Induced fabric under cyclic and rotational loads in a strain space multiple mechanism model for granular materials

The strain space multiple mechanism model idealizes the behavior of granular materials on the basis of a multitude of virtual simple shear mechanisms oriented in arbitrary directions. Within this modeling framework, the virtual simple shear stress is defined as a quantity dependent on the contact distribution function as well as the normal and tangential components of interparticle contact forces, which evolve independently during the loading process. In other terms, the virtual simple shear stress is an intermediate quantity in the upscaling process from the microscopic level (characterized by contact distribution and interparticle contact forces) to the macroscopic stress. The stress space fabric produces macroscopic stress through the tensorial average. Thus, the stress space fabric characterizes the fundamental and higher modes of anisotropy induced in granular materials. Herein, the induced fabric is associated with monotonic and cyclic loadings, loading with the rotation of the principal stress, and general loading. Upon loading with the rotation of the principal stress axis, some of the virtual simple shear mechanisms undergo loading whereas others undergo unloading. This process of fabric evolution is the primary cause of noncoaxiality between the axes of principal stresses and strains. Although cyclic behavior and behavior under the rotation of the principal stress axis seem to originate from two distinct mechanisms, the strain space multiple mechanism model demonstrates that these behaviors are closely related through the hysteretic damping factor. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Macroscale friction of granular soils under monotonic and cyclic loading based upon micromechanical determination of dissipated energy

Macroscopic frictional behavior of granular materials is of great importance for studying several complex problems associated with fault slip and landslides. The main objective of this study is to model the macroscale frictional behavior of granular soils under monotonic and cyclic loadings based upon micromechanical determination of dissipated energy at particle contacts. This study is built on the general observation that the externally computed energy dissipation should be equal to the total internal energy dissipation derived from inter-particle sliding and rolling, energy losses from inter-particle collisions, and damping. For this purpose, the discrete element method is used to model a granular soil and determine the stored, dissipated, and damping energies associated with shear loading for applied monotonic and cyclic velocities. These energies are then related to the friction by an application of the Taylor-critical state power balance relationship. Also, the contributions of the different modes of energy dissipation (normal, shear, and rolling) to the total frictional resistance were studied. By changing the inter-particle friction, the simulations showed that the macroscopic friction was nearly constant, the slip friction increased almost linearly with increasing inter-particle friction, and the difference between the two was attributed to the non-energy dissipating dilatancy component. By providing a clear relationship between energy dissipated by micro-scale mechanisms versus the traditional engineering definition based on macro-scale (continuum) parameters, this study provides a means to develop a better understanding for the frictional behavior of granular media.

     

Investigation on the behavior of frozen silty clay subjected to monotonic and cyclic triaxial loading

This paper aims to assess the characteristics of the deformation and strength behavior of frozen soils at different temperatures under monotonic and cyclic triaxial conditions. The deformation and failure patterns of the specimens change from ductility to brittleness with decreasing temperatures under both monotonic and cyclic loadings. The development of axial strain and stiffness with increasing number of cycles for the soils under cyclic loading is presented and analyzed in detail. A collapse behavior in strength and stiffness is observed in tests of frozen soils at ??5 °C, ??7 °C and ??9 °C. The difference in frictional sliding between the samples with high ductility and those with high brittleness is attributed to the different patterns of deformation and failure. The dynamic modulus is plotted versus axial strain, and the state where the stiffness begins to decrease is employed as the criterion of cyclic failure. The proposed criterion of cyclic failure is verified to be more suitable for frozen soils with high brittleness and seems to be consistent with the peak strength under monotonic loading. Finally, the cyclic stress ratios are plotted against the number of cycles up to this failure criterion, and the effect of temperatures on cyclic strength is evaluated.

