Date of Award

8-1980

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Civil Engineering

Abstract

The steady-state penetration mechanism is utilized in a number of in-situ testing -instruments such as the cone penetrometers, and piezometer probe due to faster and more economical analysis of soil parameters.

In order to bring a more comprehensive understanding to the mechanism of cone penetration, the shape and scale effects of cones should be investigated. Considering the steady state nature of these problems, this study focuses on the simulation of penetration of axisymmetric bodies in inviscid, incompressible fluids.

The wide variety of cone penetrometers introduces com­plicated mixed boundary conditions. A finite element code is written in order to determine the strain rate fields around axisymmetric bodies in steady penetration of an inviscid, incompressible medium. Cubic approximation functions are utilized. The validity of the finite element method in finding the strain rate fields is investigated. The strain rate field around enlarged and unenlarged cones is analyzed with regard to the field observations of cone penetration testing. It is determined that sharper unen­larged cones introduce a lower strain rate field while enlarged cones generate a complex straining in the medium.

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