Numerical simulation of a tunnel surrounded by sand under earthquake using a hypoplastic model

A numerical model of a centrifuge experiment on tunnel located in sand is being presented. The experiment was carried out under seismic loading using a dynamic actuator. The responses of the tunnel and of the sand were measured. The numerical model is based on a hypoplastic constitutive model with intergranular strains implemented in the FE-code TOCHNOG. The calculated accelerations in the sand match the measured results, while the surface settlement and the bending moments in the tunnel lining are only qualitatively reproduced by the numerical model.     

Numerical simulation of the seismic response of tunnels in sand with an elastoplastic model

The number of larger tunnels in seismic regions has grown significantly over the last decades. The behaviour of tunnels under seismic actions may be assessed using simplified or more complex approaches. Plane–strain centrifuge tests with dynamic loading on a model tunnel are used as experimental benchmark on the seismic behaviour of tunnels, with the ultimate aim of calibrating numerical and analytical design methods. Two models with dry uniform fine sand were prepared at two different densities, in which an aluminium-alloy tube was installed. This paper describes the numerical simulation of these tests with an elastoplastic model. The tunnel response recorded in the centrifuge tests is compared with the numerical prediction, showing the evolution of accelerations and internal forces along the tunnel lining during the model earthquakes. In general, the numerical simulation diverges from the recorded at the centrifuge tests. The numerical simulation largely amplifies the motion at the fundamental frequency of the soil deposit, while this effect is not significant in the centrifuge tests. It is shown that the peak increments in lining forces during dynamic loading measured in the centrifuge test disagree with the values from the numerical simulation and from the Wang’s elastic solution. The divergence observed between simulation and centrifuge tests may result mainly from the real initial stiffness of the sand in the centrifuge tests which are lower than those measured in laboratory tests and to the insufficient knowledge of all relevant stress paths to be imposed to soil for the calibration of model parameters.     

Numerical prediction of tunnel performance during centrifuge dynamic tests

In this paper, a comparison between numerical analyses and centrifuge test results relative to the seismic performance of a circular tunnel is provided. The considered experimental data refer to two centrifuge tests performed at Cambridge University, aimed at investigating the transverse dynamic behaviour of a relatively shallow tunnel located in a sand deposit. For the same geometry, different soil relative densities characterise the two tests. The four seismic actions considered, of the pseudo-harmonic type, are characterised by increasing intensity. The 2D numerical analyses were performed adopting an advanced soil constitutive model implemented in a commercial finite element code. The comparison between numerical simulations and measurements is presented in terms of acceleration histories and Fourier spectra as well as of profiles of maximum acceleration along free-field and near-tunnel verticals. In addition, loading histories of normal stress and bending moments acting in the tunnel lining were considered. In general, very good agreement was found with reference to the ground response analyses, while a less satisfactory comparison between observed and predicted results was obtained for the transient and permanent loadings acting in the lining, as discussed in the final part of the paper.     

加筋材料动态松弛有限元模型的建立及应用

为分析加筋材料的抗弯刚度对加筋性能的影响,加筋材料采用梁单元形式。基于动态松弛法,通过定义梁单元的刚度矩阵,求解内力矢量,随后定义虚拟质量密度而建立总质量矩阵,将加筋材料的梁单元有限元模型嵌入到已有的动态松弛法求解程序中。通过对简支梁的简单加载模拟验证了该梁单元模型的准确性能。随后,将该有限元模型与已有的动态松弛法计算程序结合（含砂土本构及弱面单元模型）,对加筋砂土地基室内模型试验进行了数值模拟。将梁单元的模拟结果与杆单元（梁单元的特例）模拟结果进行了比较,并分别探讨了抗拉刚度和抗弯刚度对加筋砂土地基承载性能的影响。结果表明：抗拉刚度对承载能力的影响较小;抗弯刚度对承载力的影响程度与加筋材料的布置形式有关,特别是当加筋砂土中出现剪切带以后,其影响逐渐增大。因此,在分析加筋砂土结构的增强机制时,建议采用梁单元（具有一定的抗弯刚度）对加筋材料进行模拟。     

