Predicting flow liquefaction,a constitutive model approach

In this paper, flow liquefaction criterion for contractive loose sands is analytically extracted based on the fundamental definition of flow liquefaction. In order to obtain the closed form of this criterion, Dafalias–Manzari constitutive model is employed; so the stress ratio at the onset of flow liquefaction is presented as a function of model parameters, state parameter and void ratio. Flow liquefaction line, as a graphical form of suggested criterion in stress space, shows that the peak points of undrained stress paths with same void ratios are not necessarily in a straight line. In order to validate the reliability of proposed flow liquefaction line to predict the onset of instability, it has been compared with the results of experimental tests performed on Toyoura, Ottawa and Leighton Buzzard sands. The verification results show that the present criterion can satisfactorily predict the onset of flow liquefaction in monotonic and cyclic undrained tests of saturated sands as well as the structural collapse in constant deviatoric stress tests of loose dry sands.     

Simulation of liquefaction of unsaturated soil using critical state soil model

Several researchers have reported that the mean effective stress of unsaturated soils having a relatively high degree of saturation gradually decreases under fully undrained cyclic loading conditions, and such soils can be finally liquefied like saturated soils. This paper describes a series of simulations of fully undrained cyclic loading on unsaturated soils, conducted using an elastoplastic model for unsaturated soils. This model is a critical state soil model formulated using effective stress tensor for unsaturated soils, which incorporates the following concepts: (a) the volumetric movement of the state boundary surface containing the critical state line owing to the variation in the degree of saturation; (b) the soil water characteristic curve considering the effects of specific volume and hydraulic hysteresis; and (c) the subloading surface concept for considering the effect of density. Void air is assumed to be an ideal gas obeying Boyle's law. The proposed model is validated through comparisons with past results. The simulation results show that the proposed model properly describes the fully undrained cyclic behavior of unsaturated soils, such as liquefaction, compression, and an increase in the degree of saturation. Finally, the effects of the degree of saturation, void ratio, and confining pressure on the cyclic strength of unsaturated soils are described by the simulation results. The liquefaction resistance of unsaturated soils increases as the degree of saturation and the void ratio decrease, and as the confining pressure increases. Furthermore, the degree of saturation has a greater effect on the liquefaction resistance than the confining pressure and void ratio. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Undrained cyclic behavior of bentonite–sand mixtures and factors affecting it

In this work, the cyclic behavior of bentonite–sand mixtures and factors affecting it were studied by means of a ring-shear apparatus and a scanning electron microscope. It was found that bentonite content had a significant influence on the liquefaction potential of the studied soils. A small amount of bentonite in the mixtures would cause the formation of “loose” microstructures, resulting in the occurrence of rapid liquefaction under cyclic loading, while a high bentonite content would cause the formation of clay matrixes, thus raising the soil resistance to liquefaction. In addition, the effect of pore water chemistry on the cyclic behavior of a high plasticity bentonite–sand mixture was carefully examined. It was also found that the presence of ions in pore water would change the clay microfabric, making it more open and thus more vulnerable to liquefaction. Finally, the effects of loading frequency on the cyclic behavior of mixtures with different amounts of bentonite were investigated. It was found that as the bentonite content increased, the influence became more pronounced.     

循环荷载下砂土液化特性颗粒流数值模拟

利用PFC2D常体积循环双轴试验条件,对砂土在不排水循环荷载作用下的液化特性进行了颗粒流数值模拟,数值模拟按等应力幅加荷方式进行。颗粒流数值模拟的优点在于得到试样液化宏观力学表现的同时,通过不同循环加荷时刻试样内细观组构参量（包括配位数、接触法向分布、粒间法向接触力、粒间切向接触力）的演化规律,分析砂土液化过程中细观组构变化与宏观力学响应之间的内在联系,从而可进一步探讨砂土液化的细观力学机制。数值模拟研究结果表明,砂土液化现象在宏观力学表现上反映为超静孔隙水压力的累积上升和平均有效主应力的不断减小,在细观组构上对应于配位数的累积损失和粒间接触力的不断减小。砂土液化细观机制分析表明,试样配位数的减少与循环加荷过程中组构各向异性滞后于应力各向异性有关。     

