Efficiency analysis of open trench for impact pile driving through a single-variable method

Abstract

The ground vibrations during pile driving operation have a drastic potential to undermine the surrounding structures both in land and reclaimed land. Particularly, reclaimed land necessitates ample application of pile driving due to the weak land condition. To prevent the structural damage, attenuation of the ground vibrations to an allowable level through active isolation of circular open trench is the scope of this study. In this research, finite element simulations of continuous impact pile driving process from the ground surface was executed with particular attention to the pile-soil interaction, and thereby, the efficiency of open trench application in attenuation of the unsafe distance of different structures was surveyed using the vibration sensitivity degree. Regarding the crucial parameters of an open trench (depth, width, and location), it was concluded that a sufficient high depth can attenuate the unsafe distance up to 68%, the trench width variations are less effective, and an average pile-trench distance is the most efficient option. The excavation volume was also concluded as another crucial parameter in open trench design which takes all three parameters into account. The trench depth equal to the pile’s maximum critical depth of vibration was inferred for an optimum design.     

The effect of periodic intermittency on the cyclic behavior of marine sedimentary clay

Abstract

For subway systems built in coastal areas, the marine sediments are subjected to regular load sequences of waves and intermittencies, resulting in more complex reactions in their cyclic behaviors compared with those under the uniform cyclic loading applied in common studies. This research involved a series of experimental investigations into the undrained behavior of undisturbed saturated marine sedimentary clay subjected to cyclic loading with periodic intermittency considering the initial deviator stress and the conventional uniform cyclic triaxial tests for comparison. The results indicate that periodic intermittency significantly increases cyclic resistance, manifested by weakening of the long-term response and decreases in the number of vibration times required to achieve a steady state. The effect is greater with longer intermittency durations. Furthermore, changes in the pore water volume during cyclic loading were analyzed via nondestructive detection based on nuclear magnetic resonance. A conversion from bound water to free water was observed, referring to vibration magnitude and times. Lastly, the macroscopic results observed in triaxial tests and the microscopic results obtained in the nuclear magnetic resonance test appear to be closely related, indicating that the use of the variation in pore water is an applicable approach to delineate microchanges.     

Performance evaluation of active wireline heave compensation systems in marine well logging environments

The basic functionality and performance of a new Schlumberger active wireline heave compensation system on the JOIDES Resolution was evaluated during the sea trial and a 3-year period of the IODP Phase II operations. A suite of software programs was developed to enable real-time monitoring of the dynamics of logging tools, and assess the efficiency of wireline heave compensation during downhole operations. The evaluation of the system effectiveness was performed under normal logging conditions as well as during stationary tests. Logging data were analyzed for their overall quality and repeatability, and to assess the reliability of high-resolution data such as formation microscanner (FMS) electrical images. This revealed that the system reduces 65–80 % of displacement or 88–98 % variance of downhole tool motion in stationary mode under heave conditions of ±0.2–1.5 m and water depths of 300–4,500 m in open holes. Under similar water/heave conditions, the compensator system reduces tool displacement by 50–60 %, or 75–84 % variance in downhole tool motion during normal logging operations. Such compensation efficiency (CE) is comparable to previous compensation systems, but using advanced and upgradeable technologies, and provides 50–85 % heave motion and heave variance attenuation. Moreover, logging down/up at low speeds (300–600 m/h) reduces the system’s CE values by 15–20 %, and logging down at higher speeds (1,000–1,200 m/h) eliminates CE values by 55–65 %. Considering the high quality of the logging data collected, it is concluded that the new system can provide an improved level of compensation over previous systems. Also, if practically feasible, future integration of downhole cable dynamics as an input feedback into the current system could further improve its compensation efficiency during logging operations.     

