Browsing by Author "Thilakasiri, S"

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Case Studies: Use of Low Strain Transient Dynamic Response Method for Rock Socketed End Bearing Bored Piles
(ASTM Compass, 2018-05-28) Kodithuwakku, T. H; Thilakasiri, S; Rathnayaka, A
The transient dynamic response (TDR) method has been introduced to pile integrity testing over several decades. The TDR method requires measuring both pile top velocity and force induced at the pile top by a small handheld hammer. Force and velocity information can be used to determine the pile condition near the top of the pile and the stiffness of pile-soil-rock system. It has been suggested by researchers that the dynamic stiffness at low frequencies obtained from the TDR method relates to the static stiffness of a pile. The static stiffness determines the initial linear region of load-displacement behavior of a particular pile. However, little attention has been paid to developing a correlation between the dynamic stiffness obtained from the TDR method and the static stiffness of a pile head. Therefore, systematic field tests were performed on rock-socketed end-bearing bored piles to determine both dynamic stiffness and static stiffness. The piles were tested using both high-strain dynamic load testing and low-strain pile integrity testing. Based on the field testing results, this paper suggests a correlation between dynamic stiffness and static stiffness. Furthermore, successful implementation of the TDR method on rock-socketed end-bearing bored piles is verified through case studies. In addition, the case studies show that dynamic stiffness and first resonant frequency could be used to identify the doubtful piles having low toe stiffness.
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Investigation of the Carrying Capacity of the Socketed Region of Bored and Cast-in-Situ Piles in Sri Lanka
(ASTM International, 2018-06-07) Thilakasiri, S; Rathnayaka, A
Approximately 90 % of Sri Lanka is underlain by Proterozoic gneisses consisting of Precambrian basement, with Phanerozoic sediments being restricted to the coastal areas. Due to the availability of bedrock on an average at approximately 20 m below the ground surface, end-bearing bored and cast-in-situ piles socketed into bedrock are very often used in Sri Lanka to support large structures such as high-rise buildings. However, significantly high variations of both the bedrock profile and properties are observed even within small sites. Therefore, termination of the piles within the bedrock is a very important consideration during the installation of piles to achieve the required capacity. Pile termination is generally done using the drilling rate and observing the rock cutting as the criteria for terminating piles. The relationship between the drilling rate, the quality of the rocks, and mobilized skin friction within the rock socket are investigated in this paper based on the results of instrumented pile load tests. The results of the analysis indicate that the mobilized skin friction in the rock socket does not have a direct correlation with the drilling rate but on the overall quality of the bedrock. Due to the low cost and quick execution, engineers use the skin friction distribution and end-bearing capacity obtained from signal matching of high-strain dynamic load test results for the design of piles. In this paper, mobilized pile capacities within the rock socket are investigated using measured field-instrumented maintain load test results and the results from signal matching. The results of the analysis indicate that the static load-settlement curve can be obtained from CAPWAPVR analysis, but the mobilized skin friction distribution and the end bearing cannot be accurately obtained from an acceptable CAPWAP signal matching.
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Management of municipal solid waste open dumps immediately after the collapse: An integrated approach from Meethotamulla open dump, Sri Lanka
(Elsevier, 2019-07-15) Jayaweera, M; Gunawardana, B; Gunawardana, M; Karunawardena, A; Dias, V; Thilakasiri, S; Karunarathne, D; Wijeratne, N; Manatunge, J; Dissanayake, J. M
Meethotamulla open dump (MOD) of Sri Lanka that has received about 290,000 metric tons of mixed MSW annually collapsed on 14th April 2017 with massive devastation. An integrated approach was attempted to control further collapse with the deployment of drone-assisted and stand-alone instrumentation. The collapsed dump was analyzed for attributes, including contours, heights, wetness, temperature levels, tension cracks, landfill gases, fire, explosion, and asphyxiation hazards with 24-h surveillance after one day of the collapse. The mode of MOD failure was implicated to be deep-seated (rotational) slope failure. A short-term plan, consisting of 12 activities was prepared and successfully implemented. The activities of the short-term plan were carried out at the dumpsite until the water level fluctuations <5 cm, inundation of the toe area receded completely, the horizontal displacement of surface markers <20 mm, lower explosive levels of CH4 and CO less than 5 and 12%, respectively, O2 level improved up to 21%, and temperature variation of the collapsed face <2 °C. The short-term plan was halted when the factor of safety for slope failure of the critical face improved from 0.807 to 1.286 ensuring no signs of a subsequent collapse of the MOD. An early warning system was established in the case of an imminent collapse. This integrated approach, to our knowledge, is the first study instituted, and this holistic management effort could be easily replicated to avoid disasters from slope failures of landfills or open dumps that may occur elsewhere.
Embargo
Management of municipal solid waste open dumps immediately after the collapse: An integrated approach from Meethotamulla open dump, Sri Lanka
(Elsevier, 2019-07) Jayaweera, M; Gunawardana, B; Gunawardana, M; Karunawardena, A; Premasiri, S; Manatunge, J; Wijeratne, N; Thilakasiri, S; Karunarathne, D; Dias, V
Meethotamulla open dump (MOD) of Sri Lanka that has received about 290,000 metric tons of mixed MSW annually collapsed on 14th April 2017 with massive devastation. An integrated approach was attempted to control further collapse with the deployment of drone-assisted and stand-alone instrumentation. The collapsed dump was analyzed for attributes, including contours, heights, wetness, temperature levels, tension cracks, landfill gases, fire, explosion, and asphyxiation hazards with 24-h surveillance after one day of the collapse. The mode of MOD failure was implicated to be deep-seated (rotational) slope failure. A short-term plan, consisting of 12 activities was prepared and successfully implemented. The activities of the short-term plan were carried out at the dumpsite until the water level fluctuations <5 cm, inundation of the toe area receded completely, the horizontal displacement of surface markers <20 mm, lower explosive levels of CH4 and CO less than 5 and 12%, respectively, O2 level improved up to 21%, and temperature variation of the collapsed face <2 C. The short-term plan was halted when the factor of safety for slope failure of the critical face improved from 0.807 to 1.286 ensuring no signs of a subsequent collapse of the MOD. An early warning system was established in the case of an imminent collapse. This integrated approach, to our knowledge, is the first study instituted, and this holistic management effort could be easily replicated to avoid disasters from slope failures of landfills or open dumps that may occur elsewhere.