Finite element analysis of consolidation of layered clay soils using an elastic visco-plastic model

This paper presents a general one-dimensional (1-D) finite element (FE) procedure for a highly non-linear 1-D elastic visco-plastic (1-D EVP) model proposed by Yin and Graham for consolidation analysis of layered clay soils. In formulating the 1-D FE procedure, a trapezoidal formula is used to avoid the unsymmetry of the stiffness matrix for a Newton (modified Newton) iteration scheme. Unlike many other 1-D FE approaches in which the initial in situ stresses (or stress/strain states) are considered indirectly or even not considered, the initial in situ stress/strain states are taken into account directly in this paper. The proposed FE procedure is used for analysis of 1-D consolidation of a clay with published test results in the literature. The FE modelling results are in good agreement with the measured results. The FE model and procedure is then used to analyse the consolidation of a multi-layered clay soils with a parametric study on the effects of the variations of creep parameters in Yin and Graham's 1-D EVP model. It is found that the creep parameters ψ/V and t₀ have significant influence on the compression and porewater pressure dissipation. For some boundary conditions, changes of parameters in one layer will have some effects on the consolidation behaviour of another layer due to the different consolidation rates. Finally, the importance of initial stress/strain states is illustrated and discussed. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Calculated and observed long term performance of Leneghans embankment

This paper presents the finite element (FE) analysis of the consolidation of the foundation of an embankment constructed over soft clay deposit which shows significant time dependent behaviour and was improved with prefabricated vertical drains. To assess the capability of a simple elastic viscoplastic (EVP) model to predict the long term performance of a geotechnical structure constructed on soft soils, a well documented (Leneghans) embankment was analyzed to predict its long term behaviour characteristics. Two fully coupled two dimensional (2D) plane strain FE analyses have been carried out. In one of these, the foundation of the embankment was modelled with a relatively simpler time dependent EVP model and in the other one, for comparison purposes, the foundation soil was modelled with elasto-plastic Modified Cam-clay (MCC) model. Details of the analyses and the results are discussed in comparison with the field performance. Predictions from the creep (EVP) model were found to be better than those from Elasto-plastic (MCC) analysis. However, the creep analysis requires an additional parameter and additional computational time and resources.     

动力排水固结法加固浦东机场促淤地基试验研究

基于浦东国际机场快件处理中心促淤场地的加固处理实践,介绍采用动力排水固结法处理促淤饱和软粘土地基的工艺对吹填粉细砂上试夯区的试验研究,结果表明采取低能量“少击多遍”的强夯施工工艺,并辅以竖向塑料排水板的方法来加固处理饱和促淤软粘土是可行的,促淤地基的力学性能和变形性能显著提高,并实现了用吹填粉细砂代替中粗砂作为强夯垫层,大大降低了工程成本。通过对大面积强夯施工处理效果的检测表明,动力排水固结法加固处理促淤地基效果明显。     

Geology of the Murcia Valley and Flood Plain Modifications in the Construction of the Circus Maximus,Rome, Italy

This paper presents a morphological and hydrogeological reconstruction of the Murcia Valley at the location of the great Roman stadium Circus Maximus in Rome. We reconstruct a valley segment using ERT (electrical resistivity tomography) and geoarchaeological drilling data that identified three main layers. The basal layer, with high resistivity values and convex shapes, is correlated to alluvial gravel and lithified silt‐clay sediments. The middle layer shows low‐to‐medium resistivity values extending to concavities between the basal convex shapes. The very low resistivity values of this middle layer characterize elliptical to circular morphologies and have been ascribed to the presence of water‐saturated clay‐silt and peaty sediments. The surface layer is characterized by widespread lateral inhomogeneity interpreted as anthropogenic fill. The data indicate a pre‐Roman anastomosed alluvial plain subsequently modified by human intervention. In an effort to reclaim the valley for construction of the Circus, the Romans utilized the natural topography and created a central embankment, later becoming the Spina, by filling depressions with sand taken from adjacent bars. Our study contributes to (1) knowledge of the pre‐Roman landscape, (2) understanding anthropogenic modification of the Murcia Valley flood plain, and (3) archaeological interpretation of the monument.     

