Cracking risk of partially saturated porous media—Part I: Microporoelasticity model

Drying of deformable porous media results in their shrinkage, and it may cause cracking provided that shrinkage deformations are hindered by kinematic constraints. This is the motivation to develop a thermodynamics‐based microporoelasticity model for the assessment of cracking risk in partially saturated porous geomaterials. The study refers to 3D representative volume elements of porous media, including a two‐scale double‐porosity material with a pore network comprising (at the mesoscale) 3D mesocracks in the form of oblate spheroids, and (at the microscale) spherical micropores of different sizes. Surface tensions prevailing in all interfaces between solid, liquid, and gaseous matters are taken into account. To establish a thermodynamics‐based crack propagation criterion for a two‐scale double‐porosity material, the potential energy of the solid is derived, accounting—in particular—for mesocrack geometry changes (main original contribution) and for effective micropore pressures, which depend (due to surface tensions) on the pore radius. Differentiating the potential energy with respect to crack density parameter yields the thermodynamical driving force for crack propagation, which is shown to be governed by an effective macrostrain. It is found that drying‐related stresses in partially saturated mesocracks reduce the cracking risk. The drying‐related effective underpressures in spherical micropores, in turn, result in a tensile eigenstress of the matrix in which the mesocracks are embedded. This way, micropores increase the mesocracking risk. Model application to the assessment of cracking risk during drying of argillite is the topic of the companion paper (Part II). Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Influencing factors of geometrical structure of surface shrinkage cracks in clayey soils

In order to investigate the effects of temperature, thickness of soil layer, wetting and drying cycles and soil types on geometrical structure of surface shrinkage cracks in clayey soils, special software Crack Image Analysis System (CIAS) for analyzing shrinkage crack patterns was developed. Eight groups of soil samples were prepared and subjected to drying to crack in laboratory. The number of crack segments and intersections, average crack length, width and aggregate area, crack intensity factor (CIF), and the corresponding probability density functions (PDF) of these parameters were determined by analyzing several crack patterns derived from different experimental conditions. The results show that the soil cracking behavior and the geometrical structure of crack patterns are significantly influenced by these considered factors. There is a tendency of crack length, width, aggregate area and their most probable value (MPV) related to the PDF increases with temperature increase. With thicker soil layers, the average crack length, width, aggregate area and CIF are increased, and the main distribution ranges of crack length, width and aggregate area are increased also. When the soil is subjected to multiple wetting–drying cycles, the soil surface generates more irregular and coarse cracks. The number of short and narrow crack segments increases significantly, and the CIF decreases with an increase in wetting–drying cycles. It is also observed that the extent of cracking is directly related to the soil fines fraction and its plasticity index (I_P). The greatest CIF and crack width are observed in the soils with the largest fines fraction and highest I_P. In addition, the ratio of numbers of crack segments to intersections ranges from 1.5 to 2, and cracking mainly takes place in three stages: main-cracks initiation stage; sub-cracks initiation stage; terminal stable stage.     

基于DIC技术的三趾马红土表面干缩裂纹扩展与自愈规律

新近系三趾马红土黏粒含量高,失水干燥易开裂形成干缩裂纹。为研究干密度对三趾马红土干燥开裂行为影响,利用自制干燥装置开展压实三趾马红土脱湿试验,并采用数字图像相关(DIC)方法分析其表面干缩裂纹扩展与自愈规律。结果表明:(1)不同初始干密度试样干燥过程中均出现开裂现象,其表面干缩裂纹演化过程可分裂纹萌生、裂纹扩展、裂纹自愈、裂纹稳定4个阶段;小干密度试样表面干缩裂纹网络展布密集均匀,而大干密度试样表面开裂以“宽大稀疏”裂纹为主;(2)试样表面应变场变化能够较好反映试样表面干缩裂纹演化过程,蓝色压应变区代表试样失水整体产生的体积收缩,红色应变条带代表试样表面受拉而产生的干缩裂隙;试样干燥过程表面蓝色压应变区不断扩大,红色拉应变条带区逐渐变小,表明表面裂纹受到试样整体收缩牵拉而产生“自愈”收缩。且干密度越小,试样干缩过程表面红色拉应变网络越密集,干缩裂纹自愈程度越高;(3)试样表面应变场变化表明各等级干缩裂纹均出现自愈现象,但主裂纹的主应变减少量最大,自愈程度最高,对试样整体裂纹自愈起主导作用;试样初始干密度越小,各等级裂纹的峰值应变越大,自愈时的应变缩减量越高,表明试样失水收缩特征越显著。研究成果对进一步揭示压实黏土干燥裂纹的复杂演化过程机理研究提供新参考。     

