Analysis of soil resistance on laterally loaded piles based on 3D soil–pile interaction

The load distribution and deflection of large diameter piles are investigated by lateral load transfer method (p–y curve). Special attention is given to the soil continuity and soil resistance using three-dimensional finite element analysis. A framework for determining a p–y curve is calculated based on the surrounding soil stress. The appropriate parametric studies needed for verifying the p–y characteristic are presented in this paper. Through comparisons with results of field load tests, the three-dimensional numerical methodology in the present study is in good agreement with the general trend observed by in situ measurements and thus, represents a realistic soil–pile interaction for laterally loaded piles in clay than that of existing p–y method. It can be said that a rigorous numerical analysis can overcome the limitations of existing p–y methods to some extent by considering the effect of realistic three-dimensional combination of pile–soil forces.     

Tectonic stress accumulation in Bohai–Zhangjiakou Seismotectonic Zone based on 3D visco-elastic modelling

Future earthquake potential in the Bohai–Zhangjiakou Seismotectonic Zone (BZSZ) in North China deserves close attention. Tectonic stress accumulation state is an important indicator for earthquakes; therefore, this study aims to analyse the stress accumulation state in the BZSZ via three-dimensional visco-elastic numerical modelling. The results reveal that the maximum shear stress in the BZSZ increases gradually as the depth increases, and the stress range is wider in the lower layer. In the upper layer, the maximum shear stress is high in the Zhangjiakou area, whereas in the lower layer, relatively high values occur in the Penglai–Yantai area, which may be affected by the depth of the Moho surface. Besides, weak fault zones will be easily fractured when the maximum shear stress is not sufficiently high due to their low strengths, resulting in earthquakes. Therefore, based on the modelling results, the upper layer of the Zhangjiakou area and the lower layer of the Penglai–Yantai area in the BZSZ in North China are more likely to experience earthquakes.     

Rock slope stability assessment using finite element based modelling – examples from the Indian Himalayas

Numerical modelling of rock slides is a versatile approach to understand the failure mechanism and the dynamics of rock slopes. Finite element slope stability analysis of three rock slopes in Garhwal Himalaya, India has been carried out using a two dimensional plane strain approach. Two different modelling techniques have been attempted for this study. Firstly, the slope is represented as a continuum in which the effect of discontinuities is considered by reducing the properties and strength of intact rock to those of rock mass. The equivalent Mohr-Coulomb shear strength parameters of generalised Hoek-Brown (GHB) criterion and modified Mohr-Coulomb (MMC) criterion has been used for this continuum approach. Secondly, a combined continuum-interface numerical method has been attempted in which the discontinuities are represented as interface elements in between the rock walls. Two different joint shear strength models such as Barton-Bandis and Patton’s model are used for the interface elements. Shear strength reduction (SSR) analysis has been carried out using a finite element formulation provided in the PHASE². For blocky or very blocky rock mass structure combined continuum-interface model is found to be the most suitable one, as this model is capable of simulating the actual field scenario.     

Hazard assessment at San Martín volcano based on geological record, numerical modeling, and spatial analysis

The San Martín shield volcano, located in the Los Tuxtlas Volcanic Field, has experienced effusive shield-building activity, as well as explosive eruptions, as evidenced by direct observations during the last eruption in 1793. The threat to the surrounding villages consists principally of lahars, especially because of the tropical climate in the region. Ash fallout and lava flows represent additional hazards. In addition, the surrounding Quaternary monogenetic field includes more than 300 scoria cones and about 40 explosion craters (mainly maars) that also represent a hazard source. In the present study we constructed hazard maps using field data, orthophotos, spatial analysis, and specialized software (LAHARZ and HAZMAP) to deliminate lahar inundation zones, areas that could potentially be affected by ash fallout (including the evaluation of houses prone to roof collapse due to ash load), and the most susceptible areas for hosting future monogenetic vent formation.     

