Rocking vibrations of rigid foundations on multi-layered poroelastic media

Abstract

This paper presents rocking vibrations of a rigid foundation resting on a multi-layered poroelastic half-space. The foundation is assumed to be rigid and massless, and subjected to a time–harmonic moment. In addition, each layer of the multi-layered half-space is governed by Biot’s theory of poroelastodynamics. The contact surface between the foundation and the layered half-space is smooth, and either fully permeable or impermeable. This dynamic interaction problem is studied by employing a discretization technique and an exact stiffness matrix scheme. Comparisons with existing solutions on rocking vibrations of rigid foundations on elastic and poroelastic media are shown to verify the accuracy of the present scheme. Selected numerical results on rocking compliances of rigid foundations of various shapes and mudmat foundations are presented. In addition, a dynamic interaction problem involving closely spaced foundations under rocking vibrations is also presented to demonstrate the applicability of the present solution scheme.     

Surcharge preloading consolidation of reclaimed land with distributed sand caps

Abstract

For land reclamation using the conventional surcharge preloading method, a sand cap layer is often fully placed at the ground surface of ultra-soft compressible estuary or marine clays. A novel strategy of distributed sand caps is proposed to save cost associated with sand materials. At an early stage of consolidation, the drainage capacity of distributed sand caps is less than the drainage demand, whereas at a later stage, the capacity exceeds the demand. Hence, the overall drainage capacity of distributed sand caps is equivalent to the drainage demand. A numerical model is developed to study the effectiveness of the proposed technique, and calculations are compared against theoretical solutions. A parametric study is conducted to optimize design parameters. It has been found that distributed sand caps should be uniformly placed with a size of 3% of the total width and a spacing of 1 times the size, such that sand materials can be saved by up to 50% without compromising the consolidation efficiency (an increase of consolidation time by less than 5%). The use of distributed sand caps will be effective regardless of soil properties, including hydraulic conductivity, elastic modulus and Poisson’s ratio.     

A study on one-dimensional consolidation of layered structured aquitard soils in a leakage system

Analytical solutions expressed using the hydraulic head for the one-dimensional consolidation of layered structured aquitard soils in a leakage system are deduced by transforming the n-layered structured soils into n + i (i = 1,2,…, n)-layered soils with gradually changing thicknesses, therein considering the behaviors of structured aquitard soils. The solutions are given in the case of instantaneous and linear decreasing confined aquifer water levels. By comparing three different examples, the effects of the structured behaviors on the consolidation characteristics are analyzed for the instantaneous decline of the confined aquifer water level.     

Experimental research on the marine hydrodynamic action on the consolidation process of the sediments in the Yellow River Estuary

Based on the in-situ measurements,the impact of the marine hydrodynamics,such as wave and tide,in the rapidly deposited sediments consolidation process was studied.In the tide flat of Diaokou delta-lobe,one test pit was excavated.The seabed soils were dug and dehydrated,and then the powder of the soil was mixed with seawater to be fluid sediments.And an iron plate covered part of the test pit to cut off the effect of the marine hydrodynamics.By field-testing methods,like static cone penetration test (SPT) and vane shear test (VST),the variation of strength is measured as a function of time,and the marine hydrodynamics impact on the consolidation process of the sediments in the Yellow River estuary was studied.It is shown that the self-consolidated sediments’ strength linearly increases with the depth.In the consolidation process,in the initial,marine hydrodynamics play a decisive role,about 1.5 times as much as self-consolidated in raising the strength of the sea-bed soils,and with the extension of the depth the role of the hydrodynamics is reduced.In the continuation of the consolidation process,the trend of the surface sediments increased-strength gradually slows down under the water dynamics,while the sediments below are in opposite ways.As a result,the rapidly deposited silt presents a nonuniform consolidation state,and the crust gradually forms.The results have been referenced in studying the role of the hydrodynamics in the soil consolidation process.     

A Note on Soil Structure Resistance of Natural Marine Deposits

It has been well documented that natural normally-consolidated marine soils are generally subjected to the effects of soil structure. The interpretation of the resistance of soil structure is an important issue in the theory study and engineering practice of ocean engineering and geotechnical engineering. It is traditionally considered that the resistance of soil structure gradually disappears with increasing stress level when the applied stress is beyond the consolidation yield stress. In this study, however, it is found that this traditional interpretation of the resistance of soil structure can not explain the strength behavior of natural marine deposits with a normally-consolidated stress history A new interpretation of the resistance of soil structure is proposed based on the strength behavior. In the preyield state, the undrained strength of natural marine deposits is composed of two components: one developed by the applied stress and the other developed by the resistance of soil structure. When the applied stress is beyond the consolidation yield stress, the strength behavior is independent of the resistance of soil structure.     

Influence of large-diameter pipe pile driving on surrounding marine soils and adjacent submarine pipelines

Abstract

With the large-scale development and utilization of ocean resources and space, it is inevitable to encounter existing submarine facilities in pile driving areas, which necessitates a safety assessment. In this article, by referring to a wharf renovation project as a reference, the surrounding soil response and buried pipe deformation during pile driving in a near-shore submarine environment are investigated by three-dimensional (3D) numerical models that consider the pore water effect. Numerical studies are carried out in two different series: one is a case of a single pile focusing on the effect of the minimum plane distance of the pile–pipe, and the other is a case of double piles focusing on the effect of the pile spacing.     

筒型基础有限元分析的土体边界选取研究

利用通用的有限元程序ANSYS软件,以歧口17—2筒型基础平台为对象,采用三维八结点的块体等参元,在相同荷载和约束条件下,选取不同的土体边界,就筒型基础筒边土体的附加应力扩散行为进行了三维有限元分析。分析结果表明,筒边土体的附加应力扩散规律具有方向性;在确定土体边界尺寸时,应在水平方向取土体边界尺寸为5．0倍简体直径,在竖直方向取土体边界尺寸为2．0倍筒高,此时就可以忽略土体的边界效应,进而在有限元计算精度和求解时间之间找到一个合理的平衡点。     

大深度分层流体中二维淹没浮体的波浪力分析

研究了大深度分层流体中二维任意形状淹没浮体的波浪力特性。首先基于一种合适的格林函数,采用边界积分方程法研究了流体中浮体对水波散射问题,然后通过单个淹没圆柱体的透射能和反射能与解析方法结果的比较,对所提出的方法进行了验证,最后分析了在不同的几何和物理条件下几种形状的浮体对波浪力的特有影响,得到了一些有意义的结果,这对分层海洋中淹没浮体的设计具有重要的参考价值。