Experimental Assessment of the Stress–Strain Behaviour of Leighton Buzzard Sand for the Calibration of a Constitutive Model

A number of constitutive models are nowadays implemented in numerical codes which simulate the stress–strain behaviour of soil from very small to large strain. In this paper, the mechanical behaviour of Leighton Buzzard sand (grade E), used worldwide for physical modelling, has been thoroughly characterized by laboratory testing along several stress paths. Tests were aimed at calibrating a constitutive model, that allows considering stiffness nonlinearities in a wide range of strains, in the framework of isotropically hardening plasticity. As a validation, the results of dynamic centrifuge tests on a layer of the same sand were compared with finite element predictions.     

A numerical Round Robin on tunnels under seismic actions

Although the seismic behaviour of shallow circular tunnels in soft ground is generally safer than aboveground structures, some tunnels were recently damaged during earthquakes. In some cases, damage was associated with strong ground shaking and site amplification, which increased the stress level in the tunnel lining. Pseudo-static and simplified dynamic analyses enable to assess transient changes in internal forces during shaking. Nevertheless, experimental evidences of permanent changes in internal loads in the tunnel lining would suggest that a full dynamic analysis including plastic soil behaviour should be performed when modelling the dynamic interaction between the tunnel and the ground. While sophisticated numerical methods can be used to predict seismic internal forces on tunnel structures during earthquakes, the accuracy of their predictions should be validated against field measurements, but the latter are seldom available. A series of centrifuge tests were therefore carried out at the University of Cambridge (UK) on tunnel models in sand, in the framework of a research project funded by the Italian Civil Protection Department. A numerical Round Robin on Tunnel Tests was later promoted among some research groups to predict the observed behaviour by means of numerical modelling. In this paper, the main results of five selected numerical predictions are summarized and compared with the experimental results.     

Liquefaction and cyclic mobility model for saturated granular media

A new constitutive law for the behaviour of undrained sand subjected to dynamic loading is presented. The proposed model works for small and large strain ranges and incorporates contractive and dilative properties of the sand into the unified numerical scheme. These features allow to correctly predict liquefaction and cyclic mobility phenomena for different initial relative densities of the soil. The model has been calibrated as an element test, by using cyclic simple shear data reported in the literature. For the contractive sand behaviour a well‐known endochronic densification model has been used, whereas a plastic model with a new non‐associative flow rule is applied when the sand tends to dilate. Both dilatancy and flow rule are based on a new state parameter, associated to the stiffness degradation of the material as the shaking goes on. Also, the function that represents the rearrangement memory of the soil takes a zero value when the material dilates, in order to easily model the change in the internal structure. Proceeding along this kind of approach, liquefaction and cyclic mobility are modelled with the same constitutive law, within the framework of a bi‐dimensional FEM coupled algorithm developed in the paper. For calibration purposes, the behaviour of the soil in a cyclic simple shear test has been simulated, in order to estimate the influence of permeability, frequency of loading, and homogeneity of the shear stress field on the laboratory data. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Mechanics of a sandy subsoil subjected to cyclic loadings

A simple model for compaction of a sand, that may be useful in various geotechnical applications is presented. The model has been formulated in terms of the cyclic stress and strain amplitudes. The compaction properties of a dry sand are characterized by a common compaction curve described by two coefficients. The second aim of this paper is to show some applications of the theory proposed. The attention has been restricted to the two extreme cases of practical importance, namely to the behaviour of a dry sand (or a saturated sand but in free draining conditions), and to the behaviour of saturated sand in undrained conditions. Some numerical algorithms showing how to deal with those problems are presented and illustrated on the following examples: settlement and pore pressure generation in a soil stratum subjected to an earthquake, settlement of a foundation, pore pressure generation and liquefaction in a sea-bed. The results obtained suggest that the model proposed, as well as a method of dealing with boundary value problems can serve as a useful tool for the analysis of a sandy subsoil subjected to cyclic loadings.     

