地震液化条件下地面的大变形三维数值分析

地基液化条件下地面大变形是造成工程结构破坏的主要原因之一。考虑地形、地震、土层、地下水等影响因素,针对典型的岸坡场地3层土地基模型,利用有限差分法FLAC3D,对可液化场地在地震作用下发生地面大变形的过程进行了数值模拟。结果表明,临空面坡比愈大、地表坡度越陡,地基液化地表侧向位移值愈大;变坡度的场地在地震作用下发生的侧移要比单一倾斜率的场地大;地震最大加速度越大、地震持续时间越长,地基液化侧向位移、地表沉陷和隆起现象越严重;液化层的埋深、厚度以及地下水位都对地面大变形的产生有着不同程度的影响,应选择合理的地基处理方案进行处理。     

可液化倾斜场地的侧向扩展机制分析

针对已完成的液化水平自由场大型振动台试验,采用OpenSees有限元平台,建立了振动台试验的数值分析模型,并验证了该模型的可靠性。基于此,建立了地基整体倾斜的自由场数值模型,重点讨论了场地土体的非循环地震响应和液化侧向扩展机制。结果表明,建立的数值模型可以有效地模拟可液化场地的地震反应。倾斜场地中,可液化松砂与上覆非液化层界面处具有显著的相对位移,饱和砂土的应变累积从松砂层浅层开始,逐步向深层发展,超孔隙水压力增长和土体非循环应变累积未表现出耦合的现象,场地的中部土体控制非循环横向位移的发展。另一方面,土体液化过程中,当沿滑动面的剪切应力小于初始静剪应力时,液化侧向扩展启动。此时饱和松砂层的剪应力比在0.04～0.06范围内,略小于初始静剪应力比。此外,还发现液化诱导侧向扩展需要场地具有一定的倾斜度（大于0.5°）;土的侧向位移符合余弦分布模式;随着场地倾斜度的增大,可液化深层土对整体侧向位移的贡献更显著。     

减饱和砂土缓倾场地的液化性状分析

减饱和法是一种通过减小砂土地基的饱和度,从而提高地基抗液化强度的新方法。基于减饱和砂土中流体模量同步更新的改进算法对减饱和砂土离心机振动台试验进行了数值分析,并与单一流体模量的简化算法进行了对比分析。结果表明：由于改进算法中考虑了因孔压变化引起的等效流体模量的变化,其计算结果更接近试验结果,而简化算法低估了减饱和砂土的孔压积累。基于改进算法开展了不同饱和度、倾斜角度的缓倾场地上液化变形的数值模拟研究,分析发现超孔隙水压力增长的速度及其峰值随着饱和度的增加而增大,饱和度从100%降低至96.4%,同一深度处的超孔压峰值降低约20%～65%,加速度响应的峰值也有明显的降低;沿地基深度0.75 m到9.00 m,侧向位移减少约20%～50%,表明饱和度的降低对抑制倾斜场地上可液化砂土层的侧向变形有显著效果,随着地基深度的减小,饱和度对于侧向位移的影响越来越明显。     

液化型路堤边坡动力数值模拟分析

液化型路堤边坡动力稳定性问题涉及岩土工程与工程地震两个学科领域,是边坡工程与砂土液化的交叉课题。采用天然地震记录为输入条件,应用Finn本构关系模型,运用有限差分法,对填土+砂土+卵砾土地层组合的路堤边坡进行了全时程动力分析,探讨了地震作用下路堤边坡的液化初步规律和稳定性。数值模拟结果表明:地震作用引起了路基饱和砂土有效应力急剧减小,并导致路基砂土液化,引起路堤变形破坏。孔隙水压力的积累与消散不仅与地震记录序列存在对应关系,也与砂土所处的位置和深度有密切关系。地表变形破坏主要表现为路堤顶面发生震陷和拉裂破坏,坡底面产生挤压隆起变形。地面以下的变形破坏主要包括土体剪切破坏和深部砂土液化引起的侧向流动破坏。     