三趾马红土失水收缩裂缝演化规律研究

黏性土失水收缩开裂对人类工程活动影响显著。通过设计室内试验监测装置,对重塑三趾马红土开展干燥脱湿试验,并运用数字图像定量处理技术获得其干缩裂缝演化的动态定量数据,发现其裂缝演化规律与传统规律（裂缝面积、平均宽度在干燥过程中始终增长,最终趋于稳定）有所不同,表现为试样裂缝在干燥中期出现收缩现象,呈现裂缝的自愈性。随后提出裂块理论深入分析了此现象的产生机制,并引入愈合度概念,研究了不同初始含水率下试样裂缝的愈合规律,结果表明：（1）初始含水率对试样裂缝愈合度影响显著,初始含水率越低,试样裂缝越早开始愈合且最终愈合度越大;（2）干密度1.7 g/cm3的试样在40℃脱湿条件下,试样最终愈合度与初始含水率呈良好的线性关系。     

Numerical simulation of desiccation cracking in a thin clay layer using 3D discrete element modeling

Desiccation cracking of clay soil is of critical importance in many applications, such as industrial waste containment, hydraulic barriers, road embankments, and agricultural operations. The factors that influence cracking are known qualitatively, but it is not clear how to predict the initiation and propagation of cracks. This study presents a discrete element approach to modeling desiccation cracking in thin clay layers, considering material property changes. First, an aggregate shrinkage model based on the aggregate structure of clay was proposed, and the drying shrinkage of clay soil was modeled by imposing drying shrinkage kinetics for each aggregate at the micro-scale. Second, the clay soil was represented by an assembly of aggregates linked by bonds, and desiccation cracking of the clay layer was modeled using a three-dimensional discrete element code (PFC3D), with the aid of the embedded programming language FISH. When the clay layer is sufficiently thin, the water content gradient along the section can be neglected; thus, the shrinkage kinetics are the same for all of the grains of clay. In the model based on the discrete element method (DEM), the bond strength and contact stiffness changed during drying. Their changes were determined by matching the simulation results with the experimental data. Third, the DEM approach was validated by reproducing experimental desiccation tests performed on a thin clay layer in a disk shape. The geometric parameters of surface cracks were quantified using image analysis techniques and were compared with experimental observations. Fourth, some factors of influence, such as the sample thickness, the properties of the soil–base interface, micro-mechanical parameters, and shrinkage parameters, were investigated using the DEM model. The results obtained from the DEM analyses were compared with the results of prior research in this field of study. The approach used in this study is very promising for simulating desiccation cracking in thin clay soil because the model captures the initiation and propagation mechanism of desiccation cracks. Although this study was carried out on surface cracking in a thin clay layer, the extension of this methodology is of potential benefit not only for predicting three-dimensional desiccation cracking in real clay liners but also for modeling cracking in other materials with properties that vary with water content or temperature, such as concrete and rock.     