Landslide hazard assessment based on Bayesian optimization–support vector machine in Nanping City,China

Natural Hazards - Landslide hazard assessment is critical for preventing and mitigating landslide disasters. The tuning of hyperparameters is of great importance to achieve better accuracy in a...     

An embedded bond-slip model for finite element modelling of soil–nail interaction

Soil nailing has been widely used as a reinforcing technique to retain excavations and stabilise slopes. Proper assessment of the interaction between the nails and the surrounding soil is central to safe and economical design of the composite reinforced soil structure. In this note, a new interface model, denoted as “embedded bond-slip model”, is proposed to model the soil–nail interaction numerically in a simplified manner. Combining the key features of the embedded element technique and the conventional interface element method, the proposed plane–strain interface model has the advantages that no special considerations have to be given to the arrangement of the finite element mesh for the soil nails, and that possible tangential slippage along the interface can be modelled. The formulation also allows pore water flow across the soil nails to be incorporated into the analysis. The proposed model has been implemented into a finite element code and verified by simple element tests under different uni-direction loading conditions. Using the proposed interface model, back analyses of a field test involving a soil-nailed cut slope subjected to a rise in groundwater table have been conducted. This note presents the details of the embedded bond-slip model and the numerical results which demonstrate that the proposed model is capable of simulating soil–nail interaction conveniently and realistically.     

Particle tracking analysis of river–aquifer interaction via bank infiltration techniques

Induced bank infiltration (BI) is commonly implemented in other countries, but remains new and unexplored in Malaysia. Increasing river pollution could affect drinking water resources. Given the threat of pollution to raw water sources, applying induced BI to sustain water management is essential. This paper presents a case study of the BI method, which evaluates the effects of groundwater pumping and BI operation on the installation of wells as well as determines the effect of pumping rate on flow paths, travel time, the size of the pumping and capture zone delineation, and groundwater mixing in a pumping well in Jenderam Hilir, Malaysia. The proposed method performs infiltration safely and achieves the ideal pumping rate. Numerical modeling packages, MODFLOW and MODPATH (particle tracking) were used. Results indicate that the migration of river water into the aquifer is generally slow and depends on the pumping rate and distance from well to the river. Most water arrives at the well by the end of a pumping period of 1–5 days at 3,072 m³/day for test wells DW1 and DW2, and during simultaneous pumping for DW2 and PW1 for a well located 36 and 18 m, respectively, from the river. During the 9.7-day pumping period, 33 % of the water pumped from the DW1 well was river water, and 38 % from DW2 throughout 4.6 days was river water. The models provide necessary information for water operators in the design and construction of pumping and sampling schedules of BI practices.     

Risk assessment of flood disaster in Shanghai based on spatial–temporal characteristics analysis from 251 to 2000

As one of the top 20 cities exposed to flood disasters, Shanghai is particularly vulnerable because it is exposed to powerful floods and poorly prepared. However, it is unclear to understand the evolution process of floods and the variation of flood risk in Shanghai during the past 1,000 years. This paper analyzed the spatial–temporal characteristics of flood disaster and evaluated the integrated risk of flood disaster in Shanghai based on the historical flood data from 251 to 2000. The results show that flood disaster in Shanghai was divided into storm surge-induced flood, rainstorm-induced flood and overbank flood. Flood disaster in Shanghai presents rising trend with time and mainly occurs in summer and autumn. Moreover, the flood disaster is dominated by rainstorm-induced flood, especially after the establishment of the People’s Republic of China in 1949. Additionally, flood risk in different areas of Shanghai between the years 251–1949 and 1950–2000 changed significantly. Shanghai urban area, Jinshan District and Chongming County belong to increased flood risk area; Baoshan, Jiading, Qingpu, Songjiang, Fengxian, Pudong and Minhang District belong to decreased flood risk area. The integrated risk of flood disaster in Shanghai has presented spatial disparities evidently at present. Shanghai urban area is most likely to suffer flood disaster; Baoshan, Jiading and Minhang District have medium flood risk rank; and Jinshan, Songjiang, Fengxian, Pudong, Qingpu and Chongming County show low flood risk at present. The combined effect of urbanization, sea-level rise, land subsidence and the poor capacity of flood prevention facilities will give rise to the risk of flood in the next several decades. These results provide very important information for the local government to improve flood risk management.     