The liquefaction of clayey soils under cyclic loading

This paper seeks to investigate the liquefaction of clayey soils, a phenomenon that has been the trigger for many natural disasters in the last few decades, including landslides. Research was conducted on artificial clay-sand mixtures and natural clayey soils collected from the sliding surfaces of earthquake-induced landslides. The undrained response of normally consolidated clayey soils to cyclic loading was studied by means of a ring-shear apparatus. For the artificial clay-sand mixtures, it was found that the presence of a small amount of bentonite (≤ 7%) would cause rapid liquefaction, while a further increase in bentonite content (≥ 11%) produced the opposite effect of raising soil resistance to liquefaction by a significant degree. It was demonstrated that the bentonite-sand mixture was considerably more resistant to liquefaction than the kaolin-, and illite-mixtures, given the same clay content. The test results of plastic soils revealed the significant influence of plasticity on the liquefaction resistance of soil. The microfabric of clayey soil was investigated by means of a scanning electron microscope. The analysis showed that the liquefaction potential of soil was strongly related to certain particle arrangements. For example, soil vulnerable to liquefaction had an open microfabric in which clay aggregations generally gathered at the sand particle contact points, forming low-strength “clay bridges” that were destroyed easily during cyclic loading. On the other hand, the microfabric of soil that was resistant to liquefaction appeared to be more compact, with the clay producing a matrix that prevented sand grains from liquefying. In the case of the natural soils, the obtained results indicated that their cyclic behavior was similarly influenced by factors such as clay content, clay mineralogy and plasticity. The relation between the liquefaction potential of natural soil and its microfabric was thus also established. On the basis of the obtained results, the authors posited an explanation on the mechanism of liquefaction for clayey soil.     

波浪荷载下海洋土孔隙水压力内时模型的研究

作者导出了基于 Gibbs 自由能和应力内时标度基础上的海洋土内时剪胀方程,由此建立了预测均匀和不均匀波浪循环荷载下不排水时孔隙水压力的模型。该模型不仅很好地拟合了实验数据,还能较好地说明了循环荷载作用下孔隙水压力上升的机理,可以很方便地用于波浪循环荷载作用下的液化势分析中。     

Comparison of Numerical and Analytical Liquefaction Analyses of Tailings

The seismic performance of a tailings impoundment can be adversely affected by the behavior of the retained tailings. However, there remains considerable uncertainty in tailings liquefaction analysis. Twenty cyclic simple shear tests conducted on tailings from a gold mine in Quebec, Canada, were simulated numerically. The simulations indicated that the dynamic behavior of tailings could be modelled reasonably well, except that the weighted cyclic resistance curve of the tailings differed from that of clean sand which was used to develop the constitutive model (UBCSAND). An (N₁)_60-CS value of 10 blows/30 cm was estimated for the tailings based on calibration at a CSR of 0.10 for 15 cycles of loading. Numerical simulation of the behavior of a 20-m-high deposit of tailings during an earthquake (M_w = 5.9) indicated liquefaction of the upper 8 m of tailings. Liquefaction analysis using the Simplified method with published magnitude scaling factors (MSF) did not predict the occurrence of liquefaction. The use of MSF values calculated from the laboratory testing predicted liquefaction in the upper 8 m of tailings, corresponding quite well with the numerical simulation. The results indicate that both analytical and numerical methods can be used to evaluate the potential for tailings liquefaction under seismic loads.     

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。     

液化土层中桩基水平承载特性分析

通过桩土相互作用的振动台模型试验,获得了不同相对密度的砂土在振动液化过程中桩身弯矩随土层振动累积孔压的变化关系。进而通过拟静力方法,确定了土层液化过程中的衰化p-y曲线,并计算出桩身弯矩的分布。计算结果与实测结果的比较分析表明：若土层的振动累积孔压比ru≤比≤0.2时,桩的水平承载能力没有明显降低。当土层的振动累积孔压比ru≥0.8时,若土层的相对密度Dr≤40 %,桩的水平承载能力降低90 %;若土层的相对密度Dr≥50 %,桩的水平承载能力降低75 %。     

碎石桩复合地基桩体减震作用研究

地震引起的土体液化和地基失效对岩土工程师而言仍是一个热点问题。地震液化及地基变形可以采用多种地基加固方法防治,碎石桩技术是常用方法之一。碎石桩复合地基抗液化效用主要是增加桩周土体的密度、桩体的排水以及桩体分担地震水平剪应力作用(桩体减震作用)。目前,以抗液化为主的碎石桩复合地基的设计以及效果评价方法仍只考虑加密作用。首先通过3个模型(1个饱和砂土地基模型、2个碎石桩复合地基模型)的振动台试验研究抗液化碎石桩的减震作用。然后以试验记录的模型动力反应以及建立的理论模型为基础,分析碎石桩复合地基的桩体减震作用。试验及理论分析结果表明,复合地基中的碎石桩可以明显地降低作用在桩间可液化土上的地震剪应力。     

饱和粉土振动液化分析

液化是造成场地地震破坏的首要原因之一。自Casagrande的经典工作以来,对地震液化的研究已经取得了很大的进展。然而这些研究大多是针对于砂土而进行的,对于粉土液化研究的相对较少,且粉土的液化特性也有别于砂土。因此,在已有研究的基础之上利用粉土液化试验得出的结果,分析了粉土液化的机理、影响因素以及在振动过程中粉土中孔隙水压力的增长规律,认为粉土中的粘粒含量、密实度以及土的结构性对其抗液化能力有较大的影响。考虑到试验中振动次数的离散性,引入了时间参数的概念,根据动三轴试验结果提出了孔隙水压力增长的经验公式,可以比较方便地应用于计算液化的有限元程序中去。     