Identifying parameters controlling soil delayed behaviour from laboratory and in situ pressuremeter testing

The aim of this paper is to present a methodology for identifying the soil parameters controlling the delayed behaviour from laboratory and in situ pressuremeter tests by using an elasto‐viscoplastic model (EVP‐MCC) based on Perzyna's overstress theory and on the elasto‐plastic Modified Cam Clay model. The influence of both the model parameters and the soil permeability was studied under the loading condition of pressuremeter tests by coupling the proposed model equations with Biot's consolidation theory. On the basis of the parametric study, a methodology for identifying model parameters and soil permeability by inverse analysis from three levels of constant strain rate pressuremeter tests was then proposed and applied on tests performed on natural Saint‐Herblain clay. The methodology was validated by comparing the optimized values of soil parameters and the values of the same parameters obtained from laboratory test results, and also by using the identified parameters to simulate other tests on the same samples. The analysis of the drainage condition and the strain rate effect during a pressuremeter test demonstrated the coupled influence of consolidation and viscous effects on the test results. The numerical results also showed that the inverse analysis procedure could successfully determine the parameters controlling the time‐dependent soil behaviour. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Secondary consolidation of clay as an anomalous diffusion process

Secondary consolidation of clay soil is considered as a result of anomalous diffusion of pore water pressure from the micropores to the macropores. By using simplified pore geometry, a heuristic approach allows us to infer the expression of the associated rate of vertical secondary deformation written as a fractional derivative of the pore pressure. The insertion of this expression into the 1D Terzaghi's theory leads to a particular type of time‐fractional diffusion equation of the pore pressure that is solved semi‐analytically. The advantage of such theoretical approach stems from the concise and compact way of treating the secondary consolidation. Only two additional parameters are needed: the fractional order, ν, and the fractional viscosity factor, θ, both accounting for the physicochemical interactions between pore fluid and clay particles. This theoretical approach is tested on experimental data obtained from the Cubzac‐les‐Ponts clay soil intensively studied for secondary consolidation. This application shows a good agreement between the data and the predicted values confirming the interest of the initial assumption and the use of the fractional derivatives formalism. Moreover, good correlations between the inverted fractional parameters and the empirical secondary consolidation index C_α measured independently are obtained: the fractional order ν, if experimentally calibrated, can be used as a reasonable estimator of the slope of the secondary consolidation portion of consolidation curve. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Anisotropic viscoplastic modeling of rate‐dependent behavior of clay

The objective of this study is to derive an effective stress‐based constitutive law capable of predicting rate‐dependent stress–strain, stress path and undrained shear strength and creep behavior. The flow rule used in the MIT‐E3 model and viscoplasticity theory is employed in the derivation. The model adopts the yield surface capable of representing the yield behavior of the Taipei silty clay and assumes that it is initially symmetric about the K₀‐line. A method is then developed to compute the gyration and expansion of the loading surface to simulate the anisotropic behavior due to the principal stress rotation after shear. There are 11 parameters required for the model to describe the soil behavior and six of them are exactly the same as those used in the Modified Cam‐clay model. The five additional parameters can be obtained by parametric studies or conventional soil tests, such as consolidation tests, triaxial compression and extension tests. Finally, verification of the model for the anisotropic behavior, creep behavior and the rate‐dependent undrained stress–strain and shear strength of the Taipei silty clay is conducted. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

吹填粉砂土固结蠕变试验及模型

通过分析法向应力、干密度、土样尺寸对吹填粉砂土蠕变特性的影响,深入研究其固结蠕变特性。与Kelvin模型相比,采用Burgers体模型能够更合理地阐释吹填粉砂土的蠕变曲线;采用FLAC^3D方法可开展吹填土蠕变过程的三维数值模拟。结果表明：吹填粉砂具有一定的蠕变特性,并可用幂函数描述应力-应变、应变-时间的关系;干密度一定时,法向应力愈大,初始应变愈大,达到稳定的时间愈长;法向应力一定时,干密度越大,初始变形越小,最终稳定所需时间越短;大尺寸试样（Ф 200.0 mm× H200.0 mm）的瞬时变形与蠕变形率要比标准尺寸（Φ 61.8 mm×H 20.0 mm）大,稳定所需时间要长;此外,Burgers体模型模拟吹填粉砂土固结蠕变变形优于广义Kelvin模型并具有可行性。     