Optimizing the routing of ship’s tropical cyclone avoidance based on the numerical forecasts

In this paper, an algorithm to design a shortest-time route for a ship to avoid a tropical cyclone (TC) is proposed. The proposed algorithm takes into account the influence of the changing winds and sea waves on ship’s speed and the corresponding risk using the forecasts from a numerical weather prediction model. Experimental results show that the new algorithm is able to save more time comparing with the traditional sector diagram typhoon avoidance method. In the application of the new algorithm to the navigation practice, the distance between adjacent alternative waypoints should be adjusted to meet the navigational needs, and the route should be updated simultaneously with TC forecasts from a numerical weather prediction model.     

Uncertainty analysis of groundwater model based on data assimilation北大核心CSCD

黑河流域中下游地下水系统受上游冰冻圈融水和降雨的补给,由气候变暖导致的冰冻圈萎缩致使中下游地下水系统的稳定性面临更多的风险。地下水模型是地下水系统稳定性评估的有效手段,但是地下水模型参数往往存在较大的不确定性。为此,本文提出了基于数据同化算法的不确定性分析方法,通过包含观测资料信息减小模型不确定性。采用所提方法分析了(基于MODFLOW构建)黑河流域中游地下水模型中13个参数的不确定性,讨论了算法超参数的影响及其最优取值,分析了地下水模型参数的不确定性。实验结果证明数据同化算法可有效减小地下水模型参数的不确定性,观测资料的种类与数量对参数不确定性的减小起到重要作用;不同地下水模型参数的不确定性不同,地表水与地下水相互作用频繁的区域参数不确定性较大;含水层渗透系数、含水层给水度以及灌溉回流系数对模型输出的地下水位输出影响显著,河床水力传导系数对模型输出的河流流量影响较大。本研究将为地下水研究提供更加可靠的模型方法,为西北内流区地下水哺育的绿洲生态系统稳定可持续研究提供重要支撑。     

Standardisation of Rock–Eval pyrolysis for the analysis of recent sediments and soils

Rock–Eval 6 analysis, a well established screening tool for petroleum geochemistry, is being increasingly used to characterise the varying species of organic matter (OM) in the bulk samples of recent aquatic sediments. This is particularly important due to recent scientific attention on the role of OM in biogeochemical distribution of environmentally hazardous compounds (e.g., trace metals) in recent sediment archives. Rock–Eval’s automated use, low sample volume requirements and its high analytical accuracy and precision makes it an ideal tool for relatively rapid screening of OM in sediment cores. However, to date, there has been no broad scale standardisation to determine what may be contributing to each signal (e.g., S1, S2, S3, RC). We have selected a wide variety of representative, pure biochemicals (proteins, lipids, carbohydrates and lignins) and biological standards (phytoplankton, copepods, tree bark and conifer needles) to better understand the Rock–Eval 6’s measured organic matter parameters in the unconventional environmental samples. These data have been corroborated with organic petrographical and elemental (CHNS/O) data. Our results show that small organic molecules (<500 Da) are largely responsible for the S1 hydrocarbon peak while lipids and aquatic biological standards are contributing most in the S2 signal, and in particular the more labile “S2a” signal. Furthermore, carbohydrates, lignins and terrigenous plant standards are most responsible for the S3 signal. We also note that the S3 signals (CO/CO₂ ratios: OICO, OICO₂ and OIRE6) are the best discriminants for the source of OM. Finally, step wise pyrolysis of biological standards coupled with elemental analysis (CHNS/O) suggests that S2 and, to a lesser extent, S3 (S3CO and/or S3CO₂), would be most responsible for metal-binding elements such as S and N, with implications for element biogeochemical cycles.     