Finite element simulations of seismic effects on retaining walls with liquefiable backfills

Finite element simulations of two centrifuge tests on the same cantilever retaining wall model holding liquefiable backfill were conducted using the Biot formulation‐based program DIANA–SWANDYNE II. To demonstrate the effects due to different pore fluids in seismic centrifuge experiments, water was used as the pore fluid in one experiment whereas a substitute pore fluid was used in the second experiment. The cantilever wall model parameters were determined by comparing simulations with measurements from free‐vibration tests performed on the model wall without backfill. The initial stress conditions for dynamic analysis for the soil backfill were obtained by simulating static loads on the retaining wall from the soil backfill. Level‐ground centrifuge model results were used to select the parameters of the Pastor–Zienkiewicz mark III constitutive model used in the dynamic simulations of the soil. The effects due to different pore fluids were captured well by the simulations. The magnitudes of excess pore pressures in the soil, lateral thrust and its line of action on the wall, and wall bending strains, deflections, and accelerations were predicted well. Predictions of settlements and accelerations in the backfill were less satisfactory. Relatively high levels of Rayleigh damping were needed to be used in the retaining wall simulations in order to obtain numerically stable results, which is one of the shortcomings of the model. The procedure may be used for engineering purpose dealing with seismic analysis of flexible retaining walls where lateral pressures, bending strains and deflections in the wall are typically of importance. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

非饱和土中圆柱形衬砌隧道的瞬态动力响应

在以往关于圆柱形衬砌隧道的瞬态动力响应中,衬砌周围土体大多假定为弹性介质或饱和介质。然而,自然界中的土体大多为非饱和介质。考虑土体与衬砌结构的动力相互作用及动荷载引起的附加质量密度的影响,研究了瞬态荷载作用下非饱和土中无限长深埋圆柱形衬砌隧道的动力响应。基于多孔介质混合物理论和连续介质力学理论,建立了非饱和土中圆柱形衬砌隧道受到瞬态荷载作用时衬砌及周围土体的控制方程,利用Durbin数值反演法得到了衬砌及土体在时间域的动力响应。数值分析了饱和度对瞬态荷载下径向位移、径向应力、环向应力和孔隙水压力的影响。结果表明：饱和度对衬砌及周围土体的瞬态响应影响显著;饱和度对径向位移沿径向的衰减影响较小,对环向应力和孔隙压力沿径向的衰减影响较大。     

Bayesian model selection for sand with generalization ability evaluation

Current studies have focused on selecting constitutive models using optimization methods or selecting simple formulas or models using Bayesian methods. In contrast, this paper deals with the challenge to propose an effective Bayesian-based selection method for advanced soil models accounting for the soil uncertainty. Four representative critical state-based advanced sand models are chosen as database of constitutive model. Triaxial tests on Hostun sand are selected as training and testing data. The Bayesian method is enhanced based on transitional Markov chain Monte Carlo method, whereby the generalization ability for each model is simultaneously evaluated, for the model selection. The most plausible/suitable model in terms of predictive ability, generalization ability, and model complexity is selected using training data. The performance of the method is then validated by testing data. Finally, a series of drained triaxial tests on Karlsruhe sand is used for further evaluating the performance.     

