Influence of spatial variability of soil friction angle on sheet pile walls’ structural behaviour

The uncertainty in terms of soil characterisation is studied to assess its effect on the structural behaviour of extended structures as sheet pile walls. A finite element model is used. This integrates a numerical model of the soil–structure interaction together with a stochastic model that allows characterising the soil variability. The model serves in propagating the variability and the system parameter uncertainties. Discussion is mainly focused on two points: (1) testing the sensitivity of the structural behaviour of a sheet pile wall to different geotechnical parameters and (2) assessing the influence of spatial variability of soil properties on the structural behaviour by identifying the most sensitive geotechnical parameter and the most significant correlation length values. The findings showed that in assessing the sheet pile wall’s structural behaviour, there are spatial variability parameters that cannot be considered negligible. In this study, soil friction angle is found to be an important parameter.     

Reliability-based design and its complementary role to Eurocode 7 design approach

Reliability-based design (RBD) can play a useful complementary role to overcome some limitations in the Eurocode 7 (EC7) design approach, for example in situations with parameters not covered in EC7, different parametric sensitivities across different problems, cross-correlated or spatially correlated parameters, design aiming at a target reliability or failure probability, or when uncertainty in unit weight of soil is modeled. The complementary role played by RBD under these circumstances is illustrated and discussed for a shallow foundation, a reinforced rock slope, a Norwegian clay slope with spatial variability, a laterally loaded pile requiring implicit numerical analysis, and an anchored sheet pile wall. A pragmatic RBD approach involving first-order reliability method (FORM) only and a more rigorous RBD approach involving both first-order and second-order reliability method (SORM) are offered. Both approaches are implementable using either spreadsheet-based FORM and SORM procedures, or using various commercially available FORM/SORM packages.     

Numerical studies of anchored sheet pile wall behavior constructed in cut and fill conditions

The construction of sheet pile walls may involve either excavation of soils in front or backfilling of soils behind the wall. These construction procedures generate different loading conditions in the soil and therefore different wall behavior should also be expected. The conventional methods, which are based on limit equilibrium approach, commonly used in the design of anchored sheet pile walls do not consider the method of construction. However, continuum mechanics numerical methods, such as finite element method, make it possible to incorporate the construction method during the analyses and design of sheet pile walls. The effect of wall construction type for varying soil conditions and wall heights were investigated using finite element modeling and analysis. The influence of construction method on soil behavior, wall deformations, wall bending moments, and anchor forces were investigated. The study results indicate that walls constructed by backfill method yield significantly higher bending moments and wall deformations. This paper presents the results of the numerical parametric study performed and comparative analyses of the anchored sheet pile walls constructed by different construction methods.     

运用ANSYS对板桩墙支护模型的计算分析

运用ANSYS弹塑性有限元应用软件,对深基坑支护工程的板桩墙支护体系模型进行了分析探讨,得到了悬臂板桩墙支护模型的土体位移等值线图、主动土压力云图、墙土接触处的裂缝深度、不同土体材料的沉降影响区域半径。并求证了拉锚式支护结构的锚固力F对控制支护土体变形的有利影响。计算结果表明,ANSYS有限元程序将在深基坑支护工程的设计、施工中提供有效依据。     

Reliability analysis of soil nail walls

In India, soil nail walls are being extensively used for supporting vertical excavations below ground level to accommodate construction of one-or two-storied basements. Generally, the depth of excavations for basement construction ranges from 10 m to 15 m. For such large depth of excavation, variability of in-situ soil properties has significant influence on the stability of the soil nail walls. In the present study, using reliability analysis, an attempt is made to study the influence of variability of in-situ soil properties on the stability of soil nail walls. For better understanding, a case of 10 m high soil nail wall constructed to support a vertical cut is considered for the study and its stability is evaluated for various failure modes. Additionally, the influence of correlation among soil parameters on soil nail wall stability is assessed. In-situ soil friction angle and correlation between in-situ soil cohesion and angle of friction are found to influence soil nail wall stability significantly. In general, reliability analysis provided a better insight into the assessment of stability of soil nail wall.     

