CAREER: Modeling 3D Flow and Soil Structure Interaction Using Optical Tomography

该CAREER奖支持土壤连续体内三维变形模式和流动特性测量的研究。这种测量通常受到土壤传感器不能提供所测量的连续体的连续图像的限制。 此外，土壤传感器表现出与周围土壤不同的静态和动态特性，因此可以改变测量连续体的响应。 如果模型透明连续体的响应可以使用非侵入式光学可视化技术来测量，则使用具有紧密模拟天然土壤的岩土性质的特性的透明材料进行的测试可以潜在地规避这些实验问题。 主要研究者已经建立了透明合成土的生产和定制方法，该方法将满足强度、变形和渗透性方面的模型试验要求。 本项目将开发在土壤连续体内进行光学层析成像的技术（设备和方法）。 将使用激光照射透明土壤块的横截面，并使用线扫描相机捕捉反射光。 基于计算机的数字图像处理将用于分析反射光，并构建透明模型土体内的空间变形模式和流动路径的连续图像。 这项新技术将导致：更好的分析和提高可靠性的三维土壤结构相互作用和多相流;和测试结果，可用于三维数值分析代码的困难验证。 该项目还将包括开发先进的教育实验，以直观地展示基础设施和环境项目的绩效。 这些低成本的实验也可以用来振兴高中学生进入土木工程专业的招聘工作。

This CAREER award supports research on measurement of three-dimensional deformation patterns and flow characteristics within a soil continuum. Such measurements are usually limited by the fact that soil sensors do not provide a continuous image of the measured continuum. Additionally, soil sensors exhibit static and dynamic characteristics that are different form those of the surrounding soils, and therefore can change the response of the measured continuum. Tests conducted with a transparent material which has properties that closely model the geotechnical properties of natural soils can potentially circumvent these experimental problems if the response of a model transparent continuum can be measured using non-intrusive optical visualization techniques. The Principal Investigator has established methods for production and customization of a transparent synthetic soil that will meet model test requirements in terms of strength, deformation, and permeability. This project will develop the technology (equipment and methodology) for performing optical tomography within soil continua. Cross sections of the transparent soil mass will be illuminated using laser light and line scan cameras will be used to capture the reflected light. Computer based digital image processing will be used to analyze the reflected light and construct continuous images of the spatial deformation patterns and flow paths within the transparent model soil mass. This new technology will result in: better analyses and improved reliability of three-dimensional soil structure interaction and multiphase flow; and test results that can be used for the difficult validation of three-dimensional numerical analysis codes. The project will also include development of advanced educational experiments to visualize the performance of infrastructure and environmental projects. These low cost experiments can also be used to vitalize recruitment efforts of high school students into civil engineering programs.