Shaking table tests on subgrade reaction of pipe embedded in sandy liquefied subsoil

An interest in the behavior of liquefied sand during seismic flow failure led the authors to conduct shaking table tests in which an embedded pipe was pulled laterally and the required drag force was monitored. Test results showed that the amplitude of shaking acceleration affected the behavior of sand in both dry and water-saturated conditions. In dry sand, the induced inertia force decreased the shear strength and consequently the magnitude of the drag force. When the sand was saturated, a special consideration was made of the similitude of dilatancy between 1-G model tests and the in-situ situation. This goal was attained by employing very loose sand in model tests. The rate-dependency in which the drag force increased with the rate of pipe movement was focused on, leading to an apparently viscous behavior of sand. This is consistent with what several former studies reported.     

Monitoring of internal failure evolution in soils using computerization X-ray tomography

Computerized X-ray tomography (CT) has been used in disciplines such as soil science, geology and rock mechanics to analyze the texture of geomaterials. However, this potentially useful method has not thus far been used adequately in engineering geological analyses.To investigate its feasibility, CT is utilized in this study to monitor the evolution of internal failure in soil masses. An apparatus that can be fitted into the chamber of a medical CT was built to conduct geotechnical tests. Loading and shearing experiments were performed on bentonite, kaolinite, sand, silicon powders, and glass beads. CT images have been taken on different cross-sections inside the specimens to monitor soil deformation continuously. The results of direct shear, horizontal and vertical loading tests are presented and discussed. It has been demonstrated that CT is a powerful non-destructive and non-invasive tool for engineering geological analyses.     

梭梭人工林密度研究

对秋灌梭梭人工林进行了2m×4m、2.5m×1.5m和天然荒漠林对照的密度研究。结果表明,2.5m×3m,1333株/hm²作为初植密度和成林密度是较为合适的。土壤高含水量层的深度范围和时间过程构成的面积大,土壤水减少量和蒸散量小,能适时进入成林阶段的郁闭状态,现虽然生长状况一般,但水分供需平衡。而且在不灌溉情况下,仅靠降水不会出现固沙林衰亡的恶果。     

Acoustic emission processes occurring during high-pressure sand compaction

Granular materials submitted to uniaxial compression undergo pore space reduction due to mechanisms such as particle rearrangement and grain crushing. These changes in the internal structure of the material release energy in the form of elastic waves that can be detected by sensors sensitive to acoustic emission. In this study, Acoustic emission monitoring with a wavelet-based signal processing technique is used to identify the various mechanisms occurring during high-pressure sand compaction. Particle movement, grain failure, friction between grains and the surface of the compression cell and intergranular friction are studied. Acoustic emission data recorded during these simplified tests are used to characterize each phenomenon. Wavelet transform analyses allow the identification of useful features, making possible frequency discrimination among sliding, rolling, friction and grain fragmentation processes. For instance, we observe that at low stress, grain flow is characterized by the lowest centroid and peak frequencies, while at greater stresses, intergranular friction and grain fragmentation have the higher values. In the tests performed, the stress–strain evolution and final condition of the tested sand are broadly consistent, irrespective of the condition employed: continuous, stepwise or even variable loading rate or temperature. However, Acoustic emission data manifest much more complex behaviour (including thermal, load-rate dependency and delayed fragmentation phenomena) than that suggested by stress–strain relationships. At low stress levels, grain flow (sliding/rolling) is a relevant strain-accommodation mechanism, but so is crushing due to the effect of concentrated forces at the grain contact level. At high stresses, when crushing is generalized, intergranular friction is also a relevant phenomenon due to the increase in the coordination number produced by previous fragmentation.     

Dynamic characterization of the migration of a mining pit in an alluvial channel

Research on in-channel sand mining is imperative as it may have a significant impact on channel morphology. Following this quest to quantitatively comprehend the phenomenon, experimental studies were done to investigate the dynamic characteristics of the migration of a mining pit. The evaluation of the migration rate of a mining pit in a physical scale model has found a rise in the migration rate of the pit's upstream edge with increasing discharge. A wavelet analysis applied for analyzing scale-dependent migration of the bed profile of a mining pit also revealed similar findings. Additionally, the wavelet analysis examined the length-scale dependent migration of a mining pit and a decrease in the migration rate has been observed with an increase in the length scale. The plan form of a pit (length-to-width ratio) governs the erosion and deposition processes around the pit. Both physical and statistical approaches show an increase in the migration rate with an increase in the length-to-width ratio of the pit. An empirical formulation has been developed for calculating the migration rate of the upstream edge of a mining pit based on pit geometry (length-to-width ratio), average flow velocity, and critical shear stress of the bed material. The results also show a higher bed load transport rate in the channel subjected to mining as compared to a plain bed channel.     