Reliability of passive earth pressure

Passive earth pressure calculations in geotechnical analysis are usually performed with the aid of the Rankine or Coulomb theories of earth pressure based on uniform soil properties. These traditional earth pressure theories assume that the soil is uniform. The fact that soils are spatially variable leads to two potential problems in design: do sampled soil properties adequately reflect the effective properties of the entire soil mass and does spatial variability in soil properties lead to passive earth pressures that are significantly different from those predicted using traditional theories? This paper combines non-linear finite element analysis with random field simulation to investigate these two questions. The specific case investigated is a two-dimensional frictionless passive wall with a cohesionless drained soil mass. The wall is designed against sliding using Rankine's earth pressure theory. The unit weight is assumed to be constant throughout the soil mass and the design friction angle is obtained by sampling the simulated random soil field. For a single sample, the friction angle is used as an effective soil property in the Rankine model. For two samples, an average of the sampled friction angles is used. Failure is defined as occurring when the Rankine predicted passive resistance acting on the wall, modified by a factor of safety, is greater than that computed by the random finite element method. Using Monte Carlo simulation, the probability of failure of the traditional design approach is assessed as a function of the factor of safety using and the spatial variability of the soil.     

Probabilistic comparative analysis between design rules of a shallow foundation safety

ABSTRACT

A fact that is generally overlooked in many geotechnical uncertainty analyses is that input data of the model may be correlated. While this correlation may influence the system response, epistemic uncertainties i.e. lack of knowledge of this correlation appears as a risk factor. This paper discusses how a negative correlation between cohesion (c’) and friction angle (Ø’) with their associated uncertainties can influence both the bearing resistance of a shallow strip foundation footing and the estimation of its safety. A probabilistic approach that considers both the negative correlation and the uncertainty is used in this work as a reference. This method is compared to Eurocode 7 variants that do not for the correlation. These variants, resistance and material factoring methods appears to be more or less conservative depending on the negative correlation degree between (c’–Ø), their associated uncertainties and soil configurations. Finally, the proposed probabilistic comparison shows that the material factoring method is more conservative than the resistance one.     

Response of Vertically Loaded Pile in Clay: A Probabilistic Study

This study presents the response of a vertically loaded pile in undrained clay considering spatially distributed undrained shear strength. The probabilistic study is performed considering undrained shear strength as random variable and the analysis is conducted using random field theory. The inherent soil variability is considered as source of variability and the field is modeled as two dimensional non-Gaussian homogeneous random field. Random field is simulated using Cholesky decomposition technique within the finite difference program and Monte Carlo simulation approach is considered for the probabilistic analysis. The influence of variance and spatial correlation of undrained shear strength on the ultimate capacity as summation of ultimate skin friction and end bearing resistance of pile are examined. It is observed that the coefficient of variation and spatial correlation distance are the most important parameters that affect the pile ultimate capacity.     

Probabilistic approach to the design of anchored sheet pile walls

Following a brief review of the physico-mechanical properties of soils, this work analyzes and comments upon some of the most frequently used approaches in anchored sheet pile wall design. The analysis highlights the conceptual differences between the various approaches, often leading, inevitably, to markedly diverging results. Although the probabilistic approach cannot be applied extensively, mainly because it is difficult to obtain statistical modelling of the soil mass, it nevertheless enables designers to avoid certain ambiguities that are present in the commonly used approach based on the Safety Factor. In addition, the probabilistic approach also permits handling of the calibrations required for the approaches to partial coefficients to be effective and applicable to different local conditions associated with the diversity of soils, different modes of construction, etc. Numerical results obtained for a simple probabilistic model lead to conclusions which are certainly not exhaustive but may contribute significant elements for reflection.     

Three-dimensional analysis of vertical square anchor plate in cohesionless soil

ABSTRACT

Vertical anchor plates are often provided to increase the performance of various geotechnical engineering structures such as sheet pile walls, bulkheads, bridge abutments and offshore structures. Hence, the safe design of such structures needs a better understanding of the 3D behaviour of the anchor plate. This paper presents and discusses the results obtained from a series of 3D finite-difference analyses of vertical square anchor plate embedded in cohesionless soil. The 3D model is found to closely predict experimental pullout load–displacement relationship. The failure mechanism observed in the numerical model is found to be very similar to the failure reported in experimental studies. For a given embedment depth, the stiffness of the breakout factor–displacement response substantially reduces with increase in anchor plate size. However, the ultimate reduction in anchor capacity is found to approximately 8% with an increase in anchor size from 0.1 to 1 m. Numerical analysis reveals that at deeper embedment depth, the friction angle of sand is the critical parameter in enhancing the performance of anchor plate. The obtained 3D model results are then compared with the published results and are found to be reasonably in good agreement with each other.     

