Numerical studies of anchored sheet pile wall behavior constructed in cut and fill conditions

The construction of sheet pile walls may involve either excavation of soils in front or backfilling of soils behind the wall. These construction procedures generate different loading conditions in the soil and therefore different wall behavior should also be expected. The conventional methods, which are based on limit equilibrium approach, commonly used in the design of anchored sheet pile walls do not consider the method of construction. However, continuum mechanics numerical methods, such as finite element method, make it possible to incorporate the construction method during the analyses and design of sheet pile walls. The effect of wall construction type for varying soil conditions and wall heights were investigated using finite element modeling and analysis. The influence of construction method on soil behavior, wall deformations, wall bending moments, and anchor forces were investigated. The study results indicate that walls constructed by backfill method yield significantly higher bending moments and wall deformations. This paper presents the results of the numerical parametric study performed and comparative analyses of the anchored sheet pile walls constructed by different construction methods.     

工字钢水泥土搅拌墙基坑支护的力学性能研究

河南某基坑最大开挖深度为5.8 m,场地以饱和淤泥质粉质黏土为主,与周边既有建筑最近距离为1.2 m,采用工字钢水泥土搅拌墙和预应力扩大头锚杆进行支护。运用PLAXIS有限元软件对该基坑支护结构进行数值模拟,得到了不同工况的土体位移、工字钢水泥土搅拌墙轴力和弯矩、预应力锚杆的锚固力和各开挖阶段的总乘子 ,结果表明,数值计算的土体水平位移与实际监测数据比较吻合,验证了工字钢水泥土搅拌墙建模的合理性;PLAXIS软件能较好地模拟基坑开挖过程中土层及结构的变形特点,验证了PLAXIS有限元软件在基坑工程的适用性;数值计算的土体水平位移、锚杆轴力、采用强度折减法计算的各开挖阶段的总乘子 均满足基坑设计要求,验证了工字钢水泥土搅拌墙在基坑支护的可行性,为类似基坑设计提供了理论依据。     

Simulation analysis of the impacts of underground mining on permafrost in an opencast coal mine in the northern Qinghai–Tibet Plateau

Based on two-dimensional heat-conduction equations with a phase-change component, this study investigates the impact of underground mining on the permafrost environment in an opencast coal mining pit. The dynamics of the maximum thawed and freezing depths at different depths around a borehole wall are determined. The spatial distributions of these dynamics are also determined at different locations of the wall profile. The results show that (1) the maximum freezing depth tends to increase over 100 years; (2) the maximum thawed depth increases along a borehole wall over 100 years. In particular, the maximum thawed depth increases faster near the junctions of permafrost and seasonally frozen soil; (3) due to the small cross section of mining laneways, coal mining does not cause rapid increases in permafrost temperature around borehole walls. Once disturbance to permafrost around a borehole wall decreases, the once-insignificant effect of temperature will become more obvious. Underground mining does have some impacts on permafrost surrounding borehole walls, but it does not cause large areas of deformation due to thermal disturbance.     

Cultural implications of architectural mortar selection at Mesa Verde National Park,Colorado

Architectural mortar from two ancestral Pueblo sites (Spruce Tree House and Nordenskiöld's Ruin 12) located in Mesa Verde National Park was investigated using visual, mineralogical, and geochemical techniques. Results indicate ancestral Pueblo people had a preference for mortars composed of sand and clay contents that produce a USDA textural class of sandy clay loam to clay loam. A temporal trajectory of soil selection is observed at Spruce Tree House, with mesa‐top soils being preferred during the early period of occupation, but with soils below cliff dwellings preferred during later periods. Mortar geochemical composition is found to differ between cliff dwellings, and sometimes between households within a cliff dwelling, due to local soil differences and/or potential amendment additions. Results from Spruce Tree House indicate that contemporaneous households shared access to mortar sources. The prevalence and possible origins of gypsum found in mortar are discussed. Finally, this research examines the possibility that land tenure rights may have extended beyond those lands used exclusively for agricultural purposes. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

