Compressibility and Strength Behaviour of Sand–tyre Chip Mixtures

Scrap tyres can be shredded into chips and can easily be mixed with granular soils. To assess the behaviour of the admixtures, compressibility and triaxial compression tests were carried out by varying chip size and chip content. The results demonstrated that sand–tyre chip mixtures up to 20% could be a potential material for highway construction and embankment construction up to around 10 m height.     

黄河三角洲地区砂土路基液化机理探讨及处置

从砂土路基液化机理人手,结合黄河三角洲地区地基土工程地质特征,对该地区路基砂土液化做现场振动试验,找出影响砂土路基液化的影响因素,主要内因有土体的密实度、含水量和土体中是否存在软弱区;主要外因有荷载的大小、作用时间和荷载频率。并针对砂土液化的内外因,结合青银高速公路强夯处理案例展开分析,提出了处理方法。     

Vertical Uplift Capacity of Equally Spaced Multiple Strip Anchors in Sand

The ultimate uplift resistance of a group of multiple strip anchors placed in sand and subjected to equal magnitudes of vertical upward pullout loads has been determined by means of model experiments. Instead of using a number of anchor plates in the experiments, a single anchor plate was used by simulating the boundary conditions along the planes of symmetry on both the sides of the anchor plate. The effect of clear spacing (s) between the anchors, for different combinations of embedment ratio (λ) of anchors and friction angle (ϕ) of soil mass, was examined in detail. The results were presented in terms of a non-dimensional efficiency factor (ξ_γ), which was defined as the ratio of the failure load for an intervening strip anchor of a given width (B) to that of a single strip anchor plate having the same width. It was clearly noted that the magnitude of ξ_γ reduces quite extensively with a decrease in the spacing between the anchors. The magnitude of ξ_γ for a given s/B was found to vary only marginally with respect to changes in λ and ϕ. The experimental results presented in this study compare reasonably well with the theoretical and experimental data available in literature.     

Interference of Multiple Strip Footings on Sand Using Small Scale Model Tests

By using small scale model tests, the interference effect on the vertical load-deformation behavior of a number of equally spaced strip footings, placed on the surface of dry sand, was investigated. At any stage, all the footings were assumed to (i) carry exactly equal magnitude of load, and (ii) settle to the same extent. No tilt of the footing was permitted. The effect of clear spacing (s) among footings on the results was explored. A new experimental setup was proposed in which only one footing needs to be employed rather than a number of footings. The bearing capacity increases continuously with decrease in spacing among the footings. The interference effect becomes further prominent with increase in soil friction angle. In contrast to an increase in the bearing capacity, with decrease in spacing of footings, an increase in the footing settlement associated with the ultimate state of shear failure was observed. The present experimental observations were similar to those predicted by the available theory, based on the method of characteristics. As compared to the theory, the present experimental data, however, indicates much greater effect of interference especially for larger spacing among footings.     

Effects of crude oil contamination on geotechnical properties of clayey and sandy soils

The southern coastal plain of Iran at the Persian Gulf encounters oil pollution due to the historical oil exploitation, related tanker navigations and accidents, and petrochemical industrial expansions in the recent years. Therefore, it is important to investigate the geochemical properties of oil-contaminated coastal soils and sediments for engineering and environmental purposes. Here, an extensive laboratory testing program was carried out to determine the effects of crude oil contamination on some of the geotechnical properties of clayey and sandy soils such as CL, SM and SP sampled from the coastal soils from this area. The testing included basic properties, Atterberg limits, compaction, direct shear, uniaxial compression and permeability tests on clean and contaminated soil samples at the same densities. The contaminated samples were prepared by mixing the soils with crude oil in the amount of 2%, 4%, 8%, 12%, and 16% by dry weight. The results indicated a decrease in strength, permeability, maximum dry density, optimum water content and Atterberg limits. Knowledge of these effects of oil contamination is important in coastal engineering and environmental remediation activities of the studied coastal plain.     

Collapse of a Model Strip Footing on Dense Sand Under Vertical Eccentric Loads

The paper focuses on the behaviour of a model strip footing, resting on a saturated dense sandy soil, subjected to centred or eccentric vertical loading. Experimental tests, carried out on a small-scale physical model, are able to reproduce effective stress levels equivalent to those prevailing in prototype problems, thanks to the maintenance of a downward steady-state seepage in the soil. The test program consists of three series of tests, each corresponding to an imposed value of hydraulic gradient, and each involving five load eccentricities; one series, in particular, is carried out with still water. Relevant points of load–settlement curves are related to the evolution of soil-footing collapse mechanism, evidenced by the distortion of some vertical coloured sand strips. The collapse mechanism is formed either by one or two sliding surfaces, depending on both load eccentricities and hydraulic gradient values. Significant differences are shown to occur between centred and eccentric loading footing response. Shear strength parameters obtained from back-analyses carried out on load values recorded at the appearance of each sliding surface on the free soil surface, in both hypotheses of associated and non-associated flow rule validity, are adopted to draw, for each test, a theoretical collapse mechanism consisting, in plane strain, of a log-spiral line with adjacent-end tangents; the obtained theoretical sliding surfaces, in turn, are compared to the experimental ones, showing that these latter are either stress characteristic or zero-extension lines depending mainly on cumulative footing displacements and current effective stress level in the soil.     