Parametric studies of DDC-induced deflections of sheet pile walls in soft soils

This paper presents a thorough finite element (FE) parametric study of sheet pile wall deflections caused by deep dynamic compaction (DDC). In this study, the effects of several parameters which may affect the wall deflections were investigated. These parameters are (1) wall embedment length; (2) tamping distance; (3) impact energy per blow; (4) blow counts; (5) soil types on the supporting side of sheet pile walls; and (6) wall stiffness. The effects of these parameters were quantified and discussed, and the factors that help to reduce wall deflections were identified. A series of figures which depict the effects of these parameters were generated. Finally, some suggestions and recommendations for design and construction were reached.     

强震作用下液化场地群桩动力响应及p-y曲线

为研究液化场地中群桩在强震作用下的动力响应特征及桩侧土抗力-桩土相对位移（p-y）曲线规律,依托海文大桥实体工程,基于振动台模型试验,开展了0.15g～0.35g地震动作用饱和粉细砂土层不同埋置深度下的砂土孔压比、桩身弯矩及p-y曲线动力响应研究。结果表明：地震动强度达到0.25g时,不同埋置深度下的饱和粉细砂土层孔压比均大于0.8,产生液化现象,且随埋置深度增加,孔压比增长时刻明显滞后;不同埋置深度下,桩身弯矩最大值均位于液化土层和非液化土层分界面处;同一埋置深度时,随地震动强度的增大,p-y曲线所包围的面积逐渐增大,其整体斜率逐渐变小,说明桩-土相互作用动力耗能逐渐增大,桩周土体刚度逐渐减小;随埋置深度增加,p-y曲线所包围的面积逐渐减小,其整体斜率逐渐增大,说明桩-土相互作用动力耗能逐渐减小,桩周土体刚度逐渐增大。因此,液化场地桥梁群桩抗震设计时,应综合考虑液化土层与桩基础的相互位置关系,确保桩基础在液化土层与非液化土层分界处的抗弯承载能力。     

Active earth pressure shielding in quay wall constructions: numerical modeling

By designing a quay wall construction the calculation of the active earth pressure behind the sheet pile wall is often a problem. Measurements and FE-analyses have shown that the earth pressure on a sheet pile wall is shielded due to the dowel effect of the pile rows behind the sheet piling. In conventional calculations a higher friction angle is used to take the dowel effect into account. In this study, numerical modeling using the Coupled Eulerian?CLagrangian method has been carried out to investigate the shielding effect of pile rows on the active earth pressure in sand. The failure mechanisms have been illustrated using the shear band patterns at the limit state. Based on the Terzaghi??s arching theory a new approach has been developed to estimate the shielding effect.     

桩板式抗滑挡墙地震响应的振动台试验研究

汶川地震路基震害调查表明,在顺层或堆积体边坡中的桩板式抗滑挡墙具有良好的抗震性能。为了更好地了解该结构的抗震性能和优化抗震设计方法,以大型振动台模型试验为手段对其进行研究。为明确地震作用下桩板式抗滑挡墙的地震响应特性,试验采用缩尺的卧龙台站实测地震波对模型激励。试验结果揭示了土压力沿桩身分布规律、桩体位移和边坡岩土体加速度的地震响应特征。研究表明,地震土压力沿桩身呈非线性分布,竖向地震荷载对水平加速度有放大效果。所以,双向加载时的地震土压力比水平单向加载时大,但二者差距在地震基本烈度VII、VIII度区域不显著。滑坡推力、滑床对桩的土体抗力和桩身位移均与输入地震动峰值加速度成正比,即随着地震动峰值加速度的增加,加速度放大比增大;滑动面材料剪切强度折减,滑坡推力、土体抗力和抗身位移均增大,且增大速率加快。此外,结合试验成果,建议了桩板式抗滑挡墙设计时地震综合影响系数Cz的合理取值,对应地震基本烈度VII、VIII、IX度区分别为0.2、0.35、0.4。试验结果有助于揭示该结构抗震机制,也为其抗震设计提供了可靠依据。     

Load and resistance factor design (LRFD) calibration for steel grid reinforced soil walls

This paper reports the results of load and resistance factor design (LRFD) calibration for pullout and yield limit states for steel grid reinforced soil walls owing to soil self-weight loading plus permanent uniform surcharge. The calibration method uses bias statistics to account for prediction accuracy of the underlying deterministic models for reinforcement load, pullout capacity and yield strength of the steel grids, and random variability in input parameters. A new revised pullout design model is proposed to improve pullout resistance prediction accuracy and to remove hidden dependency with calculated pullout resistance values. Load and resistance factors are proposed that give a uniform probability of failure of 1% for both pullout and yield limit states. The approach adopted in this paper has application to a wide variety of other reinforced soil wall technologies.     

