Performance of microbial-induced carbonate precipitation on wind erosion control of sandy soil

Wind erosion is a serious problem throughout the world which results in soil and environment degradation and air pollution. The main objective of this study was to evaluate feasibility of microbial-induced carbonate precipitation, as a novel soil-strengthening technique, to reduce wind erosion risk of a sandy soil. For this purpose, the erosion of biocemented soil samples was investigated experimentally in a wind tunnel under the condition of wind velocity of 45 km h^?1. The weight loss of treated samples relative to the weight loss of control treatment was 1.29 and 0.16 % for low and high bacterial mix concentrations, respectively, indicating a significant improvement in erosion control in biologically treated samples. The effect of biological treatment on wind erosion control was even superior at the higher velocities. Thereafter, the penetration resistance of the surface layers as a simple index of resistance against wind erosion was measured. Significant improvements in the penetration resistance of the treated soil samples were observed. Although low bacterial mix concentrations did not significantly improve the penetration resistance of the samples, significant improvements in the penetration resistance of the treated soil samples were observed reaching to the highest measured strength (56 kPa) in high bacterial mix concentrations samples. Finally, the morphology of precipitated CaCO₃ crystals using scanning electron microscopy and X-ray powder diffraction analysis showed that the CaCO₃ was mainly precipitated as vaterite crystals forming point-to-point contacts between the sand granules.     

Statistical analysis of friction sleeve length effects on soil classification

The cone penetration test (CPT) provides profiles of the tip resistance, sleeve friction, and pore water pressure encountered while penetrating the subsurface. These parameters are used either directly or indirectly to classify the soil types present and to obtain geotechnical design parameters. However, fundamental discrepancies exist in the manner by which these parameters are measured. This paper describes the results of a study that shows the sleeve friction measurement introduces unnecessary redundancy due to the length of the standard friction sleeve compared to the measurement increment. Further, the high sleeve length to measurement increment ratio results in filtering and smoothing of the friction data, thereby causing the variability of the friction between the soil and the cone sleeve to be underestimated. The importance of understanding the role of the sleeve length on measurements is demonstrated using synthetically generated friction profiles and estimating the profiles that would be measured using sleeves of different lengths. Differences in how the soils are classified as a function of the sleeve length used to obtain each profile are illustrated. Solutions are presented to validate the synthetic sleeve friction profiles, to demonstrate the filtering and smoothing effects of the friction sleeve on the data, and to explain the implications of the sleeve length on soil classification. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

砂土中筒型基础沉放过程渗流特性和沉贯阻力研究

筒型基础的沉放是一项关键施工过程,沉放时土体在施工负压下产生渗流场,而渗流对基础筒壁的侧摩阻力和端阻力产生影响,导致沉贯阻力难以预测。针对这一问题,首先应用试验和数值模拟的方法,对筒型基础沉贯过程中的渗流特性进行分析,揭示筒壁两侧及筒端土体超孔隙水压力的分布;然后将分析结果应用于沉贯阻力的推导中,并对推导的公式进行验证。研究表明：筒型基础沉贯过程中,筒壁两侧土体的超孔隙水压力沿筒壁深度几乎呈线性变化,在接近筒端时出现非线性变化;不同的沉贯深度下,渗流对沉贯阻力的影响不同,随着沉贯深度的增加,减小的阻力占总沉贯阻力的比值越来越大;通过推导的理论公式计算的试验模型和实际工程的沉贯负压理论计算值与实测值吻合较好。     

Arbitrary Lagrangian Eulerian based finite element analysis of cone penetration in soft clay

This paper presents a numerical model for the analysis of cone penetration in soft clay based on the finite element method. The constitutive behaviour of the soil is modelled by modifying an elastic, perfectly-plastic soil model obeying Von-Mises yield criterion to take into account the strain-softening, rate dependent behaviour of soft clay. Since this is a problem involving large soil deformations, the analysis is carried out using an Arbitrary Lagrangian Eulerian method where the quality of the mesh is preserved during penetration. The variation of cone resistance is examined with various parameters such as rigidity index of the soil, in situ stress anisotropy and roughness at the cone–soil interface, which influence the penetration resistance of the cone. A theoretical correlation has been developed incorporating these parameters and the results have been compared with previous correlations based on the cavity expansion theory, finite element method and strain path method. With the increase in strain-softening, relative brittleness of the soil increases and the penetration resistance is significantly reduced. With the rising strain-rate dependency, penetration resistance increases but this increase is independent of the degree of brittleness of the soil.     

