Stability of an unsupported vertical circular excavation in clays under undrained condition

By using the axisymmetric finite elements static limit analysis formulation, proposed recently by the authors, the stability numbers (γH/c_o) for an unsupported vertical circular excavation in clays, whose cohesion increases with depth, have been determined under undrained condition; γ = unit weight, H = height of the excavation and c_o = cohesion along ground surface. The results are obtained for various values of H/b and m; where b = the radius of the excavation and m = a non-dimensional parameter which accounts for the rate of the increase of cohesion with depth. The values of the stability numbers increase continuously both with increases in H/b and m. The results obtained in this study compare well with those available in literature.     

Vertical uplift capacity of two interfering horizontal anchors in sand using an upper bound limit analysis

The vertical uplift resistance of two interfering rigid rough strip anchors embedded horizontally in sand at shallow depths has been examined. The analysis is performed by using an upper bound theorem of limit analysis in combination with finite elements and linear programming. It is specified that both the anchors are loaded to failure simultaneously at the same magnitude of the failure load. For different clear spacing (S) between the anchors, the magnitude of the efficiency factor (ξ_γ) is determined. On account of interference, the magnitude of ξ_γ is found to reduce continuously with a decrease in the spacing between the anchors. The results from the numerical analysis were found to compare reasonably well with the available theoretical data from the literature.     

The ultimate uplift capacity of multi-plate strip anchors in undrained clay

Soil anchors are commonly used as foundation systems for structures requiring uplift resistance such as transmission towers, or for structures requiring lateral resistance, such as sheet pile walls. Anchors commonly have more than one plate or bearing element and therefore there is a complex interaction between adjacent plates due to overlapping stress zones. This interaction will affect the failure mode and ultimate capacity. However, no thorough numerical analyses have been performed to determine the ultimate pullout loads of multi-plate anchors. By far the majority of the research has been directed toward the tensile uplift behaviour of single anchors (only one plate). The primary aim of this research paper is to use numerical modelling techniques to better understand plane strain multi-plate anchor foundation behaviour in clay soils. A practical design framework for multi-plate anchor foundations will be established to replace existing semi-empirical design methods that are inadequate and have been found to be excessively under or over conservative. This framework can then be used by design engineers to more confidently estimate the pullout capacity of multi-plate anchors under tension loading.     

Stability of unsupported conical excavations in non-homogeneous clays

New plasticity solutions for the undrained stability of unsupported conical excavations in homogeneous and non-homogeneous clays were solved by axisymmetric finite element limit analysis. Three parametric studies were performed on excavated height ratios, slope inclinations and dimensionless strength gradients. In all cases, the exact stability factors were accurately bracketed by computed bound solutions within 0.6%. An accurate closed-form equation of the stability factor was proposed from nonlinear regression analysis of lower bound solutions. New conical stability factors for soil cohesion, strength gradient, and coupling effect of these components were deduced to conveniently and accurately predict a safe solution in practice.     

均质黏土中圆形平板锚的抗拉承载力分析

基于网格重新生成和场变量映射的大变形有限元模型,探索了立即脱离和无脱离两种典型条件下均质黏土中圆形平板锚的抗拉承载力。与小变形有限元比较,大变形分析克服了锚周围土体初始网格畸变的不利影响,能够追踪平板锚整个拔出过程中抗拉力的变化。通过具体算例,考察平板锚表面摩擦性质和上覆土重等因素对立即脱离工况承载力的影响程度,指出有重土中深锚的承载力小于无重土中对应的承载力与上覆土重之和,其上限是无脱离条件下的承载力。计算结果表明：土重对无脱离条件下的承载力影响很小,进而给出了无脱离承载力系数与初始埋深的关系曲线。     

Effect of combined translation and torsion on undrained uplift capacity of plate anchors: Plastic limit analysis (PLA) solution