膨胀土收缩开裂特性研究

在干燥环境中,由于蒸发失水,膨胀土发生收缩,表面容易产生纵横交错的裂隙网络(龟裂)。龟裂的产生会极大弱化土体的工程性质,并导致各种工程问题。随着极端干旱气候的频发,膨胀土龟裂问题将会越来越多,越来越显著。开展龟裂研究对揭示龟裂现象的本质规律和指导膨胀土地区的工程实践有重要意义。龟裂的形成和发展是一个动态的过程,与土中水分的蒸发速率、应力状态、收缩特性等直接相关:龟裂形成时水分蒸发处于常速率阶段; 吸力和抗拉强度是制约龟裂形成的两个关键力学参数,当土体中的吸力引起的张拉应力超过土体的抗拉强度时,龟裂便会产生; 龟裂是孔隙发生收缩的直观表现。总体上,力的作用和收缩空间是土体龟裂形成的两个必要条件。此外,膨胀土龟裂具有非常复杂的发生发展过程,受土质学、土力学、土结构、试验条件和方法等许多因素的影响。龟裂定量分析是龟裂研究的重要内容之一,能为龟裂机理研究及相关理论模型的建立提供必要参数。计算机图形处理技术具有效率高、操作性强、精度高等优点,为龟裂定量分析提供了强有力的工具。目前关于土体龟裂研究还存在许多不足之处,在今后的工作中,应该重视龟裂形成和发展过程的动态特征,围绕与土体龟裂相关的水-土作用关系、力学机制、收缩变形机制、大尺度现场试验和三维观测分析技术等方面开展更多的针对性研究,综合考虑龟裂形成过程中的土质学、土力学和土结构因素,结合宏观现象与微观分析,建立土体龟裂的理论体系。     

呼和浩特地区压实红黏土收缩开裂特性研究

红黏土在工程应用中易随环境温、湿度的变化产生收缩变形甚至开裂现象,从而诱发产生诸多工程问题。在工程应用中掌握红黏土的收缩与开裂性能,才能及时做出有效的防治措施。为此,以内蒙古地区典型红黏土为研究对象,在明确其击实特性的基础上,分析了红黏土在不同击实次数条件下的收缩特性并结合图像处理技术进一步阐释了压实红黏土裂缝形态的发展规律。试验结果表明:红黏土的最大干密度随着击实次数的增加呈线性增加,最佳含水率随着击实次数的增加呈线性减小的特征;红黏土失水率曲线随干燥时间呈指数规律变化,干燥初期,试样水分迅速蒸发呈线性变化,随着干燥时间的延续水分蒸发量逐渐减少,失水率曲线趋于稳定;随着击实次数的增加试样收缩率增大,收缩指标（径向线缩率、轴向线缩率以及体积收缩率）随干燥时间呈指数规律变化。红黏土收缩几何因子小于3,表明其轴向收缩大于径向收缩,红黏土收缩具有各向异性的特点;红黏土的裂缝特征参数（平均裂缝宽度、裂缝总长度、裂隙率）也随击实次数的增加而增大。试样击实次数的增加破坏了土体的黏粒结构,导致土体对结合水最大吸附能力减弱,降低了土体的持水能力,从而使土体的失水率、收缩率以及裂隙率增大。因此,在工程应用中增加击实次数以期改善红黏土的收缩与抗裂性是低效不经济的。     

基于高密度电阻率成像技术的土体干缩开裂过程监测研究

为了探究土体干缩开裂问题,文章采用ERT技术,对黏性土开展了一维干缩开裂动态监测试验。配制初始状态饱和 的泥浆试样,在自然条件下干燥,采用ERT技术获得试样干燥过程中的电阻值变化。结合试样的电阻值图像和裂隙图像, 对土体干缩开裂规律进行了分析。研究结果表明：在干燥蒸发初期,土体电阻值随时间增加缓慢减小,其原因在于土体干 燥收缩导致土颗粒间接触面积增大,颗粒水化膜变薄,进而使得土颗粒表面双电层导电性增强。随着干燥继续进行,气体 进入土体内部,土体由初始饱和状态转变为非饱和状态,电阻值转为缓慢增加。当土体产生裂隙时,裂隙周围土体电阻值 急剧增大,而未发育裂隙的土体电阻依然保持缓慢增加的趋势。通过对比试样电阻值变化曲线和裂隙图像,发现两者所呈 现的裂隙发育位置和状态存在良好的一致性。因此,ERT技术能对干燥过程中土体裂隙发育进行有效的动态监测,准确掌 握裂隙发育的时空动态信息,并且能提前预测裂隙发育的可能位置,为研究极端干旱气候作用下土体的工程性质响应提供 了理想手段。     