Numerical modelling of lumpy clay landfill

Two trial motorway embankments built on a landfill consisting of clayey lumps were monitored over the period of 3 and 5 years, respectively. The subsoil of the embankment was instrumented by hydrostatic levelling profiles, pore pressure transducers and depth reference points installed in boreholes. An advanced constitutive model for clays (hypoplastic model for clays with meta‐stable structure) was used for numerical modelling of both case histories. Basic hypoplastic model for clays was calibrated using isotropic compression tests and triaxial compression tests on reconstituted clay. Three additional model parameters describing the effects of lumpy structure were calibrated using oedometer tests on specimens prepared from scaled‐down lumpy material (material with smaller size of clay lumps). The performance of the model was evaluated by comparison with the results of the centrifuge model of self‐weight consolidated landfill. Finally, the hypoplastic model was used for simulation of both trial embankments and the results were compared with in situ measurements. The degradation of the lumpy structure of the upper layer of the in situ landfill due to weathering was back analysed using monitoring data. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A new simplified Hypothesis B method for calculating consolidation settlements of double soil layers exhibiting creep

This paper presents a new simplified method, based on Hypothesis B, for calculating the consolidation settlements of double soil layers exhibiting creep. In the new simplified Hypothesis B method, different stress–strain states including over‐consolidation and normal consolidation states can be considered with the help of the ‘equivalent time’ concept. Zhu and Yin method and US Navy method are adopted to calculate the average degree of consolidation for a double soil layer profile. This new simplified Hypothesis B method is then used to calculate the consolidation settlements of double soil layers, which have two different total thicknesses of soil layer (4 m and 8 m) and three different OCR values (Over‐Consolidation Ratio, OCR = 1, 1.5 and 2). The accuracy and verification of this new simplified method are examined by comparing the calculated results with simulation results from a fully coupled finite element (FE) program using a soft soil creep model. Four cases of double layer soil profiles are analyzed. Hypothesis A method with US Navy method for the average degree of consolidation has also been used to for calculating consolidation settlements of the same cases. For Case I(4m) and Case III(8m), it is found that curves of the new simplified Hypothesis B method using both Zhu and Yin method and US Navy method are very close to the results from FE simulations with the relative errors within 8.5%. For Case II(4m) and Case IV(8m), it is found that curves of the new simplified Hypothesis B method using Zhu and Yin method agree better with results from FE simulations with the relative errors within 11.7% than curves of the new simplified Hypothesis B method adopting US Navy method with the relative error up to 36.1%. Curves of Hypothesis A method adopting US Navy method have the relative error up to 55.0% among all four cases. In overall, the new simplified Hypothesis B method is suitable for calculation of consolidation settlements of double soil layers exhibiting creep, in which, Zhu and Yin method is recommended to obtain the average degree of consolidation. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Arching in geogrid-reinforced pile-supported embankments over silty clay of medium compressibility: Field data and analytical solution

The objective of this study is to improve the understanding of load transfer mechanism of Geogrid-Reinforced Pile-Supported Embankments (GRPS) via a new 3D analytical approach and comprehensive field tests. A full-scale embankment was built over a silty clay of medium compressibility as a part of the Liuzhou-to-Nanning High-speed Railway (LNHR) in China. Six sections of the embankment have been heavily instrumented producing comprehensive data of high quality. Field measurements evidence the existence of soil arching, membrane contribution and ground reaction, phenomena that are all contributing to load transfer mechanism. The new 3D analytical arching model accounts for a triangular arrangement of piles and, unlike existing methods, accounts for all relevant components of load transfer mechanisms. In addition, two key parameters were introduced in the model: an elastoplastic state parameter of soil arching (α) and a coefficient of equivalent uniform stress (β). The former was used to satisfy the load equilibrium in case of partial arching while the latter was adopted to allow possible nonuniform vertical stress acting on the ground surface. The so-called ground reaction method was incorporated in an innovative manner to take into account the reactive support of the subsoil beneath geogrid-reinforced layer when estimating the tension development in the geogrid. Finally, the performance of the proposed model was assessed against several existing models and field measurements. Results showed that the new model presented herein outperforms existing models and satisfactorily predicts both the pile efficiency and tension development within the geogrid.     

