Acknowledgements sF|$oyDE
This work would not have been possible without the help, dedication, and Cn_Mz#Z
support of Professor Ellen M. Rathje. It is a great fortune for me to work for her ^< E,aCy
and I will be forever grateful. pa\]@;P1
During the research process, Professor K. H. Stokoe has been very "~+K`*0r8
generous and is great help to us. He also provides many precious opinions and $>BP}V33
useful suggestions in the instrumentation designs and data interpretations. I really > *_?^F_
appreciate his assistances in this research. Also, I am very thankful to my X0U6:
committee members, Professor Wilson, Professor Williamson, and Professor _>aesp%
Wright for their constructive opinions and valuable time. L@2H>Lh35
In addition, I am very grateful many faculty members at UT-Austin. The 9YvMJ
list includes: Professor Olson, Professor Gilbert, Professor Rauch, and Professor s@ q54
Wright. I have learned so much from all of you, and I appreciate all you have leD? yyjw7
done to prepare me for the future. 2.NzB7c*CM
Mostly, I would like to thank my wife Pei-Shan and daughter Alison for Bf-&[ 5N}
their tremendous patient during my preparation of this dissertation. My wife in r@!~l1$s`
particular has had to carry more than her fair share of the duties taking care of our oZ8SEC "]
daughter. Also, to my incredible parents, I am so lucky to have you. a1}W2;W0]g
vi AG9U2x
I am indebted to many former and current graduate students in Z>D7C?v:(
geotechnical engineering group at UT-Austin. They had been help me preparing i/$lO de
the specimen, conducting field and laboratory tests, encouraging me in bad days, :7`,dyIqT
and sharing joys in good days. U ^,ld`
I would also like to thank all the people at Capitol Aggregates for p,4z;.s$
providing a test site and concrete both essential to this work.