考虑施工过程的基坑锚杆支护模型试验研究

通过大型室内模型试验,研究了土质基坑在开挖和预应力锚杆施工过程中土中应力、锚固段应力及基坑壁侧向位移的变化规律。结果表明,在基坑开挖过程中,基坑壁附近的土体应力状态变化显著;锚杆锚固段应力呈非线性递减分布;基坑壁侧向位移随施工过程的进行而呈增大的趋势。在模型试验基础上,对土层锚杆的锚固和变形机理进行了探讨,结果表明：必须建立一个包括基坑周围土体以及锚杆等在内的完整力学模型,且考虑施工过程,才能较精确地求解基坑周围应力场和位移场。     

Earth walls as repositories of background levels of soil metal contaminants

Data about the background concentration of potentially toxic elements in soils are indispensable for establishing legislative limits, risk thresholds and, in general, assess the intensity of the pollution. Crude earth buildings are diffuse in the Mediterranean area and may be used as archives for original concentration of various metals. The building technique uses local soil which is mixed with water, let dry in formworks and covered with plaster. This has protected the soil material from external additions. The aim of this work was to evaluate the crude earth walls as repositories of the original concentration of some metals. Six crude earth walls were investigated in a location in northwestern Italy. Their concentration in Cd, Cu, Cr, Ni, Pb and Zn were measured and compared with those of surrounding soil profiles. Also, the results were compared with those of the Province. Organic carbon and pH seem to confirm the different evolution of the soils in the field with respect to that in the wall while iron oxides were not useful in discriminating the samples. Cadmium and Pb appeared to be the most reliable for the evaluation of the accumulated contamination evaluated while Cr and Ni are influenced by the lithogenic substratum.     

Passive earth pressure of overconsolidated collapsible soil subjected to inundation

ABSTRACT

Backfills behind retaining walls are often made of collapsible soils, which are subjected to wetting by surface running water or by rising the groundwater table. Collapsible soil shows considerable strength when it is dry or at a relatively low degree of saturation and experiences excessive and sudden settlement when it is inundated. This paper presents an experimental investigation on walls retaining overconsolidated collapsible soil subjected to passive earth pressure. A prototype model of a vertical wall, retaining horizontal backfill was developed. Collapsible soil was prepared in the laboratory by mixing kaolin clay with fine sand. The model was instrumented to measure the total passive earth force on the wall, the passive earth pressure at strategic locations on the wall, and the overconsolidation ratio of the soil in the testing tank. The state of passive pressure was developed by pushing the wall horizontally toward the backfill without any rotation. Tests were conducted on walls retaining overconsolidated collapsible soil at the dry and at full saturation conditions. Results showed that for the dry state, the passive earth pressure increases with the increase of the collapse potential and overconsolidation ratio, and was significantly dropped at full saturation.     

Heavy Metal Distribution in Soils near the Almalyk Mining and Smelting Industrial Area,Uzbekistan

Abstract: The present study demonstrates distribution and chemical forms of heavy metals in soils of the Almalyk mining and smelting industrial area along five transects. The study area is located in Almalyk, Uzbekistan, where the intensification of industrial enterprises negatively impacts the environment. The distribution of 17 heavy metals (Cu, Zn, Pb, Sc, V, Cr, Co, Ni, Ga, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Nb, Ba, Th, and U) were studied in 21 sampling locations (21×3=63 soil samples) along five radial transects with a total length of 60?km downwind deposition gradient. Soil samples were collected from the upper layer (0–10?cm) at 4–6?km intervals. As a result of X-ray fluorescence spectrometry analyses by using X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF, Philips Analytical Ink, USA ), a significant decrease in heavy metal (Cu, Zn, Pb) deposition was found going from the source in a downwind direction. Soil samples taken from the first location (near the pollution sources) showed higher concentrations of Cu, Zn and Pb, and lower concentrations with increasing distance from the source. Obtained data showed different impact of pollution sources to heavy metal deposition and distribution in soils. The Almalyk mining and smelting complex is the major source of Pb, Zn and Cu enrichment in soils. Distribution of other trace elements does not exceed background content and suggests lithogenic background. This allowed us to divide these elements into two groups: (1) technogenic (Cu, Zn and Pb); and (2) lithogenic (Sc, V, Cr, Co, Ni, Ga, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Nb, Ba, Th and U) origins.     