A unified plasticity model for large post-liquefaction shear deformation of sand

Based on previous experimental findings and theoretical developments, this paper presents the formulation and numerical algorithms of a novel constitutive model for sand with special considerations for cyclic behaviour and accumulation of large post-liquefaction shear deformation. Appropriate formulation for three volumetric strain components enables the model to accurately predict loading and load reversal behaviour of sand, fully capturing the features of cyclic mobility. Compliance with the volumetric compatibility condition, along with reversible and irreversible dilatancy, allows for physically based simulation of the generation and accumulation of shear strain at zero effective stress after initial liquefaction. A state parameter was incorporated for compatibility with critical state soil mechanics, enabling the unified simulation of sand at various densities and confining pressures with a same set of parameters. The determination methods for the 14 model parameters are outlined in the paper. The model was implemented into the open source finite-element framework OpenSees using a cutting-plane stress integration scheme with substepping. The potentials of the model and its numerical implementation were explored via simulations of classical drained and undrained triaxial experiments, undrained cyclic torsional experiments, and a dynamic centrifuge experiment on a single pile in liquefiable soil. The results showed the model’s great capabilities in simulating small to large deformation in the pre- to post-liquefaction regime of sand.     

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.     

Disturbed state model for sand–geosynthetic interfaces and application to pull-out tests

Successful numerical simulation of geosynthetic-reinforced earth structures depends on selecting proper constitutive models for soils, geosynthetics and soil–geosynthetic interfaces. Many constitutive models are available for modelling soils and geosynthetics. However, constitutive models for soil–geosynthetic interfaces which can capture most of the important characteristics of interface response are not readily available. In this paper, an elasto-plastic constitutive model based on the disturbed state concept (DSC) for geosynthetic–soil interfaces has been presented. The proposed model is capable of capturing most of the important characteristics of interface response, such as dilation, hardening and softening. The behaviour of interfaces under the direct shear test has been predicted by the model. The present model has been implemented in the finite element procedure in association with the thin-layer element. Five pull-out tests with two different geogrids have been simulated numerically using FEM. For the calibration of the constitutive models used in FEM, the standard laboratory tests used are: (1) triaxial tests for the sand, (2) direct shear tests for the interfaces and (3) axial tension tests for the geogrids. The results of the finite element simulations of pull-out tests agree well with the test data. The proposed model can be used for the stress-deformation study of geosynthetic-reinforced embankments through numerical simulation. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Employing a variable permeability model in numerical simulation of saturated sand behavior under earthquake loading

Despite advances in the numerical analysis of saturated sand behavior under earthquake loading, accurate prediction of liquefaction-related phenomena by numerical simulation remains a challenge. Variation of the coefficient of permeability is a key issue which has not obtained due attention in most previous modeling. In this study, a revised form of a recently proposed variable permeability function was implemented in a fully coupled dynamic model adopting modern two-surface plasticity constitutive law to evaluate the effects of permeability variations on the results of numerical modeling. The variable permeability model is comprised of a simple function relating the permeability coefficient of soil mass to the excess pore water ratio. In this study, the constants of the variable permeability function were attained based mainly on theoretical evidence and experimental observation. Well-documented centrifuge experiments were examined to evaluate how well the proposed model captures the main features of soil response to earthquake loading. The results indicate that the proposed function greatly enhanced the capability of numerical modeling to predict the behavior of saturated sand under cyclic loading. Particularly, the variable permeability model with proposed constants significantly improved the amount of liquefaction-induced settlement predicted by numerical modeling.     

准饱和土中圆柱形衬砌的瞬态动力响应分析

内源瞬态荷载作用下圆柱形孔洞的动力响应解答是土动力学的经典问题之一。已有研究大都假设孔洞周围土体为理想弹性介质或完全饱和多孔介质。然而,实际工程中不存在完全弹性和完全饱和土体。分别视衬砌结构和周围土体为弹性材料和准饱和多孔介质（饱和度 95%）,根据牛顿第二定律、达西定律和Biot波动理论推导出准饱和土体的控制方程。根据边界条件导出衬砌和土体的位移、应力和孔隙压力的Laplace变换空间的解答。利用反Laplace变换数值计算方法,将解答转换为时域解。分析了饱和度对衬砌位移、应力和孔压的影响,结果表明,当95% 99%时,饱和度对径向位移和切向应力的影响较小;99% 100%时,饱和度对径向位移和切向应力的影响较大;但饱和度对孔隙压力的影响远大于对径向位移和切向应力的影响。得出位移、应力和孔压沿径向的衰减规律,当95% 99%时,饱和度对径向位移和切向应力沿径向衰减影响较小,99% 100%时,饱和度对径向位移和切向应力沿径向衰减影响较大,但饱和度对孔压沿径向的衰减影响远大于对径向位移和切向应力沿径向的衰减。     