穿越不同密实度饱和砂土地层的盾构隧道地震响应三维数值分析

地震液化对隧道结构有重大威胁,且位于不同抗液化能力地层交界处的盾构隧道段更易发生严重的地震破坏。采用三维数值方法研究穿越不同密实度状态饱和砂土地层的盾构隧道的地震响应规律。饱和砂土用一种描述不同密实度砂土液化行为的边界面模型进行模拟,首先通过隧道液化上浮的振动台试验结果验证该本构模型的合理性。其次,应用多自由度连接弹簧表征管片环间相互作用,采用文献中的拼装管片的逐级加载试验结果验证该方法的可行性。最后,建立穿越两种不同密实度饱和砂土地层的盾构隧道三维数值模型,研究相对密实度、输入加速度峰值和交界面倾角对砂土地层-盾构隧道系统动力响应的影响。结果表明,可液化地层中隧道结构位移模式是水平地震激励下产生的水平位移与由于液化上浮效应产生的竖向位移的耦合作用,加之隧道在不同土层中变形存在差异,从而导致隧道呈现扭转的变形形态。在靠近交界面处,隧道整体上浮量急剧变化且该处结构上浮量随着交界面倾角增大而增大,同时管片结构弯矩出现突变,接头螺栓的环间剪切和拉伸位移也显著增加。分析结果进一步印证地震作用下盾构隧道在不同性质饱和砂土地层交界面处更易破坏,在设计阶段应予以重点关注。     

渗透系数对砂土液化震陷影响的数值研究

饱和砂土在地震荷载的作用下往往会产生液化变形,包括竖向震陷和侧向扩展。砂土由于液化的作用,其渗透系数会发生改变,而目前描述砂土液化变形的本构模型均采用常量渗透系数,这是造成自由场地的震陷数值模拟结果低于试验观测值的重要原因之一。利用开源有限元平台Open Sees对饱和砂土的自由场地震陷进行模拟分析,对比离心机模型试验,分析了渗透系数对饱和砂土液化震陷的影响。为进一步提高数值模拟的准确性,采用了适合于动力分析及液化模拟的边界面模型。与固定渗透系数模型相比,最终提出的变渗透系数模型允许液化状态的渗透系数升高为初始值的数倍,该模型模拟结果较好,可以作为从渗透模型角度提高数值模拟精度的近似考虑。通过一系列的模拟和分析发现,采用合理的变渗透系数模型,可在一定程度上提高砂土自由场地地震液化震陷的数值模拟精度。     

液化土层上建筑物倾斜计算要点初步分析

地震中饱和砂土地基液化会引起结构物倾斜并导致其功能丧失,但目前缺乏相应的数值模拟方法。通过振动台简单模型试验,寻找输入波-基底竖向动应力-基底孔压-结构震陷之间的关系,提出发展液化土层上建筑物倾斜数值模拟方法所需要考虑的要点和应满足的条件。结果表明：（1）分析方法中孔压增长模型应适于不规则波计算,能准确地计算出孔压增长过程,准确地计算出峰值一样但不同波形下孔压增长的差别;（2）孔压增长模型应能反映土的各向异性特性对孔压增长的影响,能合理地计算出拉、压不同应力作用下孔压增长的差异;（3）孔压增长模型应能反映非均等固结条件对孔压增长过程的影响,能合理地计算出结构底部不同固结比土体中孔压增长过程;（4）分析方法中土体变形的计算应能跟踪液化过程中的变形发展,且具备大变形计算能力。     

基于判别分析法的地震砂土液化预测研究

将距离判别分析方法应用于砂土液化的预测问题中,建立了砂土液化预测的距离判别模型。选用震级、研究深度、震中距、标贯击数、地下水位及地震持续时间等6项指标作为判别因子,以大量的工程实例数据作为学习样本进行训练,建立了线性判别函数对待评样本进行了评价。研究结果表明,距离判别分析模型判别砂土液化效果良好,预测准确度高,回判估计误判率低,可望成为砂土液化预测的有效手段。     