The adobe reaction and the use of loess mud in construction

Adobe brick and wall constructions depend for their structural usefulness on the adobe reaction. This is similar to the pozzolanic reaction produced by the addition of siliceous material to Portland cement concrete. The adobe of southwestern USA is similar to loess. Fringe loess in arid regions (North Africa, southern Spain) gave rise to the term adobe and the constructional applications. The adobe reaction may be similar to the reactions involved in lime stabilisation of engineering soils.     

近邻桩基施工对城市地铁隧道的影响分析

近邻桩基施工会对盾构隧道产生较大的不利影响,试桩过程中对试桩周围土体深层水平位移、隧道结构竖向位移和沉降进行了现场监测。监测结果表明,隧道结构竖向位移和水平位移缓慢增加,对桩体周边土体产生扰动;管片位移最大值发生在与试桩相对应的剖面上;随着试桩距离的增加,管片沉降和最大水平位移减小。管片以发生水平位移为主,沉降约为水平位移的0.5倍。在隧道埋深范围内,深层土体水平位移向隧道方向移动;隧道埋深范围以下,土层的水平位移向远离隧道方向移动。试桩实践表明,采用全套管钢套管护壁旋挖取土工艺,并在施工过程中对盾构隧道和周围土体进行动态信息化监测的施工方法能较好地预警、控制施工风险,得到的结论可以为相似工程的施工提供指导和参考。     

Investigation of the integrated retaining system to limit deformations induced by deep excavation

A series of three-dimensional finite element analyses of deep excavations with the integrated system between buttress walls and diaphragm walls was conducted to investigate the effect of the buttress wall intervals, treatments, locations, height, and thickness on limiting deformations induced by deep excavation. The integrated retaining system was formed by maintaining buttress walls when soil was excavated. The wall deflection control mechanism of the integrated retaining system mainly came from the combined stiffness between the buttress wall and the diaphragm wall. In addition, the ground settlement control mechanism came from the combined stiffness between the buttress wall and the diaphragm wall, and the frictional resistance between the buttress wall and the surrounding soil. For achieving 50% reduction in the wall deflection and the ground surface settlement, the length and intervals of buttress walls that were applied to the integrated retaining system were at least 4 and 8 m, respectively. When the deflection at the diaphragm wall head was well restrained, for example, by the floor slab, the position of the buttress wall head could be located at a depth the diaphragm wall starts to bulge out. In such a case, the performance between the full height and limited height of buttress walls was quite close. Furthermore, a new well-documented excavation project was analyzed to verify the performance of the integrated retaining system. Results showed that the integrated retaining system worked excellently if the joints between buttress walls and diaphragm walls were constructed properly.     

Natural background and pollution levels of some heavy metals in soils from the area of Dayton,Ohio

In a reconnaissance study, trace amounts of Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn were determined in “A-zone” soil from 22 locations in the Dayton, Ohio, area. Soil samples were collected at high-volume air monitoring sites in urban, suburban, and rural areas. Measurable amounts of the elements were found in all of the samples. Positive correlations occur between each metal and particulate matter, with correlation coefficients of aboutr=0.70, at the 99% confidence level. Natural background values for the elements were measured in soil from rural areas. Theoretical background values, which are very close to those measured, were calculated from the individual regression equations. Natural background levels do not exceed 1.00 ppm Cd, 15 ppm Cu, 25 ppm Pb, and 55 ppm Zn. The heavy metal contents of most soils in the area exceed background by factors of up to 3.0 for Cd, up to 4.5 for Cu, up to 11 for Pb, and up to 4.5 for Zn. Significant positive correlations among the metals suggest a common source (or sources) for at least some, if not most, of the heavy metals. For the most part, the highest metal values are found in soils near coal-burning plants. Fly ash from a local plant contains substantial amounts of the elements. The high lead values are largely due to vehicular exhaust. However, there is evidence that the metals can also come from the normal deterioration of vehicles. It appears that airborne pollution is an important source of heavy metals in Dayton area soils.     

