Consolidation analysis of saturated multi‐layered soils with anisotropic permeability caused by a point sink

This paper presents the analytical layer‐element method to analyze the consolidation of saturated multi‐layered soils caused by a point sink by considering the anisotropy of permeability. Starting from the governing equations of the problem, the solutions of displacements and stresses for a single soil layer are obtained in the Laplace–Hankel transformed domain. Then, the analytical layer‐element method is utilized to further derive the solutions for the saturated multi‐layered soils in the transformed domain by combining with the boundary conditions of the soil system and continuity conditions between adjacent layers. The actual solutions in the physical domain can be acquired by the inversion of Laplace–Hankel transform. Numerical results are carried out to show the accuracy and stability of the proposed method and evaluate the influence of sink depth and anisotropic permeability on excess pore pressure and surface settlement. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Axisymmetric thermal consolidation of multilayered porous thermoelastic media due to a heat source

This paper presents an analytical layer element solution to axisymmetric thermal consolidation of multilayered porous thermoelastic media containing a deep buried heat source. By applying the Laplace–Hankel transform to the state variables involved in the basic governing equations of porous thermoelasticity, the analytical layer elements that describe the relationship between the transformed generalized stresses and displacements of a finite layer and a half‐space are derived. The global stiffness matrix equation is obtained by assembling the interrelated layer elements, and the real solutions in the physical domain are achieved by numerical inversion of the Laplace–Hankel transform after obtaining the solutions in the transformed domain. Finally, numerical calculations are performed to demonstrate the accuracy of this method and to investigate the influence of heat source's types, layering, and the porous thermoelastic material parameters on thermal consolidation behavior. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The axisymmetric consolidation of a semi‐infinite transversely isotropic saturated soil

This paper presents an exact analytical solution to fully coupled axisymmetric consolidation of a semi‐infinite, transversely isotropic saturated soil subjected to a uniform circular loading at the ground surface. The analysis is under the framework of Biot's general theory of consolidation. First, the governing equations of consolidation are transformed into a set of equivalent partial differential equations with the introduction of two auxiliary variables. These partial differential equations are then solved using Hankel–Laplace integral transforms. Once solutions in the transformed domain have been obtained, the actual solutions in the physical domain for displacements and stress components of the solid matrix, pore‐water pressure and fluid discharge can be finally obtained by direct numerical inversion. The accuracy of the numerical solutions developed is confirmed by comparison with an existing exact solution for an isotropic and saturated soil that is a special case of the more general problem addressed. Numerical analyses are also presented to investigate the influence of the degree of material anisotropy on the consolidation settlement. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

横观各向同性土体中压力隧洞的应力和位移计算

基于Biot固结理论,考虑了土体和孔隙流体压缩性,通过对控制方程的解耦,得到在横观各向同性饱和土体中圆形隧洞边界上作用随时间变化的轴对称荷载或流体压力所引起的应力、位移和孔隙水压力场在拉普拉斯变换域中的解析表达式,运用拉普拉斯数值逆变换进行算例分析,得到在时间域中的解,讨论了单级加载和循环加载对计算结果的影响,并与瞬时加载条件下的结果进行了比较。同时也分析了土体的横观各向同性性质对应力、位移和孔隙水压力场的影响。     

Analytical layer‐element method for non‐axisymmetric consolidation of multilayered soils

A numerically efficient and stable method is developed to analyze Biot's consolidation of multilayered soils subjected to non‐axisymmetric loading in arbitrary depth. By the application of a Laplace–Hankel transform and a Fourier expansion, the governing equations are solved analytically. Then, the analytical layer‐element (i.e. a symmetric stiffness matrix) describing the relationship between generalized displacements and stresses of a layer is exactly derived in the transformed domain. Considering the continuity conditions between adjacent layers, the global stiffness matrix of multilayered soils is obtained by assembling the inter‐related layer‐elements. Once the solution in the Laplace–Hankel transformed domain that satisfies the boundary conditions has been obtained, the actual solution can be derived by the inversion of the Laplace–Hankel transform. Finally, numerical examples are presented to verify the theory and to study the influence of the layered soil properties and time history on the consolidation behavior. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A method of computing the consolidation behaviour of layered soils using direct numerical inversion of Laplace transforms

A method is presented for obtaining the consolidation behaviour of a layered soil subjected to strip, circular, or rectangular surface loadings, or subjected to fluid withdrawal due to pumping. The solution method involves applying a Fourier or Hankel transform to the field quantities along with a Laplace transformation. The effect of the Fourier or Hankel transform is to reduce a two- or three-dimensional problem or one involving axial symmetry, to one involving only a single spatial dimension. In cases where the soil is horizontally layered, this has great advantages over conventional methods, such as finite element or finite difference methods, since very little computer storage and data preparation time is required. Solution of the time dependent problem is achieved by applying a Laplace transformation to the field variables, obtaining solutions in Laplace transform space, and then numerically inverting the transformed solutions to obtain the real time behaviour. This eliminates the need for ‘marching type’ schemes where a solution is found from one at a previous time. By direct inversion of the Laplace transform, a solution may be obtained directly at any given time.     