Simulation of long‐term consolidation behavior of soft sensitive clay using an elasto‐viscoplastic constitutive model

The phenomenon of excess pore water pressure increase or stagnation and continuing large ground deformation in soft sensitive clay following the completion of construction of embankment is simulated for a case study at Saint Alban, Quebec, Canada. The present model employs an updated Lagrangian finite element framework and is combined with an automatic time increment selection scheme. The simulation based on an elasto‐viscoplastic constitutive model considers soil‐structure degradation effect. It is shown that without consideration for the microstructural degradation effect, it is not possible to reproduce the field responses of soft sensitive clay even during the construction of the embankment. When the soil‐structure degradation effect is considered, the present model can offer reasonably accurate prediction for the consolidation behavior of soft sensitive clay, including the so‐called anomalous pore water pressure generation and continuing large deformation even after the end of construction, which has been posing numerous uncertainties on the long‐term performance of earth structures. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

桩基负摩阻力时间效应试验研究

由于黏土固结缓慢,桩基负摩阻力存在明显的时间效应,然而目前相关研究仍显不足。设计实施了能实现桩顶加载及较大超载值的单桩及双桩负摩阻力模型试验,桩周土采用砂土和软黏土夹层,测定了模型桩身应力、桩顶位移以及土体分层沉降随固结时间的变化。试验结果显示,沉降、负摩阻力具有明显的时间效应。土表超载作用下土体沉降带动桩沉降,桩与土体的沉降均表现出早期快、后期慢的趋势。试验加载初期,黏土夹层处的负摩阻力略小于砂层,但随土体固结而增长,其基本变化规律与沉降相同。因桩端砂土层沉降稳定迅速,中性点随桩身沉降增长略呈上移趋势。此外,相同荷载作用下桩间距较小的双桩,由于下拉力较小,其沉降较小。试验条件下,3D桩间距的负摩阻力群桩效应系数在0.71～0.77之间,6D桩间距时不存在负摩阻力群桩效应。     

Effect of overburden pressure and degree of saturation on compressibility characteristics

The settlement of a structure founded on clay comprises of immediate and consolidation settlements. In the case of clays, consolidation settlement is more than immediate settlement. The parameters influencing consolidation settlement of a normally loaded clay layer are degree of saturation (S%), void ratio (e) of soil prior to excavation, amount of overburden (σ_o) removed, amount of rebound and intensity of loading (σ) upon building superstructure. This paper presents the effect of the above parameters on compressibility characteristics of a clay. The different steps undertaken for footing construction were simulated in the laboratory. Remoulded clay samples were prepared from oven-dry fraction passing 425 μm sieve. The density of the samples was kept constant at 13 kN/m³. Degree of saturation was varied at 25%, 50%, 75% and 100%. The surcharge on the samples (overburden in the case of field clay layer) was varied as 25 kPa, 50 kPa and 100 kPa. Compressibility characteristics such as initial compression under the applied surcharge (overburden), rebound upon removal of surcharge and recompression were studied through one-dimensional consolidation tests. The rate and amount of initial compression, rebound, e-σ and e-log σ curves, compression index (C_c), coefficient of compressibility (a_v) and coefficient of volume compressibility (m_v) were studied.     

动应力对粉质土变形、强度的影响

研山铁矿设计采用露天开采,最终最大边坡高达600m。边坡上部为粉土和粉砂、中砂、卵石、粉质粘土,下部为砂质粘性土和砾质粘性土。由于边坡高,受环境动应力影响因素大,因此分析粉土和粉质粘土层在动应力作用下对变形和强度的影响,对边坡稳定分析具有重要意义。     

Analysis of settlement and lateral deformation of soft clay foundation beneath two full-scale embankments

In 1986, the Malaysian Highway Authority constructed a series of trial embankments on the Muar Plain (soft marine clay) with the aim of evaluating the effectiveness of various ground improvement techniques. This study investigates the effect of two such ground improvement schemes: (a) preloading of foundation with surface geogrids and synthetic vertical drains and (b) sand compaction piles. The paper is focused on the finite element analysis of settlements and lateral displacements of the soft foundation. In scheme (a), the numerical predictions are compared with the field measurements. In scheme (b), only the numerical analysis is presented and discussed in the absence of reliable measurements due to the malfunctioning of the electronic extensometer and inclinometer system during embankment construction. The current analysis employs critical state soil mechanics, and the deformations are predicted on the basis of the fully coupled (Biot) consolidation model. The vertical drain pattern is converted to equivalent drain walls to enable plane strain modelling, and the geogrids are simulated by linear interface slip elements. The effect of sand compaction piles is investigated considering both ideal drains and non-ideal drains, as well as varying the pile stiffness. © 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Analytical solution for 1D consolidation under haversine cyclic loading