Uplift capacity of plate anchors has been the focus of numerous studies, because anchor plates are designed for pull‐out in normal operating conditions. However, the response of plate anchors under 6‐degrees‐of‐freedom loading caused during extreme loading conditions is poorly understood. The purpose of this study is to propose a simple yet sufficiently accurate analytical solution to investigate the behavior of plate anchor under combined in‐plane translation and torsion and to evaluate its effect on the plate uplift bearing capacity. To this end, a modified plastic limit analysis (PLA) approach is introduced and compared with limit equilibrium and simplified upper bound baseline solutions. The proposed method is verified with 3‐dimensional finite element. The variables considered in this study include plate aspect ratio, plate thickness, as well as load direction and eccentricity. Results of analytical solutions indicate the insensitivity of the “shape” of the shear‐torsion yield envelope to plate thickness. This finding facilitates the use of simplified yet reasonable yield envelope for infinitely thin plate obtained from simplified PLA approach for other plate thicknesses. The “size” of the failure envelope (controlled by pure torsional and translational capacity) could be predicted fairly accurately by PLA and limit equilibrium methods. Combination of these analytical methods offers a simple yet reasonably accurate solution to describe shear‐torsion response of anchor plate. The obtained shear‐torsion yield envelope is then fitted in the generalized 6‐degrees‐of‐freedom yield surface which describes the reducing effect of moment, torsion, and planar forces on the uplift capacity of plate.     

Pullout resistance of single vertical shallow helical and plate anchors in sand

This paper presents analytical models to predict the pullout capacity and the load–displacement relationship for shallow single vertical helical and plate anchors in sand. The models were developed based on the failure mechanism deduced from laboratory testing and utilize the limit equilibrium technique. Expression was given to estimate the critical depth for a given anchor/soil conditions, which separates deep from shallow anchors. Furthermore, the radius of influence of a individual anchor on the ground surface is established, and accordingly, the spacing between anchors can be determined to avoid anchors interactions between anchors. The proposed theory compared well with the theories and the experimental data available in the literature.

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Résumé Cet article présente un model analytique pour prédire la résistance à l’arrachement et la relation charge-diplacement pour les ancrages à vis et plats verticaux superficiels ancrés dans le sable. Le model est basé sur le mécanisme de rupture déduit des essais de laboratoire et utilise la méthode d’analyse à l’équilibre limite. En outre, une expression a été proposé pour éstimer la profondeur critique pour un ancrage donné permettant d’identifier l’ancrage comme superficiel ou profond. Le rayon d’influence d’un ancrage à la surface du sable autour de l’ancrage a été établi, et par conséquent, l’espacement entre ancrages peut être déterminer pour éviter toute interaction. La théorie proposée montre une bonne concordance avec des résultats theoriques et expérimentaux rapports dans la literature.

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方形平板锚抗拉承载力的大变形有限元分析

基于网格重分和改进的REP应力恢复技术,建立了三维大变形有限元方法研究拉力作用下方形平板锚与黏性土地基的相互作用。与常规的小变形有限元不同,大变形分析能够完整模拟平板锚的上拔过程,如果平板锚底面与土体始终保持接触,三维大变形计算得到的方板与圆板抗拉力相差很小;在无重土中的平板在加载初始即与土体脱离时,方板的承载力略低于圆板。大变形分析给出的立即脱离承载力系数与模型试验数据基本吻合,而小变形有限元与下限分析忽略了方形平板锚的长距离上拔过程对其抗拉力的影响,可能高估深锚的承载力。改进估计方形平板锚抗拉承载力的简化方法,方便于工程应用。     

Seismic uplift capacity of strip anchors in soil

Uplift capacity of horizontal strip anchors in soil embedded under an inclined ground surface has been obtained under seismic conditions. Limit equilibrium approach with logspiral failure surface together with pseudo-static seismic forces has been adopted. The results have been presented in the form of seismic uplift capacity factors as functions of ground inclination, embedment ratio, angle of internal friction of the soil and seismic acceleration coefficients. The uplift capacity factors have been worked out separately for cohesion, surcharge and density components. Effect of the vertical seismic acceleration coefficient has been found to always reduce the uplift capacity whereas the effect of horizontal seismic acceleration coefficient has been found to reduce the uplift capacity in most of the cases. The obtained results of seismic uplift capacity factors are found to be the minimum when compared with the results available in literature on the basis of planar failure surface. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Thermo-poro-mechanics under adsorption applied to the anomalous thermal pressurization of water in undrained clays

Acta Geotechnica - Pore fluid pressurization, one of the main causes of soil instability, is known to be anomalously high for interstitial water in clay submitted to undrained heating. This anomaly...     

