Report of Seminar

Prof. Jun Otani’s Presentation

Role of X-ray CT on the investigation of

ground behavior beneath vertically loaded
deep and shallow foundation

Nguyen Tuan Anh

Student: Nguyen Tuan Anh

Instructor: Dr. Pham Quang Hung
Class: CEM

Hanoi, Jan 2011

 Joint Master Program between National Taiwan University – National University of Civil Engineering
3rd Course (2010-2012) – 1st Semester

Contents Page

REPORT FOR SEMINAR CLASS ....................................................................................... 3

1. Introduction: ................................................................................................................... 3

2. Objective of presentation: ................................................................................................ 3

3. Content of presentation: ................................................................................................... 3

4. Some important conclusions: ............................................................................................ 4

5. My opinions: .................................................................................................................... 4

6. Presentation pictures: ...................................................................................................... 5

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 Joint Master Program between National Taiwan University – National University of Civil Engineering
3rd Course (2010-2012) – 1st Semester

REPORT FOR SEMINAR CLASS

Student: Nguyen Tuan Anh Class: [ ] SE [ √ ] CEM

Presentation title: Role of X-ray CT on the investigation of ground behavior beneath vertically
loaded deep and shallow foundation – New direction of research.

Presenter: Prof. Jun Otani Date: 06 / 12 / 2010

1. Introduction:

During the 8th Kumamoto university forum regarding to Academic collaboration East Asian
Prosperity in Hanoi, Prof. Jun Otani presented some topics on his researches and X-Earth center.
He showed us the investigation ground behavior beneath vertically loaded deep and shallow
foundation by using X-ray CT. This is the new application of X-ray CT. He also presented on
objective, research fields, and education of his center – X-Earth where he is Vice-leader.

2. Objective of presentation:

- To show the result of X-ray CT and its application on investigation ground behavior.

- To present about the X-Earth center - the research and education center of application of X-ray
CT to engineering materials at Kumamoto University

3. Content of presentation:

- Firstly, Prof. Jun Otani showed us his investigation on ground behavior under vertical load
applying for deep and shallow foundation. In order to make the investigation, they have to
simulate the actual condition through test apparatus. They recorded the progress, using CT, and
get the result. For the normal and reamed pile, the area of high density right below the pile is
surrounded by the band area of low density. Pipe pile, however, shows complicated low density
area, especially at right under the pile.

- Secondly, he introduced about X-ray CT scanner at GeoX CT Center Kumamoto University.

The specification of scanner can be described as follows:

+ Radiographic Field of Vision 150 mm or 400 mm, height 600 mm

+ Number of display pixels 512 x 512, 1024 x 1024, 2048 x 2048
+ Resolution 0.1 mm minimum
+ Scanning Time 2.5, 5 and 10 min.
+ X-ray beam thickness 0.3 / 0.5 / 1.0 / 2.0 / 3.0 / 4.0 mm
+ Power of X-ray 300 kV (2 mA) or 200 kV (3 mA) or 150 kV (4 mA)
+ Maximum sample weight 981 N
+ Scanning Operation Translate/rotate system
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 Joint Master Program between National Taiwan University – National University of Civil Engineering
3rd Course (2010-2012) – 1st Semester

+ X-ray beam form Sector (spreed 30 angle)

+ Detectors 176 channels

Major components of the scanner are

schematically shown in the figure.
In this apparatus, the collimated X-ray beam is
moved around the circumference of the
specimen by rotating and translating the
specimen table. The data is processed and the
cross sectional images are reconstructed using
an engineering workstation

- Thirdly, X-Earth center was presented about objective, research field, and education. As above
stated, X-Earth was established in order to researching, educating and academic exchanging of
X-ray CT application to any kinds of engineering materials using industrial X-ray CT scanner.

- Finally, he presented on application of X-ray CT on nondestructive investigation technology. By

using X-ray CT, they could know about the resources as Methane hydrate, CO2 storage; Aqua
as ground water flow, mass balance of water…

4. Some important conclusions:

X-ray CT could be a powerful tool even in geotechnical engineering. It is because we could

know that the behavior of the soil can be visualized without destruction in 3-D, and the failure
patterns can be modeled in 3-D by using X-ray CT result.

Base on the experiment result of CT, he hopes that in the future prospects the stability analysis
can be conducted based on the failure model in 3-D. The stress field also has to be checked by
numeric analysis.

5. My opinions:

- When talking about X-ray, people often think about its application in medicine field. It is the
first time I have heard about the application of X-ray in engineering, especially in investigation
of ground behavior. It is the most interesting in his presentation.

- I have learnt that X-ray could not only apply in the destructive technology, it also apply for
nondestructive technology. Its application is in both medical and engineering field. I also have
learnt that there are no such kind of center in Vietnam for research and application. This is a
new research direction and application. If someone wants to establish a similar center, he has to

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 Joint Master Program between National Taiwan University – National University of Civil Engineering
3rd Course (2010-2012) – 1st Semester

consider about the import of X-ray CT scanner while its price are very high; people to
maintenance equipment; invite Prof. Ass Prof. Dr to work in center,…

- Due to time limitation, he could not present how they conduct the work clearly; work sequences.
The mockup soil he presented is maximum only 600mm. What will be happen to the complex
soil where we have 5-8 layers. They are all the lack of information and I would like to hear from
him in another presentation.

6. Presentation pictures:

Nguyen Tuan Anh

Author of report

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