Heterogeneous tide-surge interaction during co-occurrence of tropical and extratropical cyclones in the radial sand ridges of the southern Yellow Sea

The Radial Sand Ridges(RSRs)area in the southern Yellow Sea are subject to tropical and extratropical cyclone activities frequently,in which the special geometry feature and moving stationary tidal system result in complex storm-induced hydrodynamic processes,especially the tide-surge interactions.We studied a rare weather event influenced simultaneously by an extratropical cyclone EX1410 and Typhoon Vongfong as an example to investigate the characteristics of storm surges,wave-surge,and tide-surge interaction in the RSRs area,and applied a high-resolution integrally-coupled ADCIRC+SWAN model,in which the meteorological forcing inputs are simulated by the WRF-ARW model.The model is validated by records from 4 tide gauges and 2 wave buoys along the Yellow Sea coast.Results show that the tide-surge interactions are of considerable regional heterogeneousness.The surge curves at Lüsi(in south RSRs)and Jianggang(in middle RSRs)have abrupt falls near the time of low tide,where the peak occurrence time of interaction residuals tend to shift towards the mid-ebb period.Significant increase of bed shear stress in shallow waters was proved the dominant factor to affect the tide-surge interaction in broad tidal flats of the RSRs area.Differently,the interaction pattern in the Xiyang Trough(in north RSRs),showed a unique rising in mid-flood period due to the phase advances of real surge waves in relatively deep waters.Therefore,we suggested to the local flood risk management that the tide-surge interaction tends to alleviate the flooding risk in the RSRs area around the time of high tide,but aggravate the risk on the rising tide in the Xiyang Trough and on the falling tide in large-scale tidal flats of the southem RSRs area.     

Long-term dynamic behaviour of Coode Island Silt (CIS) containing different sand content

The foundations of nearshore and offshore structures are always subjected to long-term cyclic loading which is often a one-way, with low amplitude and a large number of cycles. Hence, the long-term dynamic behaviour of shoreline soils and sediments should be understood to avoid excessive deformation and liquefaction. As one of the most problematic soft soils in Melbourne, Coode Island Silt (CIS) at the northern shoreline of Port Phillip Bay contains a considerable but variable amount of sand. This paper explores the dynamic response of CIS containing different sand content subjected to a large number of cycles. To determine the liquefaction potential, and the effect of sand content on the resilient modulus and permanent strain of CIS, a series of long-term cyclic triaxial tests at a sinusoidal loading frequency of 1 Hz is performed. Based on the test results, it is found that CIS with varying sand content up to 30%, does not liquefy under the cyclic stress ratios and frequency applied in this study. Also, a sand content of 10% causes CIS to degrade more under cyclic loading. In the end, an empirical model to predict the permanent strain of CIS with a variable sand content is calibrated.     

Laboratory study of shear strength response of Chlef natural sand: Effect of saturation

Abstract

The study of the unsaturated soils is a very complex field to which several researches in laboratory and on site are directed these last years. An experimental study aims to quantify the influence of the Skempton coefficient B characterizing the degree of saturation on the behavior of the granular sand to the liquefaction resistance of sand. The study is based on undrained triaxial tests performed on natural Chlef sand carried out at an initial relative density Dr = 50% under a confining pressure of 50, 100 and 200?kPa for Skempton coefficient B?=?10 to 92%. The results of the tests show that an increase of confining pressure leads to an increase of the shear stress of the samples. For the lower value of the degree of saturation results of our findings indicate an increase of the resistance to liquefaction; our results are in good agreement with others observed in several research projects conducted with other sands. The increase of Skempton coefficient B induces an increase of pore water pressure and a decrease of the shear strength. The pore pressure (u) increases with an exponential manner with the increase of the degree of saturation; while the residual shear strength (Rs) decreases with logarithmic manner with the increase of degree of saturation (B).     

Sand bodies and incised valleys within the Late Quaternary Sanaga–Nyong delta complex on the middle continental shelf of Cameroon

Seismic data and sediment cores collected offshore from the Sanaga River and Nyong River mouths were used to analyse a loose mantle of yellow to reddish sandy gravel with a range of fluvial and deltaic characteristics cropping out in the middle part (25–65 m water depth) of the continental shelf of Cameroon. Contrary to most of the Atlantic shelves, where the lowstand systems tract was destroyed by erosion, we found 80–120 ms (60–90 m) of sediment mainly in the middle part of the shelf, which correspond credibly to MIS 2–4. Fluvial paleodrainage systems are preserved beneath the shelf and individual filled channels with planar infillings were mapped that cross the shelf along two surfaces of erosion. These incisions suggested westerly and northwesterly drainage shifts during presumed lowered base level. The presence of closely spaced channel fills suggests repeated avulsion of a single stream during a long-lasting sub-aerial erosion period. The seismic facies of these Pleistocene deposits distinguish themselves clearly from well-stratified older strata showing deformation (Pliocene) or intense folding (Miocene). The orientation of the paleovalleys appears strongly controlled by the N60°E trending cross faults within Mesozoic–Cenozoic strata.     

一次冷锋过境时引发多种天气现象的成因分析

利用观测数据、雷达产品、ERA5再分析资料对2021年4月15日河北保定一次天气过程进行综合分析，结果表明：(1)天气背景高层干冷，低层有暖脊，整层大气较为干燥。冷锋过境引起地面风力加大，锋面触发干对流后，冷池出流进一步加大了地面风速，湍流加强并出现扬沙。(2)对流云内存在水平弱风区，其径向速度近于0 m/s，弱风区后侧的雷达回波强度呈增加趋势。雷达低仰角0径向速度区的上方有水凝物粒子迅速集中、生长，生长区内径向速度为5～10 m/s，降雹区域上空各仰角均为0径向速度。(3)下击暴流和动量下传引发了干对流大风，降水粒子的蒸发、拖曳作用进一步加剧了气流下沉，其中蒸发作用的贡献更显著。(4)干对流消亡后，锋面东移，锋后西北风减弱，扬沙天气结束，较小的近地层风通量有利于沙尘粒子缓慢下降，地面能见度好转但PM₁₀浓度依然较高。(5)夜间冷空气下沉，上游输送的沙尘粒子随之沉降，造成了浮尘天气。