     

DEM analysis of the onset of flow deformation of sands: linking monotonic and cyclic undrained behaviours

This study explores the link between the monotonic and cyclic undrained behaviour of sands using the discrete element method (DEM). It is shown that DEM can effectively capture the flow deformation of sands sheared under both monotonic and cyclic undrained loading conditions. When subjected to cyclic shearing, flow-type failure is observed for a loose sample, while cyclic mobility is observed for a dense sample. A strong correlation between the monotonic and cyclic loading behaviour that has been revealed experimentally is also confirmed in DEM simulations: (a) flow deformation occurs in the compressive loading direction when the cyclic stress path intersects the monotonic compression stress path prior to the monotonic extension stress path, and vice versa; (b) the onset of flow deformation in q–\(p^{\prime }\) space is located in the zone bounded by the critical state line and the instability line determined from monotonic simulations. Hill’s condition of instability is shown to be effective to describe the onset of flow failure. Micro-mechanical analyses reveal that flow deformation is initiated when the index of redundancy excluding floating particles drops to below 1.0 under both monotonic and cyclic loading conditions. Flow deformation induced by either monotonic or cyclic loading is characterized by an abrupt change of structural fabric which is highly anisotropic. The reason why the dense sample dilated during monotonic loading but showed cyclic mobility (temporary liquefaction) during cyclic loading is attributed to the repeating reversal of loading direction, which leads to the periodic change of microstructure.     

动载下土工格栅加筋桥台挡墙承载性能分析

为研究加筋土桥台结构在顶部条基动载作用下的动力响应问题,通过MTS伺服加载系统施加循环动载,开展室内加筋桥台挡墙动载破坏试验,对比分析3种格栅长度和3类格栅型式的加筋土挡墙沉降及面板水平位移、土压力、筋材应变等参数的分布规律,揭示加筋桥台挡墙的动力承载性能。试验结果表明：在循环动载下不同格栅长度及型式的加筋桥台挡墙破坏模式存在差异,M、A、B型格栅加筋长度 1.0H（H为挡墙高）的挡墙破坏模式均为冲切剪切破坏,A、B型格栅 0.7H和 0.4H的挡墙破坏模式为局部剪切破坏。加筋桥台挡墙面板侧移随筋材长度增加依次减小,A型格栅加筋土挡墙侧移系数总体上相比B型小。桥台挡墙因加筋格栅长度及型式不同导致动土压力衰减规律差异明显,当 1.0H时M型及A型筋材竖向动土压力衰减系数沿墙高呈抛物线函数模型,当 0.7H时,A型和B型筋材竖向动土压力衰减系数沿墙高皆呈指数函数模型。     

基于分数阶微积分的粗粒料静动力边界面本构模型

分数阶微分理论在土体静力黏弹性本构模型中得到了广泛应用,然而,其在动力弹塑性模型中的应用尚不多见。为此,基于分数阶微积分理论分析了粗粒料在循环荷载下的变形特性,提出了粗粒料在循环荷载下的分数阶应变率;并以此为基础,进一步建立了粗粒料受静动力荷载作用下的边界面塑性力学本构模型。所提出模型包含10个参数,均可以运用常规三轴试验获得。为了验证所提出模型,选取了几种已有不同文献中的不同粗粒料试验数据进行了模拟,发现,所提出的模型可以较好地模拟粗粒料在静动力加载下的应力-应变行为,对于循环荷载下的长期变形也能较好地预测。     

A simplified analysis of interface failure under compressive normal stress and monotonic or cyclic shear loading

Interface damage and delamination is usually accompanied by frictional slip at contacting interfaces under compressive normal stress. The present work is concerned with an analysis of progressive interface failure using the cohesive crack model with the critical stress softening and frictional traction present at the contact. Both monotonic and cyclic loadings are considered for anti‐plane shear of an elastic plate bonded to a rigid substrate by means of cohesive interface. An analytical solution can be obtained by neglecting the effect of minor shear stress component. The analysis of progressive delamination process revealed three solution types, namely: short, medium and long plate solutions. The long plate solution was obtained under an assumption of quasistatic progressive growth of the delamination zone. In view of snap back response, the quasistatic deformation process cannot be executed by either traction or displacement control. The states of frictional slip accompanied by shake down or incremental failure are distinguished in the case of cyclic loading, related to load amplitude and structural dimensions. The analysis provides a reference solution for numerical treatment of more complex cases. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Computation of sliding displacements of seawalls under earthquake conditions

To understand the serviceability aspects of seawalls, it is essential to study the permanent displacements of seawalls that occur during the earthquakes. Studies in the existing literature have concentrated on displacements of retaining walls with dry backfills; to the authors’ observation there is no specific analytical investigation devoted to the earthquake-induced displacements of retaining walls with submerged backfills. This paper focuses on sliding displacements of gravity type seawall retaining a submerged backfill under active earth pressure condition during the earthquakes. The threshold seismic acceleration coefficients required for initiation of sliding and the amount of sliding displacement due to seismic loading are calculated by adopting Newmark’s sliding block method. One of the prime features of the study is the estimation of seismic inertia forces in the submerged soil and wall applying the modified pseudo-dynamic method. The comparison of the results obtained using the proposed analytical formulation with the existing literature found to be in good agreement. A comprehensive parametric study has been conducted to understand the effects of different parameters such as seismic horizontal and vertical acceleration coefficients, soil and wall friction angles, width of the wall, wall inclination and excess pore water pressure ratio.