Mercury accumulation in snow on the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory and surrounding region,southeast Idaho,USA

Snow was sampled and analyzed for total mercury (THg) on the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (INEEL) and surrounding region prior to the start-up of a large (9-11 g/h) gaseous mercury emission source. The objective was to determine the effects of the source on local and regional atmospheric deposition of mercury. Snow samples collected from 48 points on a polar grid near the source had THg concentrations that ranged from 4.71 to 27.26 ng/L; snow collected from regional background sites had THg concentrations that ranged from 0.89 to 16.61 ng/L. Grid samples had higher concentrations than the regional background sites, which was unexpected because the source was not operating yet. Emission of Hg from soils is a possible source of Hg in snow on the INEEL. Evidence from Hg profiles in snow and from unfiltered/filtered split samples supports this hypothesis. Ongoing work on the INEEL is investigating Hg fluxes from soils and snow.     

Origin and Formation of Sulfate in Soils from Three Ohio Counties

Sulfate induced heave has been attributed to ettringite, which can form when there is an elevated pH as well as sufficient amounts of aluminum, sulfate, calcium and water present. The primary objective of this project was to study the origin and formation of sulfate in Ohio soils in order to assist with selecting appropriate soil stabilization strategies for future roadway construction. Three roadway construction project areas were evaluated: State Route 2 in Lake (LAK) County, US Highway 24 in Paulding and Defiance Counties and Interstate-71 in Morrow (MRW) County. Defiance County had the most soil samples with sulfate concentrations above acceptable risk level (3000 mg/kg SO₄). Morrow County had the next highest number of unacceptable sulfate levels. Of the 42 Lake County soils analyzed, 11 contained sulfate above acceptable risk level. The soils surrounding the road construction activities along State Route 2 and US-24 had similar geological characteristics. A potential source of sulfate in Paulding and Defiance Counties was attributed to the direct deposition of gypsum as a soil amendment for farmlands. The most likely sources of soil sulfate in Morrow County were deposition of gypsum for farmland activities and the oxidative weathering of pyrite.     

土钉墙数值模拟在干船坞坞墙中应用探讨

从减少基坑开挖过程中坞墙位移和控制坞壁渗水角度出发,利用数值模拟分析,探讨在深基坑开挖中得到广泛应用的普通土钉墙和用于船坞坞室基坑开挖中的复合土钉墙技术,将联合劲性水泥土搅拌桩的复合土钉墙用于干船坞的坞墙结构。从工程探讨角度,研究土钉联合劲性水泥土搅拌桩、预应力锚杆的复合土钉墙在干船坞这一特定条件下的应用问题,并通过分析模拟结果,为干船坞坞墙设计施工过程中安全问题提出一些注意点     

Analysis on contaminant migration through vertical barrier walls in a landfill in China

Vertical barrier walls are often constructed to prevent contamination of ground water and soils by landfill leachate. The leachate water levels in landfills in southern China are generally high. Contaminants in such landfills may migrate through the vertical barrier walls and give rise to environmental problems. Qizishan landfill in Suzhou, China was taken as an example to investigate contaminant migration through the vertical barrier walls. Advection, diffusive and adsorption processes were considered in the analysis. Influences of permeability and depth of the barrier wall on contaminant migration were analyzed. The results show that it will be 13.5 years before breakthrough at 0.1% of the source concentration and 20.5 years before breakthrough at 10% of the source concentration. By and large, the contaminant has not passed through the barrier wall at present, and the contaminated zone is mainly located in the sandy clay layer near the earth dam, which is validated by testing on sampled soils. Hydraulic conductivity and depth of the barrier wall are critical to contaminant migration. Special attention need to be paid on them when building such a barrier wall. If bottom of the barrier wall is keyed into the aquitard and the hydraulic conductivity reaches 10⁻⁹ m/s, the time before breakthrough will be long enough to allow stabilization of the landfill. Pollution of the surroundings will be avoided, and therefore the requirement for contaminant control will be attained.     

2D Numerical Simulations of Soil Nail Walls

In practice, numerical simulations of soil nail walls are often carried out to assess the performance and stability. In the present study, implications of the use of advanced soil models, such as hardening soil model and hardening soil with small-strain stiffness model to simulate the behavior of in situ soil on the overall response of simulated soil nail wall have been studied, and compared with respect to the analysis using conventional and most prevalently used Mohr-Coulomb soil model. Further, influence of the consideration of bending stiffness of soil nails on the simulation results has been examined. Results of the simulations indicated that the use of advanced models is desirable for cases of soil nail walls constructed in soft soils and when lateral wall displacements are critical to the adjoining structures. Incorporation of bending stiffness of nails is found important from the consideration of facing failure modes of soil nail walls.     