不排水条件下钙质砂声发射试验研究

通过对钙质砂进行不排水条件下声发射试验,探讨了不同围压、剪切速率、初始孔隙比和级配下钙质砂声发射规律。试验结果表明：低围压（围压低于400 kPa）时,钙质砂声发射活动频率随着围压的升高而增加;围压增至800 kPa时,声发射活动频率有所下降。低剪切速率下,钙质砂剪切试验明显分为颗粒破碎阶段和颗粒滑移阶段,随着剪切速率增大,二者之间较模糊,不能明显区分;松散和密实状态下,钙质砂声发射活动规律相似,钙质砂声发射活动频率均高于中密状态钙质砂;级配较好的钙质砂,声发射率峰值出现在试样发生剪切破坏前;级配稍差,试样声发射率相对均匀,声发射率峰值出现在邻近试验结束时。     

不排水条件下砾石土的应变率效应

为研究应变率对砾石土应力、应变、强度特性的影响和应变率效应产生机制,对砾石和黏土混合备制的饱和砾石土心墙料,在应变率0.028～0.690 %/min范围内进行了不同围压下的固结不排水三轴压缩试验,定量地分析了三轴不排水抗剪强度的应变率效应。试验结果表明,不同的应变率下砾石土应力-应变曲线具有相似性;应变率增大10倍,不排水抗剪强度增大7.4%～29.9%;砾石土的应变率效应是剪切产生的孔隙水压力和土料本身黏滞性共同作用的结果,在不同的围压下二者发挥的程度不同     

Seismic uplift capacity of inclined strip anchors in sand using upper bound limit analysis

Pseudo-static approach is adopted in this paper to determine the seismic uplift capacity of an inclined strip anchor using upper bound limit analysis. Two different failure mechanisms are considered to obtain the magnitudes of unit weight component of uplift factor f_γE for different values of soil friction angle, interface friction of anchor plate, anchor inclination, embedment ratio and horizontal seismic acceleration coefficient. The failure mechanism 1 consists of a triangular and quadrilateral rigid blocks; whereas the failure mechanism 2 comprises a logarithmic spiral failure zone with varied focus, sandwiched between a triangular and quadrilateral rigid blocks. It is observed that the magnitude of uplift factor f_γE decreases significantly with the increase in seismic acceleration but increases with the increase in embedment ratio and roughness of the anchor surface. However, a mixed trend in the values of f_γE can be observed for different inclination of the anchor, which is clearly discussed in this paper. The results are compared with the existing values in the literature and the significance of the present methodology for designing the inclined strip anchor is discussed.     

Undrained stability of an active planar trapdoor in non-homogeneous clays with a linear increase of strength with depth

Finite element limit analysis was employed to determine the upper and lower bound solutions of the active failure of a planar trapdoor in non-homogeneous clays that have a linear increase of strength with depth. Influences of cover ratio, dimensionless strength gradient and trapdoor roughness on predicted failure mechanisms and stability factors were determined. In all cases, the exact stability factors were accurately bracketed by computed bound solutions within 1%. Accurate closed-form equations to predict the exact estimates of stability factors, trapdoor pressure and factor of safety using the new proposed factors for the cohesion and strength gradient are presented.     

Bearing capacity factor Nc under ϕ=0 condition for piles in clays

Bearing capacity factor N_c for axially loaded piles in clays whose cohesion increases linearly with depth has been estimated numerically under undrained (?=0) condition. The study follows the lower bound limit analysis in conjunction with finite elements and linear programming. A new formulation is proposed for solving an axisymmetric geotechnical stability problem. The variation of N_c with embedment ratio is obtained for several rates of the increase of soil cohesion with depth; a special case is also examined when the pile base was placed on the stiff clay stratum overlaid by a soft clay layer. It was noticed that the magnitude of N_c reaches almost a constant value for embedment ratio greater than unity. The roughness of the pile base and shaft affects marginally the magnitudes of N_c. The results obtained from the present study are found to compare quite well with the different numerical solutions reported in the literature. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

锚板在正常固结黏土中的承载力

在岩土工程中,锚板通常被用来提供竖直或水平抗拔力,比如发射塔的基础、板桩墙结构和悬浮式海洋平台的基础。采用弹-塑性有限元方法对正常固结不排水黏土中的条形锚板进行数值分析,以图表形式给出了不同埋深率、不同上拔倾角、不同锚-土黏结形式下条形锚板的承载力系数和周围土体的流动机构,分析了土体自重对锚板承载力的影响,并给出了不同情况下锚板的极限承载力系数。采用基于重新划分网格并插值状态变量的大变形分析方法（RITSS）,分析了正常固结黏土中锚板在连续拔出过程中的承载力变化以及土重对锚-土分离模式的影响。     

A multisurface kinematic hardening model for the behavior of clays under combined static and undrained cyclic loading