考虑地震随机特征的液化侧向变形超越概率

基于液化侧向变形实用统计模型和地震概率模型,建立了可以考虑地震随机特征和土体性质不确定性的液化侧向变形超越概率模型框架,通过实际案例初步探讨了模型的有效性,并将超越概率模型与现有统计模型的预测结果进行了对比。分析结果表明,若液化侧向变形的条件概率满足正态分布,标准差在5%到20%期望值范围内变化时,对位移超越概率影响不大;若满足对数正态分布,标准差对超越概率有一定影响。实用统计模型只能预测指定地震水平下的液化侧向变形值,而超越概率模型考虑了指定时间内所有可能地震的发生概率,可以同时预测变形值及发生概率,更加适合用于区域性的地震液化灾害评估。     

地震液化条件下重力式码头的变形破坏机理

现场调查发现在神户地震期间重力式码头破坏时都发生了相当大的侧向位移，因此，阐明挡土墙有变形机理对于改善抗震设计具有十分重要的意义。为此，根据相似原理设计了重力式码头的地基模型，进行了一系列的振动台试验。试验结果表明：基底土的强度降低和局部液化是挡土墙变形破坏的主导因素。墙后动土压力的增加为挡土墙的运动提供了条件。在液化条件下重力式码头地基的运动以侧向位移为主。重力作用是地基侧向运动的主要影响因素。减少作用于挡土墙上的动土压力和充分填实基底下的砂土是增加重力式码头抗震稳定性的重要措施。     

Numerical investigation into the effects of geometrical and loading parameters on lateral spreading behavior of liquefied layer

Numerical simulation of liquefaction-induced lateral spreading in gently sloped sandy layers requires fully coupled dynamic hydro-mechanical analysis of saturated sandy soil subjected to seismic loading. In this study, a fully coupled finite element model utilizing a critical-state two-surface-plasticity constitutive model has been applied to numerically investigate the effects of surface/subsurface geometry on lateral spreading. Using a variable permeability function with respect to excess pore pressure ratio is another distinctive feature of the current study. The developed code has been verified against the results of the well-known VELACS project. Lateral spreading phenomenon has been the focus of an extensive parametric study using the developed code. Numerical modeling of three different geometrical forms of surface and subsurface of liquefiable layer indicates that the amount and direction of lateral spreading are noticeably affected by the geometrical conditions. Also, parametric studies by the developed numerical model show that the effects of layer height, maximum ground acceleration, and loading frequency on the level of lateral spreading are significantly different for the examined geometrical condition.     

Analysis of pile behaviour in liquefying sloping ground

In this paper, a numerical procedure based on the finite element method is outlined to investigate pile behaviour in sloping ground, which involves two main steps. First a free-field ground response analysis is carried out using an effective stress based stress path model to obtain the ground displacements, and the degraded soil stiffness and strength over the depth of the soil deposit. Next a dynamic analysis is carried out for the pile. The interaction coefficients and ultimate lateral pressure of soil at the pile–soil interface are calculated using degraded soil stiffness and strength due to build-up of pore pressures, and the soil in the far field is represented by the displacements calculated from the free-field ground response analysis. Pore pressure generation and liquefaction strength of the soil predicted by the stress path model used in the free-field ground response analysis are compared with a series of simple shear tests performed on loose sand with and without an initial static shear stress simulating sloping and level ground conditions, respectively. Also the numerical procedure utilised for the analysis of pile behaviour has been verified using centrifuge data, where soil liquefaction has been observed in laterally spreading sloping ground. It is demonstrated that the new method gives good estimate of pile behaviour, despite its relative simplicity.     

