Acknowledgements OU&esw W
This work would not have been possible without the help, dedication, and o RT<h
support of Professor Ellen M. Rathje. It is a great fortune for me to work for her egcJ@Of
and I will be forever grateful. "J|_1!9
During the research process, Professor K. H. Stokoe has been very o G5 :]/F
generous and is great help to us. He also provides many precious opinions and jiS|ara"
useful suggestions in the instrumentation designs and data interpretations. I really aChyl;#E
appreciate his assistances in this research. Also, I am very thankful to my y{CyjYpz^
committee members, Professor Wilson, Professor Williamson, and Professor NV 6kj=r
Wright for their constructive opinions and valuable time. $2u^z=`b!%
In addition, I am very grateful many faculty members at UT-Austin. The XRi/O)98 o
list includes: Professor Olson, Professor Gilbert, Professor Rauch, and Professor P70\ |M0~y
Wright. I have learned so much from all of you, and I appreciate all you have u~MD?!LV
done to prepare me for the future. thWQU" z4
Mostly, I would like to thank my wife Pei-Shan and daughter Alison for zrD];DP
their tremendous patient during my preparation of this dissertation. My wife in N|cW Tbi
particular has had to carry more than her fair share of the duties taking care of our KLqn`m`O;
daughter. Also, to my incredible parents, I am so lucky to have you. LgN\%5f-
vi u2=gG.
I am indebted to many former and current graduate students in QJ{to%
geotechnical engineering group at UT-Austin. They had been help me preparing m/W0vPM 1
the specimen, conducting field and laboratory tests, encouraging me in bad days, M>H4bU(
and sharing joys in good days. kkfwICBI
I would also like to thank all the people at Capitol Aggregates for ?' F>DN
providing a test site and concrete both essential to this work.