Experimental investigation on the flow induced vibration of an equilateral triangle prism in water

A series of flow induced vibration (FIV) experiments for an equilateral triangle prism elastically mounted in a water channel are performed with different system stiffness at constant damping and mass. An amplitude variation coefficient is proposed to describe FIV stationarity in the present study. The FIV of the prism can be divided into three primary regions based on the amplitude and frequency responses, which are the vortex induced vibration (VIV) branch, the transition branch from VIV to galloping, and the galloping branch. The transition branch occurs at the reduced velocity in the range of 7.8 < U_r = U/(f_n,air·D) < 10.4, accompanied with a relatively rapid increase in amplitude and a precipitous drop in frequency and vibration stationarity. In addition, the reduced velocity where the transition region is initiated is independent of the system stiffness. The maximum amplitude reaches 3.17 D in the galloping branch. The ratio of the response frequency to the natural frequency of the prism in air remains locked to approximately 0.65 throughout the fully developed galloping branch. Large amplitude responses in an infinite range of flow velocities, excellent vibration stationarity and steady vibration frequencies, which are characteristics of the galloping of the prism, have a positive impact on improving energy conversion.     

Wave propagation in a transversely isotropic porous ocean bottom

Abstract

The equations of wave motion are considered in this article for three-layered medium which consists of liquid and porous layers with finite depth and solid half-space such as ocean bed. By virtue of scalar potential functions for each layer, complicated differential equations of layers are reduced to ordinary differential equations. An analytical method is applied to determine the Green’s functions of media based on an arbitrary shaped time-harmonic excitation at the interface of liquid and porous layers. A Mathcad code is provided to compute the complex integrals. Displacement and stress fields of three layers are discussed. Comparing with special cases, existing answers represent the validity of the proposed method. Numerical results are carried out for circular patch, ring and point loads, and the effects of various parameters on the behavior of the system are plotted. Finally, the achieved results were under discussion.     

New formulae for capacity energy-based assessment of liquefaction triggering

Abstract

Liquefaction of loose saturated soil deposits is a hazardous type of ground failure occurring under earthquake excitations. Therefore, an accurate estimation of liquefaction potential is extremely important in geotechnical engineering. In the current study, a new model is proposed which estimates the level of strain energy needed for liquefaction initiation. A compiled database containing cyclic tests gathered from previously published works was used to develop new models to predict liquefaction potential. M5′ algorithm was used to find the best correlation between parameters. It was shown that not only the derived formulas are acceptably accurate but also they feature a very simple structure in comparison with available formulas in the literature. The proposed equations are accurate, physically sound and uncomplicated. Furthermore, safety factors were given for different levels of risk, which can be useful for engineering practice. In addition, the influence of different predictors on the liquefaction potential was evaluated and also the significance of input variables was assessed via sensitivity analysis. Finally, a new model was introduced for preliminary estimation of liquefaction potential.     

Rheological characteristics and one-dimensional isotache modelling of marine soft clays

Abstract

This paper presents a novel elasto-viscoplastic constitutive formulation based on the isotache concepts and the Nishihara model. Incorporating a novel viscoelastic body to include the delay elastic deformation of marine soft clays under the external load, the proposed model is used to evaluate the theories of consolidation-creep coupling, strain rate dependency and stress relaxation of saturated marine soft clays, and hence, the methodology used to determine the parameters of the model is discussed. Ningbo marine soft clay is selected as an example to interpret the determination of the model parameters on a field scale. A series of conventional oedometer tests are conducted as well. Eventually, we utilize the model to simulate several kinds of rheological tests, including one-dimensional (1-D) long-term compression tests on Ningbo marine soft clays, 1-D constant rate of strain (CRS) tests on Batiscan clays and 1-D stress relaxation tests on Hong Kong marine deposits. These findings indicate good agreement between the computational and experimental results, suggesting the given model can provide reliable forecasts for the rheological characteristics of marine soft clays.     