干湿交替作用后砂岩破裂过程实时观测与分析

采用岩石破裂全过程的细观力学试验系统进行了天然状态及干湿交替作用后的完整和含预制圆孔砂岩试件的单轴压缩破裂试验。利用显微镜观察了砂岩裂纹萌生、扩展以及试件的失稳破坏过程。经过干湿交替作用后岩样更容易在较低的应力状态下发生裂纹的扩展,并且裂纹扩展的初始阶段一般表现为拉破裂。完整试件的裂纹是随机性的三维扩展,而有预制圆孔试件一般是从预制圆孔周边开始扩展。天然状态下的预制圆孔试件在起裂时从圆孔的压应力集中区产生剪切裂纹;而干湿交替作用后,起裂时可能先从拉应力集中区产生拉裂纹,并且裂纹演化过程更为复杂一些,破裂形式多样化。与天然状态相比,经过干湿循环作用后的砂岩破坏脆性降低,强度等力学参数也随干湿交替次数增加而逐渐降低。     

干湿循环条件下重塑膨胀土的裂隙发育特征及量化研究

裂隙性是膨胀土的典型工程地质特性之一,对其工程性质有重要影响,直接或间接地导致各种工程问题。通过对重塑膨胀土开展室内干湿循环试验,对获得的裂隙数字图像采用图像处理技术进行一系列预处理操作,提出了表面裂隙率、裂隙条数、裂隙总长度、裂隙平均宽度和绝对收缩率等量化指标,定量描述裂隙的形态特征,分析干湿循环过程中压实膨胀土的裂隙发育规律。结果表明:含水率和干湿循环次数是影响膨胀土裂隙发育的重要因素。随着含水率的减小,重塑膨胀土的裂隙发育程度总体上有增加的趋势。表面裂隙率、裂隙条数和总长度随含水率的减小逐渐增加,绝对收缩率随含水率减小而增大,而裂隙宽度与含水率之间没有明显的规律;随干湿循环次数的增加,裂隙进一步发育,裂隙条数、裂隙总长度、表面裂隙率增加,绝对收缩率总体增大,但裂隙平均宽度存在减小的现象,这与后期发育的大量微裂隙有关。     

Discrete element modelling of drying shrinkage and cracking of soils

This paper is aimed at showing the efficiency of discrete element modelling for the prediction and understanding of drying shrinkage and associated cracking. The discrete element approach used is presented first. Cohesive forces between grains, as well as drying shrinkage deformation, are included in the formulation. A numerical model is then used to simulate drying shrinkage experiments conducted on a fine-grained soil. The numerical simulations agree well with the experimental measurements. When drying shrinkage is constrained at the boundaries, and when moisture gradients develop in the drying soil, the model is able to predict the time of the occurrence of cracking, as well as the crack pattern formed. Finite element simulations and the discrete element approach both predict similar behaviours before cracking occurs. The proposed discrete element approach is highly promising for studying the origins and causes of cracking in soils.     

Numerical modelling of desiccation cracking of clayey soil using a cohesive fracture method

This paper presents a numerical study on the desiccation cracking process of clayey soil. The initiation and propagation of cracks were investigated using finite element code, including the damage-elastic cohesive fracture law to describe the behaviour of cracks. The coupling between the hydraulic behaviour (moisture transfer in the soil matrix and in the cracks) and the mechanical behaviour (volume change of the soil matrix and development of cracks) were also considered. The results of a laboratory experiment performed on clay soil, taken from a literature review, were used to evaluate the numerical modelling. The results show that the code can reproduce the main trends observed in the experiment (e.g., shrinkage related to drying, crack development). In addition, the numerical simulation enables the identification of other phenomena, such as the evolution of suction and stress related to drying and the development of a single crack. These phenomena are difficult to observe experimentally.     

