Geotechnical Analysis of Contaminated Sand by Light Non-Aquous Phase Liquids

Abstract

Caminos, Canales y Puertos del Estado) and to obtain work in the Laboratorio de Geotecnia at CEDEX (Ministerio de Fomento), Jose Manuel Martinez, the person in charge of the area where I was assigned, suggested that I focus on this work in a geotechnical ambit in which not many studies were available and further research was yet to be made. Both of them academic co-directors of the present work, helped me in a wide range of issues and are the first two people I would like to mention and to express respect for their support and guidance. My very special thanks to Carlos Delgado who encouraged me to carry out geotechnical tests at EUITOP Soil Mechanics Laboratory and helped me unconditionally to finish this work. I could never have reached the end of the research without the help, support and efforts of so many people. Firstly, I would like to thank my advisor at NYU-Polytechnic Institute at New York (USA) Magued Iskander who brought me, maybe, one of the best opportunities of my academic life, making possible an amazing period of research in the USA, supported by of the 2010/2011 Ministerio de Fomento -Fulbright Scholarship. In the same way I would like to thank Raymond Sandiford, Chief Geotechnical Engineer of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, for his kind treatment during the same mentioned Fulbright Fellowship and allowing me the opportunity to learn engineering during these nine months at such a huge and reputable agency. I would like to thank my mates at Port Authority in Newark for their good partnership, Omar Choukeir, Frank D'Antonio, Gerry Lautenschlager, Nerik Yakubov and Sudhir Sheth, and the rest of the large geotechnical group. Especially, Ido not forget the attention given by Samuel Leifer, the patience of Stephen Law and the fascinating day at the WTC site works provided by John Lizzo, at one of the more difficult and important engineering projects that I have ever seen. This acknowledgment would be incomplete if I did not mention the help of Silvio Martinez who made the effort of introducing me to a very interesting group of people.Crossing from Newark to Brooklyn, I am so glad to have known such good engineers and even better people such as Ivan Guzman and Mehdi Omidvar to share so much work, enthusiasm and friendship. Kazunori Tabe who introduced me to the transparent soils "world" and Eduardo Suescun for helping me to better understand the few but complex unsaturated soils aspects of the research. I wish the best of luck to my mate Sina Rassaei in his further research. I want to express my gratitude to Arlissa and Ben Barnes for their friendship and their eventual help.Nothing stuted above could have been possible without the support of the 2010/2011 Ministerio de Fomento -Fulbright Scholarship. I would like to thank all the Fulbright Commission staff at Spain for their continuosly help and positive attitude, specially to Victoria Ruiz and Guy Vanover. The same can be said for Delfina Rodriguez at Ministerio de Fomento.I would like to thank Vicente Negro and Juan Ignacio Grau for th...