Dynamic analysis of vessel/riser/equipment system for deep-sea mining with RBF neural network approximations

Abstract

Deep-sea mining (DSM) is an advanced technology. This article is focused on the dynamic analysis of a coupled vessel/riser/equipment system of a DSM based on radial basis function (RBF) neural network approximations while considering vessel dynamic positioning (DP) and active heave compensation (AHC). A coupled model including the production support vessel (PSV), lifting riser, and slurry pump is established containing simulated DP and AHC models. Furthermore, dynamic simulations are implemented to obtain the results of the vessel motions, thruster forces, pump motions and riser tensions. Using optimal Latin hypercube sampling, an RBF neural network approximation model is established, the input includes environmental factors and the output includes the dynamic responses of the pump motion and riser tension. Calculations are performed using RBF network approximations instead of a coupled model. The obtained results show that the PSV wave frequency (WF) motions have significant influence on the dynamic responses of the subsea system. Moreover, the current load affects the compensation effect. The RBF network approximation model can be used to reduce the required calculation time.     

Analysis on the effect of salinity in underwater wireless optical communication

Abstract

This article deals with the effect of salinity variation on underwater wireless optical communication (UWOC). Effect of different concentration of salt on underwater optical communication has been carried out experimentally in terms of received power at different link lengths. Based on the analysis of experimental data, a mathematical model has been proposed to describe the saline water channel. A simulation study is performed for different data rates and link lengths. It is seen that with increased salinity the attenuation is higher and the UWOC system performance degrades with higher data rate and increased link length.     

海洋绞车主动升沉补偿控制系统建模与仿真分析

针对海洋绞车主动升沉补偿系统的控制要求,通过对主动升沉补偿系统的控制机理进行分析,于Simulink软件中搭建海洋绞车主动升沉补偿控制系统的仿真模型。根据负载所处不同海况,设置相应仿真参数,得出负载在不同海况下主动升沉补偿控制系统的补偿特性,绘制了负载在升沉补偿作用下的位移响应曲线及补偿时电机转速响应曲线,并与无升沉补偿作用下的仿真结果进行对比。仿真结果表明,该主动升沉补偿控制系统具备理想的补偿精度。将主动升沉补偿控制系统应用于海洋绞车进行模拟试验,得到了电驱动海洋绞车主动升沉补偿控制系统在四级模拟海况下的试验数据。试验结果表明该主动升沉补偿控制系统满足补偿能力设计要求。研究可为海洋绞车主动升沉补偿控制系统补偿性能的改进与完善提供参考。     

A statistical damage constitutive model based on unified strength theory for embankment rocks

Abstract

Fluctuant marine and reservoir water levels are the main failure-inducing factors for embankment slopes. The soft embankment rocks, e.g., red-bed mudstone, eroded by the reservoir water level in the Three Gorges Reservoir area greatly influence the stability of the embankment slopes. In this study, unified strength theory was innovatively applied for damage evaluation and combined with the Weibull distribution to obtain the strength statistics of micro units. Additionally, one damage constitutive model and one damage evolution model considering the initial damage, strain softening and damage weakening were proposed. Then, a series of tests, e.g., modified cyclic wetting and drying test, triaxial compression test and modified numerical simulation test for reservoir embankment red-bed mudstone, were conducted to verify the feasibility of the proposed models. In addition, grey system theory was originally used to evaluate the effects of the Weibull distribution parameters (m and w) and the confining stress on the peak stress. Finally, the proposed model was tentatively applied to the modification of the limit failure height model of the bedded rock slopes. The verification implies that the proposed model results are consistent with the testing results, especially in the simulation of compaction, elastic deformation and strain softening and in the prediction of peak strength. The results from grey system theory analysis indicate that the micro unit strength parameter (w) has the most obvious effect on the strength. Moreover, the modified method based on the damage evolution model for calculating the limit failure height of the bedded rock slopes is conservative.     

