Infrastructure Engineering - Theses
Permanent URI for this collection
Search Results
1 - 10 of 16
-
ItemManufacture and properties of prepacked aggregate concrete( 1984)The properties of prepacked concrete have long been studied and compared with those of normal concrete, although very little is known about its strength and deformation behaviour. Either by experiment or theory these aspects have been described in different ways. This thesis describes some experimental programmes on prepacked concrete that include its manufacture and a study of its strength, deformation and failure mechanism. To compare these aspects, normal concretes having the same water-cement and aggregate-cement ratios were made and tested under the same condition. The experimental work investigates the use of different types of admixture in grout in order to improve the strength of prepacked concrete. Among them the expanding admixture was found to be most suitable. Data are presented on some properties of grout using different types of admixture at various sand-cement ratios. Along with the strength investigation, investigation on modulus of elasticity, creep and shrinkage were also carried out. Tests of creep and shrinkage reveal that the magnitudes of both in prepacked concrete were much lower than in normal concrete. Different aspects of the failure mechanism of prepacked concrete are also presented and discussed.
-
ItemModelling the seasonal variation of groundwater recharge and yield of the Barwon Downs aquifer, south-western Victoria( 1996)The Barwon Downs Aquifer in south western Victoria has long been recognized to have extensive groundwater resources. It is also an important source of supply in Barwon Water's drought emergency management plan. An understanding of the aquifer behaviour in relation to its recharge and withdrawal rates is essential for sustainable development. The main aim of this modelling exercise is to evaluate the present groundwater use and estimate the maximum possible extraction from the aquifer without serious consequences, and hence evaluate the groundwater management options and possible augmentation of the Barwon Downs Wellfield. A 2-layer finite difference model is used in groundwater modelling, and a simple hydrologic model is used to estimate the groundwater recharge. The hydrologic and groundwater models were calibrated against potentiometric heads at 38 locations. Although further effort could improve the calibration results, the model calibration is deemed sufficient for the purpose of this study. In general the potentiometric heads simulated by this groundwater model are within 2 m of the recorded heads. The calibrated model has been used to investigate groundwater extraction under various options. The model suggests that continued withdrawal of 8,000 ML/year for 10 years may not be sustainable. However, continued withdrawal of 12,600 ML/year for a period of one or two years during drought is sustainable. The model further shows that a maximum emergency extraction of up to 40,000 ML/year over a one-year period may be sustainable provided that the wells are left to recover for a period of at least 10 years. The groundwater resources thus appear to be best limited to conjunctive use with surface water during droughts. The hydrologic model also estimates that the recharge rate to the aquifer is about 9% of the total rainfall, and that to the overlying layer is about 3% of the total rainfall.
-
ItemFacilitating the use of cadastral data through the World Wide Web( 1998-11)Over recent years the cadastral industry has become increasingly reliant on digital data. Many surveyors now submit digital survey plan data to accompany the legally required hardcopy maps and documentation, although it will not be long before total digital lodgement will be possible. In this environment it will be ideal to capitalise on computer networking technology such as the present day Internet and World Wide Web (WWW) to better facilitate the transmission of digital data. This work provides a study of the current climate in the cadastral industry and further identifies how the Internet and its related technologies can be used to facilitate the transmission of digital cadastral data. The focus is to provide a prototype application that facilitates these data transactions in the most effective manner that benefits both user and data provider. This involves a study of the different underlying Internet technologies and how they can be used within the cadastral context. The work presents how the Internet and the WWW can bring benefits in the form of increased data distribution, and, in data integration and update for data maintainers, who need efficient ways of passing digital data to and from different locations.
-
ItemA metadata management system for web based SDIs( 1998-12)The process of decision making is best undertaken with the consideration of as much information as possible. One way to maximise the amount of information that is being used in the process is to use metadata engines. Metadata engines can be used to create virtual databases which are a collection of individual datasets located over a network. Virtual databases allow decisions to be made using data from many different data bases at many different locations on a network. They shield the user from this fact. From the users point of view they are only using data from the one location. This thesis investigates some of the concepts behind metadata engines for Internet based Spatial Data Infrastructures. The thesis has a particular emphasis on how metadata engines can be used to create virtual databases that could be of use in the planning and decision making processes. The thesis also investigates some current spatial data technologies such as SDIs, data warehouses, data marts and clearing houses, their interoperability and their relationship to metadata engines. It also explores some of the more recent spatial data applications that have been developed in the context of metadata engines and Spatial Data Infrastructures.