边界约束对膨胀土干缩开裂的影响

膨胀土是岩土工程中常见的一类特殊土,具有失水收缩和吸水膨胀的变形特征,如何量化收缩变形及其与干缩裂缝之间的关系是土工建筑物稳定性和安全性评估的基本问题。本文利用Bishop有效应力原理和广义胡克定律证明了采用含水率或基质吸力为基本变量的两种分析方法的等价性。把岩土工程中常用的原状土收缩实验中测量的收缩系数与收缩应变关联,得到了土体两端存在和没有位移约束时的总水平应力及其与含水率分布之间的关系。结果表明,无边界位移约束时,收缩变形的不均匀性小,应力水平低,且含水率对应力分布的影响小;存在约束时,收缩变形将受到限制,易诱发干缩裂缝,其深度受土体弹性模量和收缩系数的影响。     

膨胀土湿干胀缩裂隙演化及其定量分析

膨胀土是一种分布广泛且具有明显胀缩性的裂隙土,其裂纹萌生及裂隙扩展会受到诸多因素的影响。此试验利用基于MATLAB开发的图像处理与裂隙定量分析程序,研究了膨胀土裂隙开展的尺寸和温度效应。制备25个不同初始状态的膨胀土泥浆试样,利用拍照台对其失水收缩过程中试样表面裂隙演化过程以及对应含水率进行记录。运用裂隙定量分析程序,分别对两类效应单独作用、耦合作用下的膨胀土裂隙度 、长径比C、裂隙平均宽度 、分形维数值等指标进行定量化分析发现：膨胀土裂隙的分形维数值具有较好的稳定性,其指标仅受试样厚度轻微影响,分形维数与含水率ω的关系呈近似对数曲线;在失水收缩过程中膨胀土最终裂隙指标主要受到试样厚度的影响,表面尺寸对裂隙长径比、宽度最终值也有一定影响,温度影响主要体现在促使裂隙更早、更快的发育并稳定,对最终指标影响相对不明显,影响显著性顺序为：厚度>表面尺寸>温度;此外还对膨胀土失水收缩开裂过程机制进行分析,进一步研究膨胀土的裂隙发育以及两类效应对其裂隙扩展的影响规律。     

Study of desiccation crack initiation and development at ground surface

Cracks are common in clayey or expansive soils and provide preferential pathways for water infiltration into soils. A field study was conducted to investigate the mechanisms of initiation and development of desiccation cracks on two soils. Based on results of the field study and measurements of soil-water retention curves and soil shrinkage properties in the laboratory, the conditions of crack initiation and the development of crack geometric parameters (i.e., crack porosity, crack aperture, and crack density) with water content or drying time were quantified. The results show that desiccation cracks developed in three stages: initial stage, primary stage, and steady state stage. In the initial stage, few cracks developed with gradually decreasing water content. When the water content reached a critical value for crack initiation, cracks developed quickly and this was the start of the primary stage. The critical suction at crack initiation was calculated using a stress criterion, which is in the range of 5.3–21.3 times the preconsolidation pressure of the soil. As the water content approached the shrinkage limit of the soil, cracks developed slowly and approached a steady state. The cracks were found to be repeatable during three drying–wetting cycles.     