爆炸荷载作用下深埋圆形隧洞的饱和黏弹性土-衬砌系统动力响应

假定土骨架服从标准线性固体黏弹性本构关系,研究了深埋圆形隧洞的饱和黏弹性土-弹性衬砌耦合系统在轴对称爆炸作用下的瞬态动力响应。首先,基于饱和土的Biot模型和衬砌的弹性理论,通过引入势函数和Laplace变换,利用弹性衬砌和饱和黏弹性土界面处的连续性条件以及边界条件,得到饱和黏弹性土体和弹性衬砌位移、应力和孔隙水压力等在Laplace变换域中的解析解。其次,利用Laplace数值Crump逆变换得到耦合系统在时间域的动力响应,数值分析了不同土体模型下土体-衬砌耦合系统的径向位移和环向应力以及土体孔隙水压力等。结果表明：对不同土体模型的土体-衬砌耦合系统,其在爆炸载荷作用下的动力响应性态基本一致,但动力响应的振动周期和幅值等具有明显的差异。同时,对于饱和黏弹性土-弹性衬砌系统,土体黏性参数对土体径向位移和孔隙水压力有明显的影响,但对土体环向应力影响较小。     

Application of unconstrained optimization and sensitivity analysis to calibration of a soil constitutive model

Large sets of soil experimental data (field and laboratory) are becoming increasingly available for calibration of soil constitutive models. A challenging task is to calibrate a potentially large number of model parameters to satisfactorily match many data sets simultaneously. This calibration effort can be facilitated by optimization techniques. The current study aims to explore systematic approaches for exercising optimization and sensitivity analysis in the area of soil constitutive modelling. Analytical, semi‐analytical and numerical optimization techniques are employed to calibrate a multi‐surface‐plasticity sand model. Calibration is based on results from a number of drained triaxial sample tests and a dynamic centrifuge liquefaction test. The analytical and semi‐analytical approaches and associated sensitivity analysis are applied to calibrate the model non‐linear shear stress–strain response. Thereafter, model parameters controlling shear–volume coupling effects (dilatancy) are calibrated using a solid–fluid fully coupled finite element program in conjunction with an advanced numerical optimization code. A related sensitivity study reveals the challenges often encountered in optimizing highly non‐linear functions. Overall, this study demonstrates applicability and limitations of optimization techniques for constitutive model calibration. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

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.

     

CASM: a unified state parameter model for clay and sand

The purpose of this paper is to present a simple, unified critical state constitutive model for both clay and sand. The model, called CASM (Clay And Sand Model), is formulated in terms of the state parameter that is defined as the vertical distance between current state (v, p′) and the critical state line in v–ln p′ space. The paper first shows that the standard Cam-clay models (i.e. the original and modified Cam-clay models) can be reformulated in terms of the state parameter. Although the standard Cam-clay models prove to be successful in modelling normally consolidated clays, it is well known that they cannot predict many important features of the behavior of sands and overconsolidated clays. By adopting a general stress ratio-state parameter relation to describe the state boundary surface of soils, it is shown that a simple, unified constitutive model (CASM) can be developed for both clay and sand. It is also demonstrated that the standard Cam-clay yield surfaces can be either recovered or approximated as special cases of the yield locus assumed in CASM. The main feature of the proposed model is that a single set of yield and plastic potential functions has been used to model the behaviour of clay and sand under both drained and undrained loading conditions. In addition, it is shown that the behaviour of overconsolidated clays can also be satisfactorily modelled. Simplicity is a major advantage of the present state parameter model, as only two new material constants need to be introduced when compared with the standard Cam-clay models. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.