Research on comprehensive carrying capacity of Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region based on state-space method

Based on state-space method and component analysis, this paper builds a comprehensive evaluation system of carrying capacity for the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region from four aspects, namely economy, environment, ecology and energy. The results show that the comprehensive carrying capacity in this region gradually rises in recent years and the economic carrying capacity plays an important role in this situation. Ecological and environmental carrying capacity are gradually enhanced but still affected by water shortages. The energy carrying capacity of this region is low, which is the major factor restricting its sustainable development. Based on the empirical results, following policy suggestions should be adopted: Firstly, local government should accelerate technological progress, promoting the optimization and upgrading of industrial structure; Secondly, the contradiction between supply and demand of water resource should be solved gradually; thirdly, government should develop recycling economy, realizing the coordinated development of economy and environment; last but not least, saving energy and improving energy efficiency.     

Geochemical modelling of a Zn–Pb skarn: Constraints from LA–ICP–MS analysis of fluid inclusions

The Bismark deposit (northern Chihuahua, Mexico) is one of several base metal-rich high-temperature, carbonate-replacement deposits hosted in northern Mexico. Previous fluid inclusion studies based on microthermometry and PIXE have shown that the Zn-rich, Pb-poor Bismark deposit formed from a moderate salinity magmatic fluid [Baker, T. and Lang, J.R., 2003. Reconciling fluid inclusion types, fluid processes, and fluid sources in skarns: an example from the Bismark Deposit, Mexico. Mineralium Deposita 38(4), 474–495; Baker, T., van Achterberg, E., Ryan, C.G. and Lang, J.R., 2004. Composition and evolution of ore fluids in a magmatic-hydrothermal skarn deposit. Geology 32(2), 117–120]. The exact precipitation mechanisms are unclear and may have due to cooling, salinity decrease and wall rock reaction. Furthermore, PIXE data suggested that Pb and Zn concentrations were comparable and inconsistent with the Zn-rich nature of the ore. However, Pb was commonly below the limit of detection for PIXE and the data presented by Baker et al. [Baker, T., van Achterberg, E., Ryan, C.G. and Lang, J.R., 2004. Composition and evolution of ore fluids in a magmatic-hydrothermal skarn deposit. Geology 32(2), 117–120] are regarded as the maximum concentrations of Pb in the fluid. In this study new LA ICP MS analysis was carried out on the same fluid inclusion population to compare with the PIXE data in order to constrain the uncertainty related to the Pb data and the new results are used to model possible ore deposition mechanisms. The new laser ablation data reveal overall lower concentrations of Pb in the ore fluid (average value ~ 285 ppm) than previously indicated by PIXE analysis (average value ~ 713 ppm). Chemical modelling using the new laser ablation data tested the following ore deposition processes: 1) cooling; 2) fluid–rock reaction at constant temperature; 3) cooling and simultaneous fluid–rock interaction. Modelling results show that the gangue and ore minerals observed at Bismark are best reproduced by fluid–rock interaction and simultaneous cooling. Results from the simulations strongly indicate that ore deposition was mainly driven by a pH increase due to the neutralization of the acidic ore fluid (pH = 3.9) as the result of the reaction with the limestone. Modelling results also suggest that the deposit likely formed under cooling conditions, but do not support the hypothesis of a temperature decrease as the principal ore-forming process.     