     

不同频率循环荷载作用下岩石阻尼比试验与变形破坏机制细观分析

通过对取自海南昌江核电厂一期工程主厂区的黑云母花岗岩,在RMT－150B多功能全自动刚性岩石伺服试验机进行单轴不同频率的循环加卸载试验,研究花岗岩动应变-应力滞回曲线、动弹性模量和阻尼比同循环频率之间的规律,然后对破坏断裂断口进行细观电镜扫描试验,分析了不同频率下花岗岩断口细观形貌与结构特征。结果表明,花岗岩在循环荷载作用下的加卸应力-应变曲线并不重合,而是形成一个封闭的滞回环;当循环频率在0.01～1.0 Hz范围内变化时,随着频率增大,花岗岩滞回环面积、动弹模和阻尼比都增大;通过细观数字图像试验分析发现,循环荷载作用下,随着频率的增大,岩石断口细观裂纹总的数目、面积、分形维数均变大。文中给出不同频率循环荷载作用下岩石破裂的细观损伤力学机制,研究成果对海南昌江核电厂的地震反应分析和场地安全性评价有着重要参考价值。     

Discrete modeling of strain accumulation in granular soils under low amplitude cyclic loading

An advanced understanding of the strain accumulation phenomenon in granular soils subjected to low amplitude cyclic loading with relatively high frequency is needed to enhance the ability to predict the settlement of granular soils induced by vibrations. In the current study, the discrete element method is used to study this phenomenon. A loose and a medium dense sample composed of a relatively large number of spheres are considered. A series of stress controlled cyclic triaxial tests with different excitation amplitudes and frequencies is performed on these samples at different static stress states. The response of these samples at the macroscopic and microscopic scales is analyzed. The sample density, the cyclic stress amplitude and the static stress state importantly affect strain accumulation. However, the cyclic excitation frequency has a small effect on strain accumulation. At the microscopic scale, frictional sliding occurring at a few contacts continuously dissipates energy and the fraction of these contacts varies periodically during cyclic loading. The coordination number of these samples increases slightly as strain accumulates. However, the anisotropy remains almost constant during low amplitude cyclic excitation. A qualitatively good agreement between numerical and experimental results is found.     

Behavior of Reinforced Soil Retaining Wall With Limited Fill Zone Paramete

Several experiments are carried out to understand the deformation behavior of reinforced soil retaining wall with limited fill zones under vertical surcharge strip loading. Test set-up along with all the instrumentations is developed to carry out the experiments. Panel displacements and strain distribution along geogrid layers are observed. Effectiveness of the reinforced soil wall is also evaluated using a geogrid material. Finite element analysis is carried out using commercial software PLAXIS version 8 for the above problem without and with anchoring of reinforced soil retaining wall in the limited fill zone. The results are compared and reported in this present paper.     

Seismic Passive Earth Pressure Behind Non Vertical Wall with Composite Failure Mechanism: Pseudo-Dynamic Approach

This note shows a study on the seismic passive earth pressure behind a non-vertical cantilever retaining wall using pseudo-dynamic approach. A composite failure surface comprising of an arc of the logarithmic spiral near the wall and a straight line in the planar shear zone near the ground, has been considered behind the retaining wall. The effects of soil friction angle, wall inclination, wall friction angle, amplification of vibration, horizontal and vertical earthquake acceleration on the passive earth pressure have been explored in this study. The results available in the literature for passive pressure, on the basis of pseudo-static analysis are found to predict the passive resistance on the conservative side and the assumption of a planar failure surface is found to overestimate the passive resistance for higher wall friction. An attempt has been made in the present study to overcome both the limitations simultaneously. The present results are compared with the existing values in the literature and found a reasonable match among the values.     