A modification to dense sand dynamic simulation capability of Pastor–Zienkiewicz–Chan model

A modification to the nonlinear Pastor–Zienkiewicz–Chan (PZC) constitutive model without any change in the number of model parameters is introduced in order to simulate stiffness degradation of dense sands at dynamic loading. The PZC model is based on generalized plasticity and was verified by good prediction of liquefaction and undrained behavior of saturated sand. The PZC is a robust model that can predict drained dynamic behavior of sands, especially stiffness increase in loose sand at reloading of dynamic loading. Yet, this model does not show stiffness degradation of dense sand at reloading. The modification is made through modifying the stress memory factor, H _DM, which is multiplied by the plastic modulus, H _L. This modification does not influence reloading behavior of loose sand. The modified PZC model is verified via results of drained cyclic tests. Two cyclic triaxial tests on loose and dense specimens, along with two cyclic plane strain tests on dense sand are utilized for validation. The model simulation shows that the modified PZC model is able to predict the stiffness degradation of dense sand at reloading well.     

胶新铁路砂土液化区路基沉降规律研究

地震液化常给人们带来巨大损失,而剪切振动和循环荷载作用下的动力学效应常被认为是地震液化的主要原因,人们对剪切荷载作用下饱和砂土的液化问题进行了较多的研究,而对循环荷载作用下砂土液化的动力学效应研究较少。胶新铁路在DK39+000开始为高地震烈度区,DK283+550~DK283+770分布有地震可液化层,工程修建后列车动荷载的影响将会有诱发砂土液化的可能性。为了研究通车前自然沉降特征和通车后循环荷载作用下的路基沉降变形规律,本文在具体分析了砂土液化的概念和准则判别的基础上,重点分析了砂土液化区路基沉降特征,包括测试断面竖向分层沉降变形特征分析和路基水平位移特征分析。最后在试验的基础上,从理论上给出了循环荷载下砂土的本构关系。     

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     

A unified plasticity model for large post-liquefaction shear deformation of sand

Based on previous experimental findings and theoretical developments, this paper presents the formulation and numerical algorithms of a novel constitutive model for sand with special considerations for cyclic behaviour and accumulation of large post-liquefaction shear deformation. Appropriate formulation for three volumetric strain components enables the model to accurately predict loading and load reversal behaviour of sand, fully capturing the features of cyclic mobility. Compliance with the volumetric compatibility condition, along with reversible and irreversible dilatancy, allows for physically based simulation of the generation and accumulation of shear strain at zero effective stress after initial liquefaction. A state parameter was incorporated for compatibility with critical state soil mechanics, enabling the unified simulation of sand at various densities and confining pressures with a same set of parameters. The determination methods for the 14 model parameters are outlined in the paper. The model was implemented into the open source finite-element framework OpenSees using a cutting-plane stress integration scheme with substepping. The potentials of the model and its numerical implementation were explored via simulations of classical drained and undrained triaxial experiments, undrained cyclic torsional experiments, and a dynamic centrifuge experiment on a single pile in liquefiable soil. The results showed the model’s great capabilities in simulating small to large deformation in the pre- to post-liquefaction regime of sand.     

Liquefaction potential of coastal slopes induced by solitary waves

Tsunami runup and drawdown can cause liquefaction failure of coastal fine sand slopes due to the generation of high excess pore pressure and the reduction of the effective over burden pressure during the drawdown. The region immediately seaward of the initial shoreline is the most susceptible to tsunami-induced liquefaction failure because the water level drops significantly below the still water level during the set down phase of the drawdown. The objective of this work is to develop and validate a numerical model to assess the potential for tsunami-induced liquefaction failure of coastal sandy slopes. The transient pressure distribution acting on the slope due to wave runup and drawdown is computed by solving for the hybrid Boussinesq—nonlinear shallow water equations using a finite volume method. The subsurface pore water pressure and deformation fields are solved simultaneously using a finite element method. Two different soil constitutive models have been examined: a linear elastic model and a non-associative Mohr–Coulomb model. The numerical methods are validated by comparing the results with analytical models, and with experimental measurements from a large-scale laboratory study of breaking solitary waves over a planar fine sand beach. Good comparisons were observed from both the analytical and experimental validation studies. Numerical case studies are shown for a full-scale simulation of a 10-m solitary wave over a 1:15 and 1:5 sloped fine sand beach. The results show that the soil near the bed surface, particularly along the seepage face, is at risk to liquefaction failure. The depth of the seepage face increases and the width of the seepage face decreases with increasing bed slope. The rate of bed surface loading and unloading due to wave runup and drawdown, respectively, also increases with increasing bed slope. Consequently, the case with the steeper slope is more susceptible to liquefaction failure due to the higher hydraulic gradient. The analysis also suggests that the results are strongly influenced by the soil permeability and relative compressibility between the pore fluid and solid skeleton, and that a coupled solid/fluid formulation is needed for the soil solver. Finally, the results show the drawdown pore pressure response is strongly influenced by nonlinear material behavior for the full-scale simulation.     

