Civil Engineering - Theses

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    The structure and strength of Victorian brown coals
    Rosengren, K. J. (University of Melbourne, 1961)
    A soil mechanics investigation into the structure and strength of Victorian brown coals has been performed and the results of consolidation and triaxial tests explained in terms of a proposed model of coal structure. Brown coal possesses a porous skeleton with aggregates of planar aromatic molecules cross-linked by aliphatic chain structures. The aggregates are effectively in contact with direct chemical linking at the points of contact. However, the bonding within the aggregates is much stronger than that between aggregates and the response of brown coal to stress is dominated by the inter-aggregate contact forces. Brown coal follows an effective stress law and a Hvorslev type law, with Ce/Je approximately 0.25 and �e approximately 35�, is applicable. A frictional type shear strength law is suggested and, good agreement is found between predicted and measured tensile strengths. Consolidation behaviour closely resembles that of a clay and the distribution of moisture contents in brown coal seams is shown to be a consolidation phenomenon. Other features in common with clays are the correlation of dimensionless parameters and the existence of a critical voids ratio line.
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    A methodology for estimating yield from small ungauged rural catchments
    Jayasuriya, Lekamge Niranjali Nelunika ( 1991)
    An estimate of streamflow yield from ungauged catchments is often required by water management Authorities. A survey of Authorities indicated that the techniques used in computing streamflow yield from small ungauged rural catchments were limited to a range of empirical methods with questionable accuracy. There is clearly a need to develop a more reliable simplified methodology. The proposed methodology is based on the calibration of a rainfall-runoff model using a number of gauged catchments and the development of regression relationships between catchment physiographical characteristics and model parameters. The parameters are then used in conjunction with the rainfall-runoff model and meteorological observations to estimate streamflow yield from ungauged catchments. The 2-parameter rainfall-runoff model (MOSAZ) was developed only after a detailed study of actual evapotranspiration and parameter optimisation. Morton's model, based on Bouchet's complementary theory, proved to be an adequate method to calculate actual evapotranspiration from catchments. The model was tested with data from forested, native pasture and irrigated wheat catchments. The model is considered to be superior to methods based on pan evaporation as the actual evapotranspiration predicted using Morton's model is independent of the catchment cover and the prevailing soil moisture conditions in the catchment. A number of optimisation techniques based on direct search and gradient methods were tested for accuracy. From the methods tested, the pattern search and the Gauss-Marquardt algorithms proved to be superior. The interaction between satisfactory compliance with simple least squares error assumptions and the goodness-of-fit between observed and predicted streamflow was also studied. An important feature of the proposed methodology is the use of a multi-dimensional plotting routine termed Andrews' curves to separate the 184 catchments in the study region into a number of hydrologically homogeneous groups based on catchment physiographical characteristics which are related to MOSAZ model parameters. Regression relationships between MOSAZ model parameters and catchment physiographical characteristics were developed for one homogeneous group of catchments based on information from 17 catchments. The developed regression relationships were used to calculate streamflow from four test catchments to demonstrate the applicability of the developed methodology. As the results appeared promising, it is possible to extend the developed methodology to other homogeneous catchment groups.
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    State of Victoria: a description of the Loch Garry Flood Protection Scheme: Goulburn River levees
    East, Lewis R. ( 1924)
    In dealing with the subject of the Loch Garry Flood Protection Scheme, no attempt will be made to describe in detail all Flood Protective works carried out along the Goulburn River, but, in order to explain clearly the present position in regard to such works, the more important geographical and physical characteristics of the Goulburn River will be described and a brief outline will be given of the steps leading up to the adoption of the present scheme.