参数变异性对围护结构稳定性影响分析

利用可靠度分析方法代替传统的安全系数法来分析基坑围护结构的整体稳定性,考虑岩土参数的不确定性和空间变异性,对土性参数进行空间折减可显著提高可靠度分析的精度。结合工程实例,分析了参数均值和变异系数对基坑整体稳定性可靠度指标的影响。分析表明,可靠度指标β对土体黏聚力c、内摩擦角φ、地面超载q及支护桩嵌固深度hd的均值变化的敏感性较安全系数K对上述参数的敏感性强;c、φ及hd值的变异性对β值影响较大,地面超载较大时,其变异性对β影响较为显著;采用可靠度指标β评价基坑整体稳定性较安全系数K更加合理。     

珊瑚砂地基中膨胀混凝土桩竖向受压承载性能研究

为研究珊瑚砂地基下膨胀混凝土桩竖向承载特性,开展了室内单桩竖向静载模型试验,分析了膨胀混凝土桩的单桩荷载-位移曲线以及轴力、桩侧摩阻力等沿桩长分布特性,与PLAXIS 3D软件数值模拟结果进行对比并探究了线膨胀率对承载特性的影响。结果表明:珊瑚砂中膨胀混凝土桩的荷载位移曲线呈现缓变型,在加载过程中,荷载主要由桩侧摩阻力承担,轴力随着深度的增加而减小,桩侧摩阻力随深度先增加后逐渐减小,随荷载的增加逐渐发挥作用。随着膨胀剂用量的增加,桩身线膨胀量逐渐增加,桩-土相互作用更加明显。添加25%HCSA型膨胀剂可提高近20%的极限承载力和56%的极限侧阻力,提高桩体线膨胀率可以有效提高桩的极限承载力和侧摩阻力。该研究可为珊瑚砂桩基工程设计提供参考。     

抗拔桩极限平衡方程及其应用

将抗拔桩侧阻力分解为与桩侧正压力不相关的桩-土黏结强度 、与桩侧有效正压力成正比的摩擦力 两部分,采用摩擦定律计算摩擦力 。基于轴对称条件,假定土体为半无限弹性体,以Mindlin公式积分计算分析极限平衡状态下桩-土共同作用,依据平面应变条件下柱状孔扩张的弹性力学解建立桩-土界面位移协调方程,推导出抗拔桩极限平衡方程,给出了求解方法及计算参数确定方法。该方程能反映桩与土的材料特性、桩体尺寸、桩顶埋深、群桩效应、卸荷效应等多因素对抗拔桩极限承载力的影响。结合海上风电大直径超长抗拔钢管桩足尺试验进行验证。对比分析结果表明,该方法计算的抗拔极限承载力与实测值接近,计算精度远高于现行规范推荐方法,其结果可为工程应用及抗拔桩承载力机制研究提供参考。     

管桩挤土效应的现场试验和数值模拟

以PHC管桩加固某物流加工二期标准仓库、厂房项目为依托,进行了吹填土地区PHC管桩的挤土效应研究。利用预先埋设的孔压计和测斜计,借助沉桩过程的现场测试手段,研究了PHC管桩在沉桩过程中桩周孔压变化和土体位移分布特征,发现沉桩过程中超孔隙水压力随距桩心距离的增加而近似呈线性规律衰减,影响范围约为10倍桩径,土体水平位移不仅与地基土性质有关,而且其分布特征也与深度有很大关系,表现为0.2～0.4倍桩长处土体水平位移较大。采用数值模拟有效地模拟了现场测试结果,进而将结果推广,得到了沉桩引起的桩周土体位移随深度和距桩心距离的变化规律。数值模拟结果表明：桩-土界面摩擦特性和桩径对土体位移场的影响较大。     

考虑土参数自相关距离影响的单桩可靠性设计方法

在岩土工程设计中,准确地衡量土层参数的空间变异性决定了设计结构的可靠性和经济性,土参数的自相关距离是反映其空间变异性的一个重要指标。目前对于自相关距离与结构可靠性之间的关系的研究还很不完善。本文以单桩可靠性设计为例,选取工程场地的静力触探试验数据,引入随机场理论描述侧摩阻力和锥尖阻力的分布特征,利用递推平均法计算各地基土层侧摩阻力和锥尖阻力的自相关距离,在描述土层侧摩阻力和锥尖阻力的分布特征时考虑了自相关距离的影响,进一步结合蒙特卡洛法计算单桩的可靠指标。结果表明土参数取值考虑自相关距离的影响后,降低了土参数分布的离散程度,计算的单桩可靠指标更高。在保证桩基安全度的前提下,设计结果能够降低工程成本。