GPU-accelerated iterative solutions for finite element analysis of soil–structure interaction problems

Soil–structure interaction problems are commonly encountered in engineering practice, and the resulting linear systems of equations are difficult to solve due to the significant material stiffness contrast. In this study, a novel partitioned block preconditioner in conjunction with the Krylov subspace iterative method symmetric quasiminimal residual is proposed to solve such linear equations. The performance of these investigated preconditioners is evaluated and compared on both the CPU architecture and the hybrid CPU–graphics processing units (GPU) computing environment. On the hybrid CPU–GPU computing platform, the capability of GPU in parallel implementation and high-intensity floating point operations is exploited to accelerate the iterative solutions, and particular attention is paid to the matrix–vector multiplications involved in the iterative process. Based on a pile-group foundation example and a tunneling example, numerical results show that the partitioned block preconditioners investigated are very efficient for the soil–structure interaction problems. However, their comparative performances may apparently depend on the computer architecture. When the CPU computer architecture is used, the novel partitioned block symmetric successive over-relaxation preconditioner appears to be the most efficient, but when the hybrid CPU–GPU computer architecture is adopted, it is shown that the inexact block diagonal preconditioners embedded with simple diagonal approximation to the soil block outperform the others.     

Quantified landslide hazard assessment based on finite element slope stability analysis for Uttarkashi–Gangnani Highway in Indian Himalayas

Natural Hazards - In the Indian Himalayan region, landslide is one of the most recurring natural disasters intimidating human lives and is&nbsp;detrimental to infra-structures,...     

Strong metal–support interaction as activity requirement of palladium-supported tin oxide sol–gel catalyst for water denitration

Two nanocrystalline palladium-supported tin oxide catalysts for water denitration were synthesized by a modified sol?Cgel technique using appropriate chloride precursors for both support and active phases, and citric acid to tune the rate of hydrolysis and condensation. The difference among sample preparation procedures refers to the moment of the noble metal loading to the support, as well as to the calcination temperature altitude followed. Thus, mesoporous tin oxide was synthesized by a sol?Cgel method following calcination at 700°C. The palladium active phase was introduced afterwards by means of palladium chloride solution impregnation, followed by calcination at 400°C (sample 1). Alternatively, simultaneous complexation of both metal and support precursors followed by single calcination at 700°C was applied for preparation of sample 2. The former sample showed higher activity and selectivity in hydro-denitration of water model system initially containing 100?ppm of nitrates. This was explained by preferential textural, morphological and structural properties accomplished by early contact of metal and support nanoparticles, while achieved by calcination at high single temperature forcing diffusion of palladium ions into the tin oxide matrix. The outcome is very well distribution of palladium and strong metal?Csupport interaction leading to multivalent tin. This indicates partly reduced tin oxide formation in the course of its reduction in hydrogen, which may act as active site in denitration reaction.     

Effect of the soil–pile–structure interaction in seismic analysis: case of liquefiable soils

The design of earthquake-resistant structures depends greatly on the soil–foundation–structure interaction. This interaction is more complex in the presence of liquefiable soils. Pile and rigid inclusion systems represent a useful practice to support structures in the presence of liquefiable soils in seismic zones. Both systems increase the bearing capacity of soil and allow reducing the settlements in the structure. Numerical models with a 3-storey reinforced concrete frame founded on inclusions systems (soil–inclusion–platform–structure) and pile systems (soil–pile–structure) were analyzed. Finite difference numerical models were developed using Flac 3D. Two different soil profiles were considered. A simple constitutive model for liquefaction analysis that relates the volumetric strain increment to the cyclic shear strain amplitude was utilized to represent the behavior of the sand, and the linear elastic perfectly plastic constitutive model with a Mohr–Coulomb failure criterion was used to represent the behavior of the earth platform. Two earthquakes were used to study the influence of the different frequency of excitation in the systems. The results were presented in terms of maximum shear forces distribution in the superstructure and spectrum response of each system. The efforts and displacements in the rigid elements (piles or rigid inclusions) were compared for the different systems. The bending and buckling failure modes of the pile were examined. The results show that the pile system, the soil profile and the frequency of excitation have a great influence on the magnitude and location of efforts and displacements in the rigid elements.