Numerical simulation of mitigation for liquefaction-induced soil deformations in a sandy ground improved by cement grouting

This paper presents a numerical study of mitigation for liquefaction during earthquake loading. Analyses are carried out using an effective stress based, fully coupled, hybrid, finite element-finite differences approach. The sandy soil behavior is described by means of a cyclic elastoplastic constitutive model, which was developed within the framework of a nonlinear kinematic hardening rule. In theory, the philosophies of mitigation for liquefaction can be summarized as two main concepts, i.e. prevention of excess pore water pressure generation and reduction of liquefaction-induced deformations. This paper is primarily concerned with the latter approach to liquefaction mitigation. Firstly, the numerical method and the analytical procedure are briefly outlined. Subsequently, a case-history study, which includes a liquefaction mitigation technique of cement grouting for ground improvement of a sluice gate, is conducted to illustrate the effectiveness of liquefaction countermeasures. Special emphasis is given to the computed results of excess pore water pressures, displacements, and accelerations during the seismic excitation. Generally, the distinctive patterns of seismic response are accurately reproduced by the numerical simulation. The proposed numerical method is thus considered to capture the fundamental aspects of the problems investigated, and yields results for design purposes. From the results in the case, excess pore water pressures eventually reach fully liquefied state under the input earthquake loading and this cannot be prevented. However, liquefaction-induced lateral spreading of the foundation soils can be effectively reduced by the liquefaction mitigation techniques. An erratum to this article can be found at     

Evaluation of liquefaction induced lateral displacements using genetic programming

Determination of liquefaction induced lateral displacements during earthquake is a complex geotechnical engineering problem due to the complex and heterogeneous nature of the soils and the participation of a large number of factors involved. In this paper, a new approach is presented, based on genetic programming (GP), for determination of liquefaction induced lateral spreading. The GP models are trained and validated using a database of SPT-based case histories. Separate models are presented to estimate lateral displacements for free face and for gently sloping ground conditions. It is shown that the GP models are able to learn, with a very high accuracy, the complex relationship between lateral spreading and its contributing factors in the form of a function. The attained function can then be used to generalize the learning to predict liquefaction induced lateral spreading for new cases not used in the construction of the model. The results of the developed GP models are compared with those of a commonly used multi linear regression (MLR) model and the advantages of the proposed GP model over the conventional method are highlighted.     

A study on the identification of liquefaction-induced failures on ground surface based on the data from the 1999 Kocaeli and Chi-Chi earthquakes

One of the major causes of earthquake damage is liquefaction. However, it doesn't result in severe harm unless it leads to ground surface damage or ground failure. Therefore, prediction of potential for ground surface damage due to liquefaction is one of the important issues in microzonation studies for liquefaction-induced damage in areas with high seismicity. In 1985, based on a database compiled from Chinese and Japanese earthquakes, Ishihara considered the influence of the non-liquefied cap soil on the occurrence or non-occurrence of ground failure (mainly sand boiling), and proposed an empirical approach to predict the potential for ground surface damage at sites susceptible to liquefaction. However, some investigators indicated that this approach is not generally valid for sites susceptible to lateral spread or ground oscillation. In this study, a contribution to improve the approach by Ishihara is made. For the purpose, an index called liquefaction severity index (LSI) and data from two devastating earthquakes, which occurred in Turkey and Taiwan in 1999, were employed. The data from liquefied and non-liquefied sites were grouped and then analysed. Based on the observations reported by reconnaissance teams who visited both earthquake sites and the results of the liquefaction potential analyses using the filed-performance data, a chart to assess the potential for ground surface disruption at liquefaction-prone areas was produced. The analyses suggest that the procedure proposed by Ishihara is quite effective particularly for the occurrence of sand boils, while the bounds suggested in this method generally may not be valid for the prediction of liquefaction-induced ground surface disruption at sites susceptible to lateral spreading. The chart proposed in this study shows an improvement over the Ishihara's approach for predicting the liquefaction-induced ground surface damage. The microzonation maps comparing the liquefaction sites observed along the southern shore of Izmit Bay and in Yuanlin, and the surface damage and non-damage zones predicted from the proposed chart can identify accurately the liquefaction (sand boiling and lateral spreading) and no-liquefaction sites.     