Time‐dependent behaviour of a rigid foundation on a transversely isotropic soil layer

An analytical solution is presented in this paper to study the time‐dependent settlement behaviour of a rigid foundation resting on a transversely isotropic saturated soil layer. The governing equations for a transversely isotropic saturated soil, within Biot's poroelasticity framework, are solved by means of Laplace and Hankel transforms. The problem is subsequently formulated in the Laplace transform domain in terms of a set of dual integral equations that are further reduced to a Fredholm integral equation of the second kind and solved numerically. The developed analytical solution is validated via comparison with the existing analytical solution for an isotropic saturated soil case, and adopted as a benchmark to examine the sensitivities of the mesh refinement and the locations of truncation boundaries in the finite element simulations using ABAQUS. Particular attention is paid to the influences of the degree of soil anisotropy, boundary drainage condition, and the soil layer thickness on the consolidation settlement and contact stress of the rigid foundation. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The time–deflection behaviour of a rigid under-reamed anchor in a deep clay layer

The behaviour of an under-reamed anchor in a consolidating soil is examined by approximating the anchor as an impermeable circular plate embedded in a deep soil layer. Hankel and Laplace transforms are applied to the equations governing the consolidation process, and this greatly simplifies the equations, allowing a solution to be obtained for the transformed variables. Numerical inversion of both the Hankel and Laplace transforms is used to obtain the solution at any time. A particular feature of the solution method is that the unknown contact stress between the anchor and the soil and the unknown flows in the plane of the anchor are approximated as a series of simple functions with unknown coefficients. By determining the coefficients of the terms in the series, the complete solution may be found. Computations have been carried out using the method proposed, and results are presented for the time–settlement behaviour of an impermeable anchor. These results are compared with some published and some recomputed finite element data, and this highlights some of the difficulties encountered in using such numerical techniques.     

任意荷载下双面半透水边界分数阶导数黏弹性饱和土层一维固结

基于Terzaghi一维固结理论,分析了考虑半透水边界条件的分数阶导数黏弹性饱和土层在随时间变化的任意荷载作用下一维固结问题。首先,应用Laplace变换联立求解饱和土层一维固结微分方程和分数阶Kelvin-Voigt黏弹性本构方程,推导出有效应力和沉降在Laplace变换域内的解析解,采用Crump方法进行Laplace逆变换,得到了时间域内的半解析解。然后将本文得到的半解析解分别退化为半透水边界条件下基于黏弹性假设的一维固结半解析解和双面透水边界条件下基于分数阶黏弹性假设的一维固结半解析解,结果与已有文献的半解析解相同,验证了本研究所提出解的可靠性。最后通过算例分别考察了半透水边界参数、分数阶黏弹性模型参数和荷载参数对饱和土层固结沉降的影响。研究表明,半透水边界条件参数、分数阶次与黏滞系数主要影响饱和土层固结的发展快慢,而饱和土层的最终沉降量主要受到土层压缩模量的影响;另外,饱和土层的固结规律与外荷载变化规律一致。     

多层横观各向同性地基轴对称固结的传递矩阵解

从横观各向同性地基轴对称Biot固结的基本方程出发,通过关于t的Laplace变换和关于r的Hankel变换,得到关于z的一阶常微分方程组。然后,对变换域内的基本未知量进行线性化处理,建立了变换域内的基本状态变量在z = 0处和任意深度处z的显式关系。利用传递矩阵法,结合层间连续性条件和边界条件,得到了多层横观各向同性地基的Biot固结轴对称问题的解答。该解答能避免随着层数增加而需要求解大型方程组的困难,明显地提高了计算效率。     

应力历史对弱透水层参数影响试验研究

弱透水层储存的地下水是地下水资源的重要组成部分,弱透水层水文地质参数对地下水资源管理与评价以及地面沉降等具有重要意义。通过室内试验对定降深条件下弱透水层水流运移规律进行了研究,并探讨了弱透水层释水过程中的变形规律和释水规律。试验结果表明,在相邻含水层定降深条件下,弱透水层固结变形滞后于相邻含水层的降深变化,且变形速度逐渐变小并趋于零。基于室内试验,利用配线法求得弱透水层不同应力状态下的水文地质参数,对比分析,大变形和小变形试验中土层的渗透系数变化不大,但贮水率明显变小,土层的固结系数变大。因此,土层的应力历史对土层的渗透系数影响不大,而对贮水率有较大的影响。     

Steady‐state analytical solutions of flow and deformation coupling due to a point sink within a finite fluid‐saturated poroelastic layer

