Acknowledgements /]!2k9u\
This work would not have been possible without the help, dedication, and V@#oQi*
support of Professor Ellen M. Rathje. It is a great fortune for me to work for her z06,$OYz
and I will be forever grateful. !W@mW
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During the research process, Professor K. H. Stokoe has been very &s vg<UZ
generous and is great help to us. He also provides many precious opinions and @=dv[P"jn
useful suggestions in the instrumentation designs and data interpretations. I really %gAT\R_f
appreciate his assistances in this research. Also, I am very thankful to my ka\{?:r,8
committee members, Professor Wilson, Professor Williamson, and Professor {> msE }L
Wright for their constructive opinions and valuable time. j_N<aX
In addition, I am very grateful many faculty members at UT-Austin. The 89 (qU
list includes: Professor Olson, Professor Gilbert, Professor Rauch, and Professor Dn 0L%?_
Wright. I have learned so much from all of you, and I appreciate all you have rVNx2
done to prepare me for the future. gI;"P kN
Mostly, I would like to thank my wife Pei-Shan and daughter Alison for ;6[6~L%K}
their tremendous patient during my preparation of this dissertation. My wife in hoqZb<:
particular has had to carry more than her fair share of the duties taking care of our Si?s69
daughter. Also, to my incredible parents, I am so lucky to have you. hDJG.,r
vi n*wQgC'vw
I am indebted to many former and current graduate students in +?o!"SJ
geotechnical engineering group at UT-Austin. They had been help me preparing h'
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the specimen, conducting field and laboratory tests, encouraging me in bad days, d,98W=7
and sharing joys in good days. e>Z&0lV:
I would also like to thank all the people at Capitol Aggregates for _90D4kGU
providing a test site and concrete both essential to this work.