饱和砂土液化判别与放大效应数值模拟研究

为研究地震作用下饱和砂土液化判别及地震放大效应的影响因素,采用边界面塑性模型框架内开发的砂土本构模型,基于开源有限元平台OpenSees建立了一维剪切梁土柱模型。以循环应力比CSR和循环抗力比CRR为控制指标,对比了不同液化判别方法的差异,分析了地震荷载类型和砂土相对密度对液化判别和放大效应的影响。研究表明:与数值模拟结果相比,Seed简化法计算的CSR更大,判断饱和砂土场地发生液化的可能性更高;冲击型地震波较振动型地震波更容易使饱和砂土场地发生液化,砂土相对密度越小场地越容易发生液化;放大系数随埋深的减小而增大,振动型地震波引起的放大效应整体大于冲击型,埋深较大时放大系数随砂土相对密度的增大而减小。     

Liquefaction analysis and damage evaluation of embankment-type structures

The increasing importance of performance-based earthquake engineering analysis points out the necessity to assess quantitatively the risk of liquefaction of embankment-type structures. In this extreme scenario of soil liquefaction, devastating consequences are observed, e.g., excessive settlements, lateral spreading and slope instability. The present work discusses the global dynamic response and interaction of an earth structure-foundation system, so as to determine quantitatively the collapse mechanism due to foundation’s soil liquefaction. A levee-foundation system is simulated, and the influence of characteristics of input ground motion, as well as of the position of liquefied layer on the liquefaction-induced failure, is evaluated. For the current levee model, its induced damage level (i.e., induced crest settlements) is strongly related to both liquefaction apparition and dissipation of excess pore water pressure on the foundation. The respective role of input ground motion characteristics is a key component for soil liquefaction apparition, as long duration of mainshock can lead to important nonlinearity and extended soil liquefaction. A circular collapse surface is generated inside the liquefied region and extends toward the crest in both sides of the levee. Even so, when the liquefied layer is situated in depth, no significant effect on the levee response is found. This research work provides a reference case study for seismic assessment of embankment-type structures subjected to earthquake and proposes a high-performance computational framework accessible to engineers.     

Numerical prediction of liquefied ground characteristics from back-analysis of lateral spreading centrifuge experiments

In this paper, liquefied and laterally spreading soils triggered by seismic shaking are modeled as viscoplastic Bingham media characterized by two rheological parameters: the undrained residual shear strength and the Bingham viscosity coefficient. Since the precise evaluation of these two characteristics directly by appropriate in situ or laboratory experimental tests remains a very difficult task, an identification procedure is developed to assign numerically realistic values to both rheological characteristics from back-calculation of liquefaction-induced lateral spreading using centrifuge experiments. The proposed numerical procedure is applied successfully to two series of reported centrifuge tests where lateral displacements data during shaking were available.     

Estimating liquefaction-induced settlement of shallow foundations by numerical approach

Occurrence of liquefaction in saturated sand deposits underlying foundation of structure can cause a wide range of structural damages starting from minor settlement, and ending to general failure due to loss of bearing capacity. If the bearing capacity failure is not the problem, reliable estimation of the liquefaction-induced settlement will be of prime importance in assessment of the overall performance of the structure. Currently, there are few procedures with limited application in practice for estimation of settlement of foundations on liquefied ground. Therefore, development of a general relationship is important from the practical viewpoint. In this paper, the dynamic response of shallow foundations on liquefied soils is studied using a 3D fully coupled dynamic analysis. For verification of the numerical model, simulation of a centrifuge experiment is carried out and the analysis results are compared with the experimental measurements. The results of centrifuge experiment are taken from the literature for the purpose of comparison and the experiment has not been performed by the authors. After verification of the numerical model, a practical relationship for estimation of liquefaction-induced settlement of rigid footings on homogeneous loose to medium fine sand is proposed based on the results of a comprehensive parametric study. In the interpretation process, the soil layer thickness in which the liquefaction takes place is found to be a key parameter, since by normalization with respect to this parameter, effects of a number of other parameters can be eliminated.