Presented and discussed in this paper is an exact analytical solution of the nonhomogeneous partial differential equation governing the conventional one‐dimensional consolidation under haversine repeated loading. The derived analytical solution to the 1D consolidation equation is compared with the numerical solution of the same consolidation problem via FEM. The series solution takes into account the frequency of repeated loading through a dimensionless time factor T₀. The paper reveals that an increase in the frequency of imposed repeated haversine loading (a decrease in period of repeated loading) causes an increase in the number of cycles required to achieve the steady state, whereas the effect of frequency on the maximum excess pore water pressure at the bottom of a clay layer with permeable top and impermeable bottom for the range of frequencies studied is generally insignificant. The effective stress at the bottom of the clay deposit with permeable top and impermeable bottom increases with time but with some fluctuations without changing the sign. These fluctuations become more pronounced for increasing values of T₀. An increase in T₀ also causes an increase in maximum effective stress. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

金沙江其宗河段河床深厚覆盖层特征及其工程效应研究

金沙江其宗河段发育60～120m的河床深厚覆盖层。深厚覆盖层纵向上可分为三大层:河床底部为卵(块)砾(碎)石层夹中细砂或粉质粘土,为冲积及冰水堆积成因(al+fglQ3),厚11.1～33m;中部为细砂、粉细砂、粉质粘土层及卵(块)砾(碎)石层,该层为加积层,由冲积、泥石流堆积、洪积、崩坡积、堰塞多成因堆积组合而成(al+pl+sefQ3),厚10.04～35m;中上部为漂(块)卵(碎)砾石夹砂层透镜体,冲积堆积形成(alQ3-4),厚9.5～59m。河床覆盖层中的砂层透镜体分布范围广泛,埋藏深,最大埋深达83.1m,最大厚度达到29.4m,最小厚度仅0.5m,一般厚度在5m以内。研究表明砂层不具有湖相堆积的特征,而是相对静水环境条件下及正常河流漫滩相等堆积形成。通过原位及室内取样试验表明,其宗河段河床覆盖层中粗粒土(漂(卵)碎块石等)强度相对较高,中下部细粒土工程性质具有超固结性,不具液化性,上部细砂层强度较低,地震工况下可能液化。该河段深厚覆盖层的工程效应主要有坝基地质条件差,仅适合堆石坝、坝基开挖方量大、砂层处理深度大、防渗处理难度较高等。     

袋装砂井爆夯处理软土地基的数值模拟方法及现场试验验证

袋装砂井爆夯法处理软土地基是利用炸药在设置有排水通道的软土中爆炸产生冲击和振动而使土体加固的方法。针对该法进行理论研究,提出了一种将袋装砂井爆夯处理软土地基的三维问题转化为二维平面应变问题的数值模拟方法：袋装砂井转化为等价砂墙;利用等效冲量原理,炮孔爆炸压力则转化为等效压力墙。数值模拟中考虑了土体骨架变形与孔隙水非达西渗流的耦合。对数值模拟的现场试验验证分析表明,沉降数值分析的结果与铁路宁启线软基处理现场测试结果具有很好的可比性。所提出的数值分析方法可模拟袋装砂井爆夯处理软土地基的超静孔隙水压产生和消散以及土体沉降变形的动态过程。     

A non‐coaxial critical state soil model and its application to simple shear simulations

The yield vertex non‐coaxial theory is implemented into a critical state soil model, CASM (Int. J. Numer. Anal. Meth. Geomech. 1998; 22 :621–653) to investigate the non‐coaxial influences on the stress–strain simulations of real soil behaviour in the presence of principal stress rotations. The CASM is a unified clay and sand model, developed based on the soil critical state concept and the state parameter concept. Without loss of simplicity, it is capable of simulating the behaviour of sands and clays within a wide range of densities. The non‐coaxial CASM is employed to simulate the simple shear responses of Erksak sand and Weald clay under different densities and initial stress states. Dependence of the soil behaviour on the Lode angle and different plastic flow rules in the deviatoric plane are also considered in the study of non‐coaxial influences. All the predictions indicate that the use of the non‐coaxial model makes the orientations of the principal stress and the principal strain rate different during the early stage of shearing, and they approach the same ultimate values with an increase in loading. These ultimate orientations are dependent on the density of soils, and independent of their initial stress states. The use of the non‐coaxial model also softens the shear stress evolutions, compared with the coaxial model. It is also found that the ultimate shear strengths by using the coaxial and non‐coaxial models are dependent on the plastic flow rules in the deviatoric plane. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.