Evaluation of Static Liquefaction Characteristics of Saturated Loose Sand Through the Mean Grain Size and Extreme Grain Sizes

Liquefaction of soils is a natural phenomenon associated with a dramatic loss of the soil shear strength in undrained conditions due to a development of excess pore water pressure. It usually causes extensive damages to buildings and infrastructures during earthquakes. Thus, it is important to evaluate extent of influential parameters on the liquefaction phenomenon of soils in order to clearly understand the different mechanisms leading to its triggering. The soil gradation is one of the most important parameters affecting the liquefaction phenomenon. In this context, a series of undrained compression triaxial tests were carried out on eighteen natural loose (Dr = 25%) sandy samples containing low plastic fines content of 2% (I_p = 5%) considering different extreme sizes (1.6 mm ≤ D_max ≤ 4 mm and 0.001 mm ≤ D_min ≤ 0.63 mm) and two mean grain size ranges (0.25 mm ≤ D₅₀ ≤ 1.0 mm) and (1.0 mm ≤ D₅₀ ≤ 2.5 mm). The initial confining pressure for all tests was kept constant (P′_c = 100 kPa). The obtained test results indicate that the mean grain size (D₅₀) and extreme grain sizes (D_max and D_min) have a significant influence on the undrained shear strength (known as liquefaction resistance) and appear as pertinent factors for the prediction of the undrained shear strength for the soil gradation under study. The undrained shear strength and the excess pore water pressure can be correlated to the extreme grain sizes (D_max and D_min) and the mean grain size (D₅₀) of tested wet deposited samples.     

Equivalent Continuum Simulations of Geocell Reinforced Sand Beds Supporting Strip Footings

This paper presents an equivalent continuum method for simulating the behaviour of geocell reinforced sand foundation beds, using finite element technique. An equivalent composite model is used for numerically simulating the improvement in the strength and stiffness of sand confined with geocells. Shear strength of geocell encased sand is derived from the additional confining pressure due to geocell using hoop tension theory. The stiffness of geocell encased sand is represented by an empirical equation in terms of the stiffness of the unreinforced sand and the tensile modulus of the geocell material. Numerical simulations of strip footings resting on sand bed are carried out with and without geocell layer, varying parameters like, the dimensions of geocell layer, pocket size, depth of placement of geocell layer and the tensile modulus of the geocell material. The results of numerical analyses are validated with the corresponding experimental results. The comparison between the numerical results and the experimental results is found to be reasonably good. Some significant observations on the mechanism of geocell reinforcement have been presented in this paper.     

Liquefaction potential and susceptibility mapping in the city of Yalova, Turkey

This study presents results of both field and laboratory tests that have been used to asses liquefaction susceptibilities of the soils in Yalova city, located in the well-known seismically active North Anatolian Fault Zone. Liquefaction potentials of the sub-surface materials in Yalova city were estimated by using the standard penetration test (SPT) method of field testing. The data obtained have been mapped according to susceptibility, and the susceptibility maps based on the geotechnical data indicated a moderate to high susceptibility to liquefaction for the magnitude of earthquake of M=7.4. Both the high groundwater level and the grain size of the soils, in conjunction with the active seismic features of the region, result in conditions favourable to the occurrence of liquefaction. When the surface and near surface geological conditions were taken under consideration, it was seen that the study areas geology is prone to liquefaction having a moderate liquefaction susceptibility. If geologic and geomorphological criteria are considered, it should be understood that the study area as discussed under the regions geology is susceptible to liquefaction. The geotechnical data largely support the geologic-based liquefaction susceptibility of the study area.     

Particle orientation and its influence on the mechanical behaviour of isotropically consolidated reconstituted clay

The behaviour of naturally occurring geological materials such as clay and sand depends on many factors. For example, stresses, strains, previous stress history, mineralogy and the depositional environment all contribute in some degree to a characteristic that all natural soils share, namely “structure”. The structure of clay, or more generally, the microstructure of microscopically sized clay mineral particles, is just as important as the many other parameters that are used to quantify the performance of clays. This paper examines the microstructure that results from the particle arrangement brought about during reconstitution in the laboratory and considers its relevance to the resulting stress–strain behaviour.