Macroscopic and microscopic behaviors of granular materials under proportional strain path: a DEM study

Under the proportional strain loading path, particle assemblies may exhibit various failure modes. Besides the strain localization, the diffuse failure may also occur under certain conditions. The diffuse failure mode corresponds to a homogeneous occurrence of failure with stress states strictly included within the plastic limit condition. This paper emphasizes the influences of the density degree and the rolling resistance under the strain path. A contact model considering rolling friction is adopted in a discrete element method analysis as an approximate means to account for the effects of particle shape. Mechanical responses indicate that loose assemblies without the rolling resistance are more vulnerable to static liquefaction. A sample with a smaller initial void ratio or larger rolling friction coefficient will reinforce the stability of the structure and reduce the likelihood of failure. For microscopic properties, the evolution of coordination numbers, contact forces, force chains and the anisotropies of the assemblies are explored and discussed. Rotational resistance helps increase the shear stress of the granular material, and the microscopic parameters indicate that the assembly has a strong anisotropy and a stable structure to resist the increasing loading.     

循环荷载下砂土液化特性颗粒流数值模拟

利用PFC2D常体积循环双轴试验条件,对砂土在不排水循环荷载作用下的液化特性进行了颗粒流数值模拟,数值模拟按等应力幅加荷方式进行。颗粒流数值模拟的优点在于得到试样液化宏观力学表现的同时,通过不同循环加荷时刻试样内细观组构参量（包括配位数、接触法向分布、粒间法向接触力、粒间切向接触力）的演化规律,分析砂土液化过程中细观组构变化与宏观力学响应之间的内在联系,从而可进一步探讨砂土液化的细观力学机制。数值模拟研究结果表明,砂土液化现象在宏观力学表现上反映为超静孔隙水压力的累积上升和平均有效主应力的不断减小,在细观组构上对应于配位数的累积损失和粒间接触力的不断减小。砂土液化细观机制分析表明,试样配位数的减少与循环加荷过程中组构各向异性滞后于应力各向异性有关。     

Advanced numerical modeling of seismic response of a propped r.c. diaphragm wall

The paper presents some results from a number of dynamic FE simulations carried out to investigate the seismic response of a propped flexible retaining wall in a dry coarse-grained soil, considering two bedrock acceleration time histories as seismic input. Two different soil plasticity models have been considered in this study: an anisotropic hardening, critical-state model for cyclic/dynamic loading of sands and the classical Mohr–Coulomb elastic-perfectly plastic model with nonassociative flow rule. The results obtained allow to highlight the main features of the seismic performance of such type of flexible retaining structures and to evaluate the effects of the constitutive assumptions made on soil behavior on the predicted wall displacements and structural loads.     

坡度对碎屑流冲击立式拦挡墙力学特征的影响

由坡度和挡墙倾角的改变造成碎屑流冲击力学模型的改变是目前被忽略的问题。在碎屑流冲击倾式拦挡墙物理试验的基础上,利用离散元数值计算方法研究了坡度对碎屑流冲击立式拦挡墙（墙面与地面的夹角为90°）力学特征的影响,依据死区颗粒堆积特征,流动层颗粒冲击特征以及二者的相互作用特征提出了两种新力学模型：由倾斜冲击挡墙向坡面堆积转变的力学模型和考虑流动层对死区冲切摩擦作用的水平直接冲击力学模型。对不同冲击力学模型进行了验证分析,结果表明：坡度和挡墙倾角改变了死区的堆积特征从而改变了流动层的冲击方向和冲击力大小。当坡度小于40°时,碎屑流流动层首先沿死区上覆面倾斜冲击挡墙,在最大冲击力作用时刻,流动在坡面层状堆积,最大法向冲击合力可按静土压力公式估算。随着坡度的增大,在最大冲击力时刻,流动层颗粒直接冲击挡墙,但由于死区颗粒对流动层颗粒具有摩擦缓冲减速作用,大幅降低了流动层对挡墙的直接冲击力。此时死区对挡墙的作用力主要包括3个部分：流动层沿坡面冲击死区,由死区传递至挡墙的冲击力、流动层对死区的冲切摩擦力以及死区自重的静土压力。死区对挡墙作用力占最大法向冲击合力的比例增大至90%左右。当坡度由40°增大到50°时,在最大法向冲击合力作用时刻,流动层对死区的冲切摩擦力占最大冲击力的比例由15%增大到49%,流动层与死区之间的摩擦系数由滚动摩擦系数转变为静摩擦系数。提出的流动层对死区的冲切摩擦力为碎屑流冲击刚性挡墙力学计算模型提供了新的研究思路。     