A cyclic elastoplastic constitutive model and effect of non-associativity on the response of liquefiable sandy soils

A large number of constitutive models for geomaterials, such as soils and rocks, have been proposed over the last three decades. Those models have been implemented into computer codes and have been successfully used to solve practical engineering problems particularly under monotonic loading conditions. Compared with the models for monotonic loadings, more improvements for cyclic models are necessary in order to obtain more accurate predictions for the dynamic behavior of geomaterials, e.g., the behavior during earthquakes. A cyclic elastoplastic model has been developed in this study for sandy soils; it is based on the kinematical hardening rule with a yield function that includes the changes in the stress ratio and the mean effective stress considering the degradation of the yield surface. From a simulation with the present model, it has been found that strong non-associativity leads to a large decrease in the mean effective stress during cyclic deformations under undrained conditions, while the model with the associated flow rule does not. This result is quite important because the mean effective stress becomes almost zero at the state of full liquefaction. Compared with the experimental results, the model can accurately reproduce the cyclic behavior of soil.     

Application of an advanced multi-surface kinematic constitutive soil model

The implementation of the non-linear elastic multi-surface plastic kinematic constitutive soil model ALTERNAT into a general uncoupled finite element program called ALTICA is described. The principal features of the model are discussed and its implementation into an initial stress type excess plastic stress redistribution algorithm. To show the abilities of the model and validate the algorithm, several examples are presented including the calibration of the model to a real sand with measured monotonic and cyclic properties. In the monotonic examples, the ability of ALTICA to accurately reproduce the predicted collapse load of geotechnical structures is demonstrated using the results of finite element simulations of two typical boundary value problems (with known analytical or numerical solutions). In the cyclic examples, results of cyclic liquefaction simulation using both a non-inertial ‘static’ and inertial ‘dynamic’ algorithm are presented. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Review of soil liquefaction characteristics during major earthquakes of the twenty-first century

Liquefaction, which can be defined as a loss of strength and stiffness in soils, is one of the major causes of damage to buildings and infrastructure during an earthquake. To overcome a lack of comprehensive analyses of seismically induced liquefaction, this study reviews the characteristics of liquefaction and its related damage to soils and foundations during earthquakes in the first part of the twenty-first century. Based on seismic data analysis, macroscopic phenomena of liquefaction (e.g., sand boiling, ground cracking, and lateral spread) are summarized, and several new phenomena related to earthquakes from the twenty-first century are highlighted, including liquefaction in areas with moderate seismic intensity, liquefaction of gravelly soils, liquefaction of deep-level sandy soils, re-liquefaction in aftershocks, liquid-like behavior of unsaturated sandy soils. Additionally, phenomena related to damage in soils and foundations induced by liquefaction are investigated and discussed.     

Effects of initial static shear on cyclic resistance and pore pressure generation of saturated sand

In practical engineering, cyclic shear stresses induced by earthquakes, traffic, and waves are superimposed on the initial static shear stress in sand fills or deposits, leading to complex responses of soils such as their deformation characteristics, pore pressure generation, and susceptibility (or cyclic resistance) to liquefaction. To experimentally investigate the undrained cyclic response of saturated sand, a series of triaxial tests were performed, covering a broad range of initial static and cyclic deviatoric stress levels. The results indicate that different stress conditions lead to two types of cyclic behavior: cyclic mobility and residual deformation accumulation. The compressional static stress is beneficial to the cyclic resistance of the dense sand, whereas the extensional static stress is regarded as detrimental as it tended to reduce the cyclic strength. Moreover, by comparing the available test data obtained from the same sand with varying initial densities and confining pressures, the static shear effect on cyclic resistance was found to be dependent on the state of the sand. Compared to the interpretation made using the limiting pore pressure-based criterion, the conventional failure criterion using a cyclic axial strain of 5% may lead to a substantial overestimation of the cyclic resistance, thus resulting in unsafe assessment and design. Hence, by employing the pore pressure criterion, the pore pressure generated in the cyclic tests was investigated and was found to be significantly influenced by the static shear stress. A pore pressure generation model is proposed to obtain the pore pressure characteristics of sand under various static shear stress conditions.