Three‐dimensional simulations of tensile cracks in geomaterials by coupling meshless and finite element method

Failure in geotechnical engineering is often related to tension‐induced cracking in geomaterials. In this paper, a coupled meshless method and FEM is developed to analyze the problem of three‐dimensional cracking. The radial point interpolation method (RPIM) is used to model cracks in the smeared crack framework with an isotropic damage model. The identification of the meshless region is based on the stress state computed by FEM, and the adaptive coupling of RPIM and FEM is achieved by a direct algorithm. Mesh‐bias dependency, which poses difficulties in FEM‐based cracking simulations, is circumvented by a crack tracking algorithm. The performance of our scheme is demonstrated by two numerical examples, that is, the four‐point bending test on concrete beam and the surface cracks caused by tunnel excavation. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

三星堆城墙干缩裂缝开裂与扩展机理

针对土遗址干缩裂缝病害,以三星堆月亮湾城墙剖面为依托,探讨干缩裂缝的开裂条件、扩展特征以及失稳扩展条件。研究结果有助于揭示土遗址开裂规律,对遗址保护的工程实践具有指导意义。针对月亮湾城墙土体进行室内干燥试验,通过电子天平记录试样失水过程,采用图像分析技术得到裂缝的开裂与扩展过程,利用数字图像相关技术得到开裂过程的位移场与应变场。结果表明:试样表面缺陷降低了开裂所需的拉应力,缺陷与边界的距离越小,引发开裂的缺陷临界尺寸就越小,因此裂缝更易在试样边界附近缺陷处产生;根据断裂力学理论,考虑含水率对土体性质的影响,裂缝失稳扩展需满足应力强度因子对含水率的增加率大于断裂韧性;理论推导出裂缝失稳扩展临界长度的计算方法,该方法初步得到了实测数据验证;随着含水率从45.6%降低到29.1%,失稳扩展临界长度与试样宽度比值从0.109减小到0.024,含水率越低裂缝越易进入失稳扩展阶段,开裂处一个微小的缺陷就可能引发裂缝的快速扩展;对土遗址表面进行保护时,应着重修补分布在土层边界区域的大尺寸缺陷;定期监测土遗址临空面,一旦发现开裂,应及时对裂缝及其附近缺陷进行修复,以防止裂缝失稳扩展。     

高水压下岩体裂纹扩展的渗流-断裂耦合机制与数值实现

采用渗流力学、断裂力学理论结合Monte Carlo方法描述岩体裂纹的随机分布,研究高水压作用下岩体原生裂纹的变形和翼形裂纹的萌生、扩展、贯通的渗流-断裂耦合作用机制,建立高水压作用下岩体裂纹的渗流-断裂耦合数学模型,给出该数学模型的求解策略与方法,在Fortran95平台下开发高水压下岩体裂纹扩展的渗流-断裂耦合分析程序HWFSC.for。高水压下岩体裂纹扩展的渗流-断裂耦合体现在岩体裂纹网络和渗流初始条件都随渗流时步变化。对高压注水岩体裂纹扩展过程进行渗流-断裂耦合分析。结果表明,高压注水条件下,岩体裂纹扩展存在起动水压力,当水压力大于起动水压力时,裂纹尖端开始萌生翼形裂纹,随着裂纹水压力的增加,翼形裂纹扩展,进而与其他裂纹搭接贯通,停止扩展。渗流-断裂耦合分析考虑了裂纹动、静水压力对裂纹产生的法向扩张效应及翼形裂纹的扩展而形成新的渗流通道两方面的影响,连通裂纹数随渗流的发展而增加。岩体裂纹的渗流-断裂耦合分析,能较真实地再现岩体裂纹的水力劈裂现象,描述岩体裂纹的扩展、贯通过程及与之相耦合的渗流响应。     

岩质边坡表层黏性客土抗裂特性试验研究

客土喷播是当前对于裸露岩质边坡生态修复的一种常用技术。然而,边坡表层黏性客土在干旱的气候条件下,内部水分大量流失将容易产生干缩、开裂现象,进而影响坡面的整体稳定性,以及表面植被的生长。本文针对边坡表层黏性客土开裂问题,通过改变土体厚度,以及制备不同聚氨酯（PU）浓度的高分子复合黏性客土,开展一系列室内蒸发试验,以分析土体表面裂隙发育特征,并结合数字图像处理技术（PCAS）,对裂隙网络的几何形态进行定量分析,进一步探究土体厚度和高分子添加剂浓度对其裂隙发育的影响。