Samples of reconstituted kaolin clay were produced using two different procedures. In the first series of tests, kaolin slurry was simply isotropically compressed in one increment. In the second series, the slurry was first isotropically compressed to a low pressure and then completely remoulded. This was followed by isotropic compression to the same pressure as the other series. Specimens were taken from the two series of samples, reconsolidated at various isotropic pressures, and sheared under undrained conditions.

Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) images indicated that the monotonically compressed samples (Series 1) exhibited an anisotropic microstructure that was distinct from the remoulded (Series 2) samples. Significant differences were also found in the consolidation and stress–strain characteristics of the samples produced in the two series.     

Liquefaction evidence for strong earthquakes of Holocene and latest Pleistocene ages in the states of Indiana and Illinois, USA

Sand- and gravel-filled clastic dikes of seismic liquefaction origin occur throughout much of southern Indiana and Illinois. Nearly all of these dikes originated from prehistoric earthquakes centered in the study area. In this area at least seven and probably eight strong prehistoric earthquakes have been documented as occurring during the Holocene, and at least one during the latest Pleistocene. The recognition of different earthquakes has been based mainly on timing of liquefaction in combination with the regional pattern of liquefaction effects, but some have been recognized only by geotechnical testing at sites of liquefaction.

Most paleo-earthquakes presently recognized lie in Indiana, but equally as many may have occurred in Illinois. Studies in Illinois have not yet narrowly bracketed the age of clastic dikes at many sites, which sometimes causes uncertainty in defining the causative earthquake, but even in Illinois the largest paleo-earthquakes probably have been identified.

Prehistoric magnitudes were probably as high as about moment magnitude M 7.5. This greatly exceeds the largest historic earthquake of M 5.5 centered in Indiana or Illinois. The strongest paleo-earthquakes struck in the vicinity of the concentration of strongest historic seismicity. Elsewhere, paleo-earthquakes on the order of M 6–7 have occurred even where there has been little or no historic seismicity.

Both geologic and geotechnical methods of analysis have been essential for verification of seismic origin for the dikes and for back-calculating prehistoric magnitudes. Methods developed largely as part of this study should be of great value in unraveling the paleoseismic record elsewhere.     

饱和砂土地震液化机理分析及地基处理的应用

饱和砂土在地震荷裁作用下极易发生液化,对工程建筑造成危害。本文探讨了地震力作用下饱和砂土的液化机理。通过实例说明cFG桩和碎石桩共用具有明显的抗液化效果,并提出CFG桩和碎石桩抗液化,需进一步研究的问题。     

饱和砂土液化判别方法的局限性及综合应用实例

对于饱和砂土液化判别,目前规范要求以标准贯入试验为主,以静力触探为辅,有经验地区可采用剪切波速测试,但就目前的每种判别方法都有一定的局限性。在实际工作中采用综合评价的方法,就能减少单一评价方法的局限性。综合应用标准贯入试验法、静力触探试验法和剪切波速测试法,并对各种判别方法的判别结果进一步分析,便可综合评价场地饱和砂土的液化趋势。实例表明,综合应用各种液化判别方法进行综合评价,提高了评价结果的准确性。     

Progress on Process and Mechanism of Sand and Dust Emission on Gobi

Gobi is one of the most important landscapes in northwest China, and it is also one of the dust sources in north China and even in central Asia. Based on the different land surface characteristics on the gobi surface, sand and dust emission process and mechanism are obviously different with other landscapes, such as sandy desert. Dust emission process and mechanism on the gobi surface were analyzed in this paper. Wind power system, geomorphology pattern and underlying characteristics were considered for their effect on the sand and dust emission process. Then, the mechanism of land surface characteristics on threshold wind velocity was analyzed. Finally, based on the previous studies on dust emission and mechanism, and in combination with the regional and global requirement, we suggested that the land surface characteristics parameterization, identification of the dust sources and sediment emission mechanism should be the main issues in the future gobi sand and dust research.     