An exact steady‐state closed‐form solution is presented for coupled flow and deformation of an axisymmetric isotropic homogeneous fluid‐saturated poroelastic layer with a finite radius due to a point sink. The hydromechanical behavior of the poroelastic layer is governed by Biot's consolidation theory. Boundary conditions on the lateral surface are specifically chosen to match the appropriate finite Hankel transforms and simplify the transforms of the governing equations. Ordinary differential equations in the transformed domain are solved, and then the analytical solutions in the physical space for the pore pressure and the displacements are finally obtained by using finite Hankel inversions. The analytical solutions at some special locations such as the top and bottom surfaces, lateral surface, and the symmetrical axis are given and analyzed. And a case study for the consolidation of a water‐saturated soft clay layer due to pumping is conducted. The analytical solution is verified against the finite element solution. Meanwhile, an analysis of coupled hydromechanical behavior is carried out herein. The presented analytical solution is an exact solution to the practical poroelastic problem within an axisymmetric finite layer. It can provide us a better understanding of the poroelastic behavior of the finite layer due to fluid extraction. Besides, it can be applied to calibrate numerical schemes of axisymmetric poroelasticity within finite domains. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Land subsidence caused by groundwater exploitation in Suzhou City,China

Suzhou City, located at the lower reaches of the Yangtze River in southeastern Jiangsu Province, is one of the few cities in China which suffer from severe ground settlement. A research project was carried out to investigate this problem. Geological and hydrogeological studies show that there is a multi-layered aquifer system with three distinct, soft mud layers of marine and lagoonal origins. An examination of historical records of groundwater extraction, water levels, and ground settlement shows that the ground subsidence is associated with the continuously increasing groundwater extraction in the deep, confined aquifer. It is believed that the consolidation of the soft mud layers, especially the third layer which is thick and close to the main pumped aquifer, contributes to the ground settlement. A three-dimensional finite difference numerical model representing the multi-layered aquifer system was developed to study the ground settlement in response to groundwater extraction. By calibrating the model with both the measured groundwater level and ground settlement, the aquifer parameters were estimated. The model outputs fit reasonably well with the observed results, which indicates that the numerical model can reproduce the dynamic processes of both groundwater flow and soil consolidation. The hydraulic conductivity of the third mud layer near the center of the ground settlement has been reduced by over 30% in the last 14 years. The gradual deterioration in the hydraulic conductivity of the mud may have significant adverse effect on the sustainable groundwater resource of the deep confined aquifer, since the recharge from the shallow aquifers through the mud layer is the only source of water to the deep aquifer. An analysis of the spatial distributions of groundwater drawdown and ground settlement shows that the area with maximum drawdown is not necessarily the area with maximum ground settlement due to the occurrence of the soft mud layer. A simple reallocation in pumping rates on the basis of the spatial distribution of the thick mud layer could significantly reduce the ground settlement. Electronic Publication     

Consolidation of a poroelastic half-space with anisotropic permeability and compressible constituents by axisymmetric surface loading

The fully coupled Biot quasi-static theory of linear poroelasticity is used to study the consolidation of a poroelastic half-space caused by axisymmetric surface loads. The fluid and solid constituents of the poroelastic medium are compressible and its permeability in the vertical direction is different from its permeability in the horizontal direction. An analytical solution of the governing equations is obtained by taking the displacements and the pore pressure as the basic state variables and using a combination of the Laplace and Hankel transforms. The problem of an axisymmetric normal load is discussed in detail. An explicit analytical solution is obtained for normal disc loading. Detailed numerical computations reveal that the anisotropy in permeability as well as the compressibilities of the fluid and solid constituents of the poroelastic medium have significant effects on the consolidation of the half-space. The anisotropy in permeability may accelerate the consolidation process and may lead to a dilution in the theoretical prediction of the Mandel-Cryer effect. The compressibility of the solid constituents may also accelerate the consolidation process.     

地下水位变化对透—阻型岩溶塌陷影响的分析

文章从一维地下水运动和渗透力学的角度,分析比较潜水位上升与承压水位下降对岩溶地区透—阻型盖层中阻水层渗透稳定性的影响,重点讨论了承压水位下降速度(降速)与下降深度（降深）对阻水层中渗透坡降的影响,结果表明:地下水位变化（潜水位上升或承压水位下降）产生的非稳定渗流不利于岩溶洞穴开口上方阻水层的稳定,承压水位的下降对岩溶开口附近处阻水层中渗透力的影响远大于潜水位的变化;在承压层水位最大降深确定的条件下,承压水位下降速度愈快,岩溶开口附近处阻水层中向下渗透力愈大。因此,在覆盖型岩溶地区抽取地下水时,为了减缓或避免覆盖型塌陷的发生,应同时控制好最大降深和最大开采速度。      