-
ItemThe digital lodgement of cadastral survey data in Victoria( 1998-12)An integral part of the Victorian land registration system is the lodgement of cadastral data. Originally data was lodged to support the operation of the land market and the legal rights of the individual owner. The purpose for which it was designed, coupled with the technology that was available at the time, resulted in a paper based system of plans and indexes. Due to many external factors, the current land registration system has essentially remained the same for the past 130 years. However the need for cadastral information means that plan lodgement now serves a wider range of needs, and although changes have been made to the system, it would seem that document-based systems are reaching the limit of cost-effective improvement. A detailed study of the Victorian system of data lodgement has shown there to be several inefficiencies within the system, many of which would benefit by the shift to a digital environment. Research has also shown that the Victorian surveying profession is actually quite prepared to adapt to a digital environment, with many surveyors already preparing or submitting plans digitally. Other jurisdictions that are experiencing similar problems to Victoria have progressed substantially in this area and form ideal examples to learn from. The study of these jurisdictions has shown that although technically the process of lodging data in a digital format is quite straightforward, there are still many technical and legal problems that must be resolved. It is envisaged that in the future, data be lodged in a digital format, which would involve there-engineering of the Victorian land registration system as we know it. This thesis explores the concept of the lodgement of cadastral survey data in a digital format, the issues associated with such a change and the long term benefits it will provide to the surveying, mapping and land development industries.
-
ItemTravel time budgets in an urban area( 1994-04)It is important to the future of Melbourne that its development should take the direction of the most benefit to those who live in the city and those who may live here in the future. The current patterns of urban development, which are based on use of previously undeveloped land on the fringes of the suburban area, are now being criticised as being uneconomic in terms of cost of providing infrastructure, the use of natural resources and the waste of time for residents who must travel for long distances. (For complete abstract open document)
-
ItemFree surface flow in a circular conduit: a theoretical and experimental investigation of the influence of velocity distributions on flow behaviour( 1963)General Introduction: Since Chezy first proposed his well known equation for uniform flow in open channels, many other formulae have been suggested, either to replace the Chezy expression or form determining the value of the coefficient C. Perhaps the major objection to the use of these formulae is that no account is taken of the variation of the boundary effects with Reynolds number — although in some cases this is done indirectly by relating Chezy’s C to the hydraulic mean radius. Following more recent work, notably by Prandtl, there have been attempts to produce relationships between Chezy’s C, Reynolds number and a roughness parameter, (similar to those which exist for pipe flow) but these habe not been generally applied as the effects of the free surface and unsymmetrical flow conditions have not yet been fully evaluated.
-
ItemState of Victoria: a description of the Loch Garry Flood Protection Scheme: Goulburn River levees( 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.
-
ItemAcute respiratory disorders and exposure to airborne contaminants in primary aluminium production( 1992)This report reviews the incidence of acute respiratory disorders in workers involved in production processes related to primary aluminium smelting, focusing on occupational asthma. Workplace exposure data quantifying contaminants capable of inducing respiratory disorders are presented. Possible sources of contamination include hydrogen fluoride, sulphur dioxide and fine dust fractions containing recycled impurities from emission control systems. Currently available control strategies based on these quantitative results are assessed. Critical comment is made on procedures currently in place to control workplace exposure and suggestions for improving engineering and work practices are summarised.
-
ItemStress distribution in discontinuous media( 1967)The determination of the stress distribution within a semi infinite medium, which in fact is an infinitely redundant structure, becomes complex when all the relevant factors such as material characteristics, discontinuity patterns, loading conditions and boundary restraints are considered. This complexity is further accentuated when the material has a non-linear stress-strain relationship and a condition of residual stresses associated with the insitu state. Hence as an initial study the blocks making up the semi infinite medium are considered as homogeneous, isotropic and linear elastic. In this particular study, boundary tractions represented in the form of model foundations are applied to a semi infinite medium of uniform characteristics. That is Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio are constant and the discontinuities are controlled in a horizontal and vertical direction. The stresses within the models are determined by applying photoelastic techniques. Analytical and numerical solutions are developed so as to compare results with those obtained experimentally and subsequently define behaviour patterns. Stress distributions at the contact zone between the foundation and subgrade are also studied. The subgrade is initially studied with no side restraint, however in the latter models a side restraint is applied. Studies on an opening in a discontinuous semi infinite subgrade with surface loading are also made. The relatively low stress fields set up in the subgrade require a much more sensitive photoelastic material than is generally encountered. This sensitivity however, should not be acquired at the expense of reducing Young’s modulus. A material meeting this requirement is Araldite D, with an appropriate hardener. The use of this material however requires the development of careful and precise casting techniques. These techniques are fully covered in the thesis presented. To corroborate the experimental findings with an analytical theory which to date is incompletely defined, a review of the fundamentals controlling the stress distribution is essential. The usual requirement of satisfying compatability of strain at the interface is not always satisfied. This appears to affect the stress-strain relationship, in both a micro and macro scale, and hence the stress distribution and redistribution. Four numerical methods of obtaining an approximate solution to a required degree of accuracy are presented and compared with the experimental work. 1) Finite difference approach. 2) Finite element method. 3) Boundary Singular Integral solution. 4) Energy principle approach. It is concluded that the energy principle offers the most promising approach of determining the stress distribution in a nonlinear elastic-plastic semi infinite discontinuous subgrade. Finally the possibilities of failure conditions within the rock being initiated by environmental changes such as surface loads, excavations and tunnelling are considered.