软土地基上海堤变形与失稳的离心模型试验与数值分析

软土地基上海堤的沉降及稳定性是围垦海堤工程的关键问题。针对海堤工程开展离心机模型试验,分别通过变加速度法及恒加速度法模拟海堤填筑过程和竣工后稳定运行过程,得到了海堤施工期及工后沉降变化规律,并通过PIV技术观察海堤的破坏模式;在此基础上,采用GeoStudio软件分别基于总应力及有效应力分析法,分析了海堤施工期及竣工后稳定运行期海堤的整体稳定性随时间变化规律。物理和数值模拟结果表明,离心模型试验能一定程度上模拟海堤的变形及失稳情况,且与数值分析结果吻合较好。海堤施工期瞬时失稳的滑裂面贯穿软土地基,并使海堤滑体发生了超过1 m的瞬时沉降。海堤填筑完成后地基超静孔隙水压力逐渐消散、海堤稳定性安全系数随时间不断提高。海堤竖向和水平位移最大值分别位于堤轴线处及坡脚处。     

Response of skirted suction caissons to monotonic lateral loading in saturated medium sand

Monotonic lateral load model tests were carried out on steel skirted suction caissons embedded in the saturated medium sand to study the bearing capacity. A three-dimensional continuum finite element model was developed with Z_SOIL software. The numerical model was calibrated against experimental results. Soil deformation and earth pressures on skirted caissons were investigated by using the finite element model to extend the model tests. It shows that the ＂skirted＂ structure can significantly increase the lateral capacity and limit the deflection, especially suitable for offshore wind turbines, compared with regular suction caissons without the ＂skirted＂ at the same load level. In addition, appropriate determination of rotation centers plays a crucial role in calculating the lateral capacity by using the analytical method. It was also found that the rotation center is related to dimensions of skirted suction caissons and loading process, i.e. the rotation center moves upwards with the increase of the ＂skirted＂ width and length; moreover, the rotation center moves downwards with the increase of loading and keeps constant when all the sand along the caisson＇s wall yields. It is so complex that we cannot simply determine its position like the regular suction caisson commonly with a specified position to the length ratio of the caisson.