$d P
This work would not have been possible without the help, dedication, and 2h@&yW2j
support of Professor Ellen M. Rathje. It is a great fortune for me to work for her I !lR 7%
and I will be forever grateful. "fN
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During the research process, Professor K. H. Stokoe has been very N3)n**
generous and is great help to us. He also provides many precious opinions and m.gv?
useful suggestions in the instrumentation designs and data interpretations. I really 6#:V3 ;
appreciate his assistances in this research. Also, I am very thankful to my t3v_o4`&
committee members, Professor Wilson, Professor Williamson, and Professor =R M]/O9
Wright for their constructive opinions and valuable time. O"X7 DgbC
In addition, I am very grateful many faculty members at UT-Austin. The 9B>P Qbs
list includes: Professor Olson, Professor Gilbert, Professor Rauch, and Professor UsCaO<A
Wright. I have learned so much from all of you, and I appreciate all you have w}97`.Kt!n
done to prepare me for the future. Hkf]=kPy*
Mostly, I would like to thank my wife Pei-Shan and daughter Alison for C0^r]^$Z
their tremendous patient during my preparation of this dissertation. My wife in %Yg|QBm|
particular has had to carry more than her fair share of the duties taking care of our Y!y pG-
daughter. Also, to my incredible parents, I am so lucky to have you. Lv)1
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I am indebted to many former and current graduate students in 3<1x>e2nT
geotechnical engineering group at UT-Austin. They had been help me preparing 3/c%4b.Z
the specimen, conducting field and laboratory tests, encouraging me in bad days, (BK_A {5
and sharing joys in good days. t Q.H/ ;
I would also like to thank all the people at Capitol Aggregates for x lsAct:
providing a test site and concrete both essential to this work.