Comparison of modern and ancient barite‐bearing acid‐sulphate soils using micromorphology,geochemistry and field relationships

Although pedogenic barite has been documented in many modern soils and palaeosols, no actualistic studies on its formation have been reported. Because barite is stable over the entire range of pressure and temperature of the Earth's crust, it preserves reliable data about the original environment in which it formed. Pedogenic barite and barite‐bearing soils have been used as indicators of landscape stability, environmental conditions, climate and microbial acti‐vity. This study compares field data, micromorphology and stable isotope geochemistry of a barite‐bearing palaeosol from the Morrison Formation (Jurassic) and a modern analogue soil in south‐central Texas, USA. Morrison barite‐bearing palaeosols are over‐thickened cumulic palaeosols that developed in subaerially exposed lacustrine sediments during an extended lake contraction event. Lateral facies relationships document changes in hydrology and duration of episaturated conditions (perched water table above the Btg horizons) that correspond to differences in barite nodule morphology and abundance. Barite precipitation occurred at a redox boundary higher on the landscape after organic matter was completely oxidized. Sulphur isotope data indicate that the initial source of sulphur was soil organic matter. Meteoric water is the likely source of oxygen for the sulphate. Barium sourced from weathering feldspars and clays. The modern analogue displays similar catenary relationships, redox features and micromorphological characteristics compared to the Morrison palaeosols, suggesting that similar pedogenic processes led to barite precipitation. Synthesized data suggest that conditions favourable to barite‐bearing soil formation are low‐gradient basins that have received feldspar‐rich sediments (i.e. volcanically influenced basins), soils that developed near salt domes, soils that developed in exposed wetland or lacustrine sediments and coastal plain deposits. When studied in a well‐documented palaeogeographic context, barite‐bearing soils are valuable to palaeoclimate, palaeoenvironmental and palaeohydrological studies. Combined with regional interfluve palaeosols, barite‐bearing palaeosols may document temporal changes in drainage, surface stability, and accommodation consistent with sequence boundaries/maximum flooding surfaces and climate changes.     

Stability analysis of membrane‐reinforced curved earth retaining walls,using a multiphase approach

The stability analysis of curved earth retaining walls, stabilized by reinforcing membranes, is investigated by means of a multiphase model developed in the framework of the yield design approach. This model is an extension of that previously developed for soils reinforced by linear inclusions. It combines the advantage of a homogenization approach in terms of improved computational efficiency, with its capability to account for a specific soil–reinforcement failure condition, in a rational and systematic way. Application of this model is performed on the illustrative example of a cylindrical‐reinforced retaining wall by means of the kinematic approach of yield design, which provides upper bound estimates for the retaining wall stability factor. Nondimensional charts are finally presented assessing the influence of relevant parameters such as the curvature of the wall, the length of the reinforcing membranes or the reinforcement pull‐out resistance. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

土钉墙开挖性状的有限元分析

土钉墙是粉砂土、黏性土等地区基坑开挖围护的主要形式之一。采用ABAQUS有限元软件建立土钉-面层-土体的相互作用模型,土体应用Mohr-Coulomb本构模型,土体与土钉间的接触性质为摩擦小滑移,在此基础上,得到了土体深层水平位移、面层位移、面层土压力和土钉轴力的分布形式和基本规律。计算结果表明：深层土体水平位移的最大值发生在墙顶靠下或者墙顶的位置;坑底水平位移从坡脚向坑中逐渐变小,在基坑开挖深度范围内,减小的速率较大,以后趋于某一稳定值;土钉轴力两头较小,中间较大,作用在面层上的作用力值远小于土钉轴力,该力与作用在面层上的作用力之和等于土钉轴力;土钉墙的面层土压力随着深度的增加,先增加到最大值后,再逐渐减小,每开挖一步面层土压力就会增加,且最大值向下移动。