An experimental method for determining the frequency-dependent added mass and added mass moment of inertia for a floating body in heave and pitch motions

Most of the existing relevant materials have been obtained from experiments, in which evaluating the added mass at the resonant frequency corresponding to the peak of a frequency-response curve obtained from the “forced” vibration analysis is the most popular technique. In this paper, a simple experimental method was presented where the “free” vibration responses instead of the “forced” ones were used to determine the values of m_ah and I_ap. The main part of the experimental system is composed of a floating body (model) and a spring–shaft shaker. The “free” vibration of this main part was induced by imposing on it an initial displacement (and/or an initial velocity), and from the time histories of displacements information such as the “damped” natural frequencies, damping ratios, sectional added mass coefficients (C_V and C_P) were obtained. Since the displacements of the spring–shaft shaker are “translational” and those of the floating body due to pitch motions are “angular”, a technique for the transformation between the associated parameters of the two components of the main part was presented.     

Analytical design of an underwater construction robot on the slope with an up-cutting mode operation of a cutter bar

In this paper, the movements of the analytical models of complete underwater tracked vehicle (UTV) and cutter bar (CB) tool systems on a surface as well as their movements up and down a slope in the up-cutting mode operation are fully studied and analyzed. First, the mathematical expression of the mechanics, for which the forces, moments, and energy from the CB to the UTV are analyzed, is related. Next, analyses on the systemic parameters and their sensitivity are conducted to observe the variations of the operational and geometric parameters, as well as the cutter-tool and material-condition effects on the force, moment, and power components. Also, a design process composed of seven typical steps is proposed as the reference of a trencher-machine design. The important design parameters of the trenching machine such as the length of the CB, the nose radius of the CB, and the height of the pivot point are designed according to the proposed design process; furthermore, these parameters are used for the estimation of the slope-angle range when the trencher system is working on the slope. To demonstrate the application of derived equations to practical problems of the machine design, a number of numerical simulations are performed. Through the numerical simulations, the important parameters of the system such as the tangential force, F_t, the tractive thrust, H, the normal reaction, V, the cutting moment, M_c, the maximum carrier weight, W, and the available power are analyzed. From these, as a reference data for the designing of a trencher machine, the previous design of the system can be improved.     

Flow injection analysis of nanomolar level orthophosphate in seawater with solid phase enrichment and colorimetric detection

Phosphomolybdenum blue (PMB) paired with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) can be extracted using a solid phase extraction technique on C18 sorbent. Based on this, a novel on-line solid phase extraction method coupled with flow injection (FI) analysis and colorimetric detection has been established to determine nanomolar level orthophosphate in seawater. A stopped flow technique was employed to assure the complete formation of the PMB–CTAB compound, which was sequentially extracted on an in-line Sep-Pak C₁₈ cartridge. The adsorbed PMB–CTAB can be rapidly eluted by 0.56 mol/L H₂SO₄ in ethanol, and determined with a spectrophotometer at 700 nm. Experimental parameters, including reaction temperature, sample loading flow rate, stopped time and eluting flow rate, were optimized throughout the experiments based on univariate experimental design. The results show that reaction temperature and stopped time were the major factors affecting the formation of PMB–CTAB. Silicate concentration up to 5000 times higher than that of orthophosphate would not interfere with the determination of orthophosphate. Using artificial seawater with salinity of 35 as a matrix under the optimized conditions, the standard curve shows a linear range between 3.2 and 48.5 nmol/L, and the recovery and the detection limit of the proposed method are 96.4% and 1.57 nmol/L, respectively. The relative standard deviation (RSD) (n = 8), which was determined daily for 8 days, was 4.52% for the artificial seawater at a concentration of 32.4 nmol/L orthophosphate. Two typical seawater samples were analyzed using both the proposed method and the MAGnesium hydroxide-Induced Coprecipitation (MAGIC) method. The results of the two methods show no significant difference using the t test. Compared to the MAGIC method, the proposed method has the advantage of being more sensitive, faster, sample saving and easy for on-line analysis.     