砂岩侵入复合体的建筑结构要素及其特征

砂岩侵入复合体是指沉积砂质母岩,在未固结时由于某种机制而积累了异常高压,产生液化、流化、再活动,向上覆细粒沉积物侵入的各种砂体的总和。目前已经在全球50多个深水盆地中(Braccinietal,2008)及所有的年代地层中都发现了从毫米到千米级别的砂岩侵入体。砂岩侵入复合体包含母岩、侵入体系和喷出体系三部分,通过对目前报道的一些砂岩侵入复合体实例分析,对其各建筑要素的外部几何形体和边界特征、内部沉积构造和显微结构进行了总结。不规则的几何形态,突变的边界特征,与液化作用相关的无构造砂岩、碟状构造、管状构造以及独特的泥岩碎屑表现出来的粒序性、条带等沉积构造,形状各异的矿物颗粒以及泥岩碎屑中砂岩裂缝切割等显微结构都可以作为识别砂岩侵入复合体的标准。加强砂岩侵入复合体的研究,为侵入圈闭的勘探和开发提供理论基础。     

松辽盆地古龙凹陷青山口组页岩油储层中的重力坠落砂脉的发现及其意义

古龙页岩油是松辽盆地重要的接替资源, 资源量可达151亿吨之多。从沉积和岩石学特点上看, 古龙青山口组页岩最大的特点之一是广泛发育了一种很特殊的砂脉, 所以这也是探讨古龙青山口组页岩形成环境的一个重要信息。古龙青山口组页岩油储层中的砂脉总体规模较小, 宽度多在1~2 mm, 可见长度(或高度)多在1~2 cm, 大部分弯曲如肠, 少数微曲; 多倾斜产出, 倾斜方向有一定规律, 隔180°对称; 一般发育在灰黑色的泥页岩中, 少量发育在粉砂岩和白云岩(结核)中。砂脉的上部或顶部一般都有一层粉砂, 与砂脉紧密相连, 是砂脉的"根"; 而砂脉的底部一般都是灰黑色的泥页岩, 见不到粉砂层, 所以揭示形成砂脉的源物质是来自于顶部的粉砂层, 而不是底部。初步研究认为, 古龙青山口组页岩油储层中的岩脉有两种成因: 第一种是高压液化充注, 形成了规模较大的砂脉; 第二种由密度倒置引起的重力沉降形成风暴把(粉)砂级颗粒快速搬运到刚沉积的黏土之上, 由于风暴浪的振荡, 使粉砂液化流动, 再加上黏土的密度较小和粉砂层的密度较大, 使得粉砂在重力的驱动下沉降到黏土中形成砂脉。研究古龙页岩油储层中的砂脉具有4个意义: 1)可以研究砂脉形成时的沉积环境、沉积过程和沉积物状态; 2)可以研究泥页岩的成岩压实率; 3)辅助确定白云岩(结核)的形成时间; 4)可以辅助储层评价。     

The 2003 Lefkada earthquake: Field observations and preliminary microzonation map based on liquefaction potential index for the town of Lefkada

A strong earthquake (Mw = 6.2) occurred offshore the island of Lefkada (or Lefkas) on August 14, 2003. The maximum intensity has been evaluated Io = VIII (EMS) at Lefkada municipality, while VI to VII+ intensities were evaluated at many other villages of the island. The offshore NNE-SSW oriented strike-slip right-lateral fault was activated by the main shock. This fault is the northern termination of the Cephalonia transform fault. The most characteristic macroseismic effects were extensive typical ground failures like rock falls, soil liquefactions, subsidence, densification, ground cracks and landslides. These macroseismic effects are remarkably similar to those reported from some historical Lefkada shocks, e.g. 1704, 1914 (Ms = 6.3) and 1948 (Ms = 6.5). Sand boils and ground fissures with ejection of mud were observed at the seaside of the town of Lefkada, and in the villages of Nydri and Vassiliki.In situ soil profiles are obtained based mainly on borings after the earthquake. Boreholes records with SPT values (standard penetration test) are obtained and the “simplified procedure” originally developed by Seed and Idriss was employed to evaluate the liquefaction resistance of soils. The results indicated that the silty sandy layer, which lies beneath the artificial fill in the coastal zone in Lefkada town, had liquefied during the 14 August Earthquake. An attempt was also made to establish a preliminary microzonation map for Lefkada town using the data from Liquefaction Potential Index analyses. Our map was validated by the occurrence of liquefaction phenomena inside the town.     

长江口北支兴隆沙XL2孔沉积物的磁性特征

通过对兴隆沙XL2孔沉积物磁性特征研究,发现该地区沉积物的磁性矿物以低矫顽力的亚铁磁性矿物为主。按磁化率χ等磁参数曲线的变化特征将XL2孔划分出4个磁性层,同时对比沉积物的粒度特征和微古分析结果,探讨了长江口北支兴隆沙沉积环境的演化过程,以及沉积物磁性特征与沉积环境的关系。     

廊坊市规划区饱和砂土液化的危害及防治措施

在对河北省廊坊市规划区液化饱和砂土分布及危害调查研究的基础上,提出采用振冲碎石桩法、桩基础方法、CFG桩复合地基技术进行防治饱和砂土液化的措施。