Field loading tests of screw micropiles under axial cyclic and monotonic loads

Unlike conventional grouted micropiles, screw micropiles have been recently introduced to the foundation industry. Full-scale field tests of screw micropiles were carried out at a cohesive soil site. The screw micropiles have a diameter varying from 76 to 114 mm and a length varying from 1.6 to 3 m, and spiral threads welded on the lower half of the steel tubular shaft. Site investigation from cone penetration tests (CPT) and laboratory testing implies that the soil was medium to stiff, low plasticity clay. Six axial monotonic and three axial cyclic load tests were performed on three micropiles. One micropile was instrumented with strain gauges to investigate the shaft load distribution during loading. The axial cyclic loading was intended to simulate cyclic inertia load during vertical ground motions. Results showed that the micropiles behave as frictional piles during monotonic tests; the unit shaft resistance and adhesion coefficient were calculated and compared with results in the literature. The end installation torque was estimated using CPT shaft resistance and was shown to agree reasonably with the measured torque. Under axial cyclic loading, the micropiles underwent small cumulative displacements and the magnitude of the displacement decreased with increasing pile length and diameter. Cyclic loading redistributed the load transfer along different segments of the micropile. Negative skin resistance was observed along the smooth pile shaft when the pile underwent decreasing axial loading.

     

Modelling of rutting of two flexible pavements with the shakedown theory and the finite element method

This paper presents a finite element program, for the modelling of rutting of flexible pavements. In its present version, the program incorporates a permanent deformation model for unbound granular materials based on the concept of the shakedown theory developed by Zarka for metallic structures under cyclic loadings and has been used to estimate the permanent deformations of unbound granular materials (UGM) subjected to traffic loading. The calculation is performed in two steps: the first step consists in modelling the resilient behaviour of the pavement in 3D, using non-linear elastic models, to determine the stress field in the pavement. Then stress paths are derived and used to calculate the permanent deformations and the displacements, using a Drucker–Prager yield surface. An application to the prediction of the permanent deformations of experimental pavements with an unbound granular base, tested on the LCPC pavement testing facility is presented.     

Physical evidence of the effect of vertical cyclic loading on soil improvement by rigid piles: a small-scale laboratory experiment using Digital Image Correlation

This paper presents an experimental study focusing on the mechanisms taking place in a granular platform supported by piles in soft soil under vertical cyclic loading. An original three-dimensional laboratory model was developed, with a scale factor of 1/10 on the length. The model contains 20 rigid piles, and the compressible soil is explicitly simulated by a soft material. The case of a thin granular load transfer platform overlaid by a rigid slab is studied. Tests were performed under monotonic or cyclic loading applied on the surface using a pressurized membrane. The analysis is based on a force and displacement sensor instrumentation and application of a Digital Image Correlation technique. The evaluation of the load transfer onto the piles and the settlements in the platform are some of the main points under the scope of this study. The effect of the cyclic loading and the sequence of loading on the structure’s response are examined by a comparative study between the series of cyclic and monotonic tests. Settlement accumulation and increase in the load transmitted to the piles were observed during the cycles. The image analysis gives access to the displacement field within the granular platform, and its evolution during the cycles could be analysed.     

Elastoplastic model with loading memory surfaces (LMS) for monotonic and cyclic behaviour of geomaterials

A new elastoplastic model called loading memory surface based on the critical state concept and the multi‐surface framework is proposed for geomaterials. The model uses a hypoelastic formulation and two plastic mechanisms. The formulations of the model are made in three‐dimensional stress–strain space and work under both monotonic and cyclic loadings. A newly introduced formalism makes it possible to obtain the cyclic response directly from the monotonic loading one. This formalism gives a three‐dimensional generalization of the well‐known Masing rule. The model has been validated against test results of Hostun sand under several conditions: monotonic and cyclic, drained and undrained, tests in compression and in extension, and at different confining pressures and different densities. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.