Failure mode and pullout capacity of anchor piles in soils with cohesive and cohesionless properties

Abstract

The present work develops a theoretical model based on a rational mechanical model and the failure mechanism of anchor piles in the seabed, by which the failure mode and pullout capacity of anchor piles under inclined loading can be predicted in the soils with both cohesive and cohesionless properties. Experimental and numerical results are employed to validate the theoretical predictions. Parametric studies are performed to investigate the effects of different parameters on the failure mode and pullout capacity of anchor piles, to demonstrate the applicability and efficiency of the theoretical model and to gain further knowledge of the anchor properties. An analytical method is also proposed to evaluate the optimal position of the attachment point of anchor piles, and confirmed by relevant studies in either cohesive or cohesionless soils.

1. Highlights

2. A novel theoretical model is proposed to analyze the failure mode and pullout capacity of anchor piles.

3. The model is applied to inclined loading and to soils with both cohesive and cohesionless properties.

4. Efficiency and applicability of the model are validated through comparative and parametric studies.

5. A simple expression is proposed to predict the optimal position of the attachment point for anchor piles.

     

Three-dimensional dynamic response of multilayered poroelastic media

ABSTRACT

The dynamic response of a multilayered poroelastic medium under 3D time-harmonic loading is studied using an exact stiffness method. The poroelastic medium under consideration consists of N layers of different thicknesses and properties and an underlying poroelastic half-space. The exact stiffness matrices for each layer and the underlying half-space are derived explicitly using Biot’s poroelastodynamic theory and double-dimensional Fourier transforms. Selected numerical results are presented to demonstrate the influence of various parameters on dynamic response of multilayered poroelastic media under traction and fluid loading. The application of proposed solution scheme to soil–structure interaction problems is also presented.     

Lateral Vibration Behavior Analysis and TLD Vibration Absorption Design of the Soft Yoke Single-Point Mooring System

Mooring system is the key equipment of FPSO safe operation. The soft yoke mooring system is regarded as one of the best shallow water mooring strategies and widely applied to the oil exploitation in the Bohai Bay in China and the Gulf of Mexico. Based on the analysis of numerous monitoring data obtained by the prototype monitoring system of one FPSO in the Bohai Bay, the on-site lateral vibration behaviors found on the site of the soft yoke subject to wave load were analyzed. ADAMS simulation and model experiment were utilized to analyze the soft yoke lateral vibration and it was determined that lateral vibration was resonance behaviors caused by wave excitation. On the basis of the soft yoke longitudinal restoring force being guaranteed, a TLD-based vibration damper system was constructed and the vibration reduction experiments with multi-tank space and multi-load conditions were developed. The experimental results demonstrated that the proposed TLD vibration reduction system can effectively reduce lateral vibration of soft yoke structures.     

Accurate GPS measurement of the location and orientation of a floating platform

Abstract

This article describes the design and initial tests of the GPS portion of a system for making seafloor geodesy measurements. In the planned system, GPS antennas on a floating platform will be used to measure the location of an acoustic transducer, attached below the platform, which interrogates an array of transponders on the seafloor. Since the GPS antennas are necessarily some distance above the transducer, a short‐baseline GPS interferometer consisting of three antennas is used to measure the platform's orientation.

A preliminary test of several crucial elements of the system was performed at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO) in December 1989. The test involved a fixed antenna on the pier and a second antenna floating on a buoy about 80 m away. GPS measurements of the vertical component of this baseline, analyzed independently by two groups using different software, agree with each other and with an independent measurement within a centimeter.

The first test of an integrated GPS/acoustic system took place in the Santa Cruz Basin off the coast of southern California in May 1990. In this test a much larger buoy, designed and built at SIO, was equipped with three GPS antennas and an acoustic transducer that interrogated a transponder on the ocean floor. Preliminary analysis indicates that the horizontal position of the transponder can be determined with a precision of about a centimeter. Further analysis will be required to investigate the magnitude of systematic errors.