Transient dynamic response of multilayered saturated media subjected to impulsive loadings

This paper presents a stable and efficient method for calculating the transient solution of layered saturated media subjected to impulsive loadings by means of the analytical layer element method. Starting with the field equations based on Biot's linear theory for porous, fluid‐saturated media, and the seepage continuity equation, an analytical layer element for a single layer is established by applying Laplace‐Hankel integral transform. The global stiffness matrix in the transform domain for a layered saturated half‐space subjected to a transient circular patch loading is obtained by assembling the layer elements of each layer. The displacements in the time domain are derived by Laplace‐Hankel inverse transform of the global stiffness matrix. Numerical examples are conducted to verify the accuracy of the method and to demonstrate the influences of type of transient loading, buried depth of loading, permeability, and stratification of materials on the transient response of the multilayered saturated poroelastic media.     

Analysis of pumping a compressible pore fluid from a saturated elastic half space

A solution method is presented for the consolidation of a saturated, porous elastic half space due to the pumping of a pore fluid at a constant rate from a point sink embedded beneath the surface. It is assumed that the saturated medium is homogeneous and isotropic with respect to both its elastic and flow properties. The soil skeleton is modelled as an isotropic, linear elastic solid obeying Hooke's Law while the pore fluid is assumed to be compressible with its flow governed by Darcy's Law. The solution has been evaluated for a soil with a value of Poisson's ration of 0.25 and for a number of different cases of pore fluid compressibility. It is demonstrated that this compressibility can have a significant influence on the rate of consolidation around the sink. The solutions presented may have application in practical problems such as the extraction of groundwater and other fluids from compressible geological media.     

An analytical method to estimate groundwater depletion from a confining layer

An analytical method was proposed to estimate depletion of groundwater in the confining layers through their entire exploitation history and also for limited periods, especially when data on the drawdown history of the pumped aquifer were sparse. The method was based on the solution for drawdown distribution in the confining layer under the condition that the water level was not under equilibrium conditions but resulted from the delayed drainage phenomenon at the outset. First, the method was used on a hypothetical confined regional aquifer system. It suggested that the calculation error of depletion was generally small and that the cumulative released water from the confining layer can be calculated as being closer to the actual total depletion (2.88 km³) than an existing method. Then, the method was applied to estimate the groundwater quantity released from confining layers in the Su-Xi-Chang region of China, where there is a paucity of groundwater level data. The depletion of groundwater in confining layers represented approximately 54 to 82 % of total withdrawals (9.2 km³) from 1965 to 2000. Therefore, the confining layers are the main consolidation layers in Su-Xi-Chang area. Uncertainty in the properties of the confining layers made the depletion calculation subject to error.     

A semi-analytical solution to consolidation of unsaturated soils with the free drainage well

Based on Fredlund’s one-dimensional consolidation equation for unsaturated soil, Darcy’s law and Fick’s law, a semi-analytical solution was presented to the free drainage well with a finite thickness under application of uniform vertical loading and the boundary of the top and bottom surfaces impermeable to water and air. According to the polar governing equations of water and air phases and the boundary and initial conditions, the excess pore-air and pore-water pressures and the soil layer settlement in the Laplace transformed domain are obtained by performing the Laplace transform and utilizing the Bessel functions. Crump’s method is used to perform the inversion of Laplace transform in order to obtain numerical solutions in the real time domain. Finally, a typical example is given to illustrate the changes in the excess pore-air and pore-water pressures and soil layer settlement with time factor at different ratios of air–water permeability coefficient and/or different distances from the well.     

Reflection–transmission matrix method for the consolidation of a multilayered saturated soil

The consolidation of the layered saturated soil is an important issue in civil engineering and has been investigated extensively during the past decades. In this study, based on the Biot's theory, the reflection–transmission matrix (RTM) method for treating the layered saturated soil under axisymmetric consolidation is developed. To decouple the governing equations of the Biot's theory, the McNamee displacement functions are introduced, and the general solution for the saturated soil is obtained using the Laplace and Hankel transforms. In order to develop the RTM method for the layered saturated soil, based on the obtained general solution, the static wave vector corresponding to the state vector of the saturated soil and the transform matrix relating the aforementioned two vectors are defined. Also, the transfer matrices corresponding to the two vectors are introduced, and the representations of the RTMs for the static wave vector of the saturated soil are presented. As the state vector, static wave vector, and the transform matrix relating the two vectors are all defined in the global coordinate system, the RTMs obtained in this study thus have a reasonable physical meaning. By using the RTMs for the layered saturated soil, the solutions for the layered saturated soil subjected to external sources are derived. Comparison of results due to the proposed RTM method with some existing results and results due to the transfer matrix method validates the developed RTM method. Some numerical results are obtained based on the proposed RTM method for the layered saturated soil. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.