In dynamic geotechnical problems, soils are often subjected to a combination of sustained static and fast cyclic loading. Under such loading conditions, saturated and normally consolidated clays generally experience a build-up of excess pore water pressure along with a degradation of stiffness and strength. If the strength of the soil falls below the static stress demand, a self-driven failure is triggered. In this paper, a constitutive model is presented for the analysis of such problems, based on a general multisurface plasticity framework. The hardening behavior, the initial arrangement of the surfaces, and the nonassociated volumetric flow rule are defined to capture important aspects of cyclic clay behavior. This includes nonlinear hysteretic stress-strain behavior, the effect of anisotropic consolidation, and the generation of excess pore water pressure during undrained cyclic loading along with a degradation of stiffness and strength. The model requires nine independent parameters, which can be derived from standard laboratory tests. A customized experimental program has been performed to validate the model performance. The model predictions show a good agreement with test results from monotonic and cyclic undrained triaxial tests, in particular with respect to the strain-softening response and the number of loading cycles to failure. A procedure for a general stress-space implicit numerical implementation for undrained, total stress-based finite element analyses is presented, including the derivation of the consistent tangent operator. Finally, a simulation of the seismic response of a submarine slope is shown to illustrate a possible application of the presented model.     

Serviceability limit state design for uplift of helical anchors in clay

Presently, no displacement-based design methodology exists for helical anchors subjected to tensile or uplift loading. This study investigates the statistical and probabilistic aspects of the load-displacement uncertainty associated with a database of thirty-seven uplift loading tests of helical anchors founded within cohesive soils. Initially, an ultimate resistance model is identified, and the semi-empirical uplift breakout factor statistically characterized. A relationship between ultimate resistance and slope tangent capacity is established, and used to form the basis for normalizing the load-displacement response. Hyperbolic and power law models are statistically evaluated for use in serving as a reference load-displacement model; the hyperbolic curve was selected based on goodness-of-fit statistics. Monte Carlo reliability simulations are used to establish an equivalent-deterministic load factor that associates the selected load factor with a probability of exceeding a pre-determined allowable uplift displacement, given uncertainty in the undrained shear strength, ultimate resistance model, transformation uncertainty, uncertainty in the allowable displacement, and variability in uplift loading. A practical example is provided to show the intended use of this probabilistic helical anchor displacement model.     

软黏土中吸力锚循环失稳过程的模型试验

开展了张紧式吸力锚在侧壁最优系泊点处遭受平均荷载和循环荷载共同作用下的模型试验,着重研究了软黏土中吸力锚在等幅及变幅循环荷载下的变形失稳过程。研究发现,循环累积位移过大是锚发生破坏的主要原因。对于等幅循环加载试验,由于竖向附加荷重的施加,锚在水平向的循环累积位移要明显大于竖向,表现为明显的水平破坏模式。在特定的平均荷载水平下,循环荷载水平越高,锚的累积位移发展得越快,达到破坏所需的循环次数就越少。循环位移随循环次数的增长变化不明显,但随循环荷载水平的增大而增大。对于变幅循环加载试验,系泊点各方向的循环累积位移与循环位移均与循环荷载水平成正比。不同的循环加载时程下,锚的竖向累积位移均比水平累积位移大,表现为偏向于竖向破坏的中间破坏模式。锚前期的循环加载历史对后续加载产生的累积变形有明显影响。与静力加载相比,循环加载时锚的运动方向角有所增大,这可能是由于锚底孔压的累积要大于锚侧孔压的累积,从有效应力的角度分析,锚底有效应力的减少相对锚侧明显,进而使得锚竖向承载力减小得更多,导致锚的竖向运动更明显。     

Three-dimensional numerical analysis of the keying of vertically installed plate anchors in clay

Plate anchors, such as suction embedded plate anchors and vertically driven plate anchors, offer economically attractive anchoring solutions for deep/ultra-deep water offshore developments. The rotation/keying processes of plate anchors will cause embedment losses, which lead to decreases of the uplift resistances of the anchors in normally consolidated soil. In the present paper, the keying processes of vertically installed strip and square plate anchors are simulated using the 3-D large deformation finite element method. The effects of loading eccentricity and pullout angle on the embedment loss during keying are investigated. Both the development of the uplift resistance and the soil flow mechanisms are presented. The numerical results show that the loading eccentricity e/B has a much larger effect on the embedment loss than the pullout angle does. The anchor shape has a minimal effect on the loss in anchor embedment. The shape factors (square/strip) are 1.05–1.09 for loss of embedment and 1.10–1.19 for capacity.