岩土工程最小勘探数据量确定方法

准确地确定岩土设计参数统计特征值诸如均值、标准差是岩土工程可靠度分析与设计的重要前提。在满足岩土设计参数统计特征值计算精度条件下,文中提出了岩土工程最小勘探数据量的确定方法,定义了相对误差和相对变异性指标衡量岩土设计参数统计特征值计算准确性。系统地分析了静力触探试验数据量对砂土有效内摩擦角统计特征值计算精度的影响,并且根据相对误差和相对变异性指标确定了静力触探最小勘探数据量。研究结果表明,由静力触探试验间接估计砂土有效内摩擦角时均值相对误差较低,砂土有效内摩擦角相对变异性指标随静力触探试验数据量的增加而降低,即由认知不足引起的不确定性占总变异性的比值随静力触探试验数据量的增加而减小;当砂土有效内摩擦角容许相对变异性指标小于0.2时砂土有效内摩擦角在最大变异（COV=20%）与最小变异性（COV=5%）范围内,满足预定要求所需的最小静力触探试验数据量为10～100;若容许相对变异性指标小于0.3,所需的最小静力触探试验数据量为5～43。此外,间接估计岩土设计参数时经验回归模型不确定性对最小勘探数据量有显著影响。静力触探试验最小勘探数据量随经验回归模型不确定性的增大而增加,在确定岩土设计参数统计特征值时应尽量广泛收集勘探数据并选择精度较高的计算模型。     

吸力式筒形基础沉贯过程的大变形有限元模拟

吸力式筒形基础在海洋工程中已获得越来越广泛地应用,其安装过程的数值模拟对指导工程实践具有重要意义。在大型通用有限元软件ABAQUS平台上建立了二维轴对称模型,基于ALE（任意拉格朗日-欧拉法）技术模拟了黏土中吸力筒的大变形沉贯过程。模拟过程利用了子程序VUFIELD控制土体的不排水抗剪强度和弹性模量随土体深度变化。参照离心机试验及理论计算,对模型进行验证。利用已验证模型分析不同吸力下沉贯阻力、土塞高度,并讨论了筒壁摩擦特性。数值计算结果表明,ALE技术能有效地模拟吸力筒贯入过程,避免网格畸变。贯入方式对贯入阻力影响很大,吸力式贯入阻力明显低于压力式贯入阻力。进一步研究发现,随着最终吸力值的增大,沉贯阻力会显著降低,土塞高度会显著提高。对内壁摩擦特性的研究表明,内壁摩擦阻力是导致沉贯阻力改变的主要因素,并且相比吸力式贯入方式,筒壁摩擦特性会对压力式贯入造成更大的影响。     

On the mechanics of dynamic penetration tests

This paper describes a numerical model developed to simulate the wave propagation in an elastic media that is applied to in situ dynamic penetration test devices currently used for site characterization. In the model, dynamic equilibrium equations are solved by finite difference analysis in the time domain to produce the discretization of a penetration system – including hammer, rod, penetrometer (or sampler) and soil. In standard penetration tests numerical simulations are shown to agree well with energy measurements derived from force and acceleration signals produced by the impact of a hammer. A parametric study allowed the identification of the relevant factors affecting penetration by demonstrating that the energy effectively delivered to the soil is a function of hammer height of fall and weight of both hammer and rods, as well as the permanent penetration of the penetrometer into the ground produced by a single stroke. Based on these evidences, an approach is suggested to compare results from different dynamic penetration tests without the need to rely on empirical correlations, which is achieved by demonstrating that different equipments should yield the same normalized energy once the influence of both the hammer and rod potential energies are properly considered.     

砂土地层泥水盾构开挖面孔隙变化特征理论研究

为保证开挖面的稳定,泥水盾构压力舱中的泥浆必须及时在开挖面土体表层形成泥膜,泥浆压力才能有效平衡地层中的水土压力。在考虑泥浆渗滤效应的基础上,建立了砂土地层泥水盾构开挖面泥浆恒压渗透模型,分析了渗透时间、泥浆浓度、泥浆压力和地层初始孔隙率对土体孔隙率及泥浆成膜的影响。结合刀具周期性切削作用,总结了泥浆反复渗透引起的开挖面表层土体孔隙率变化规律。基于刀盘、刀具布置形式和盾构掘进参数,分析了盾构掘进期间开挖面支护机制。结果表明：在无刀具切削作用时,泥浆渗透规律主要受到泥浆和地层特性影响;在刀具周期性切削作用下,在相同的切削深度下,刀具切削周期越短,泥膜在开挖面上越难形成;刀具较小的纵向切入速度有利于开挖面上更快形成泥膜;适当减少刀盘上同一轨迹刀具布置数量,降低盾构掘进速度和刀盘转动速度,有利于盾构掘进期间开挖面上泥膜存在面积的增大,对开挖面稳定起到积极作用。     

Remote sensing and ground-based observations for nowcasting the category of thunderstorms based on peak wind speed over an urban station of India

Thunderstorms are the recurrent features of India and are responsible for the redistribution of excess heat and moisture in the atmosphere. However, the thunderstorms that occur over the urban station Kolkata (22°34′N, 88°22′E), India, during the pre-monsoon months of April and May are extremely devastating while accompanied with high wind speed, lightning flashes, torrential rain and occasional hail and tornadoes. The development and verification of a model output are described in this study. The system consists of multiple linear regression (MLR) equations, and the purpose is to nowcast the categories of thunderstorms over Kolkata, both ordinary (wind speed <65 km h^?1) and severe (wind speed ≥65 km h^?1) as per the warning provided by the India Meteorological Department for the prevalence of thunderstorms. The MODIS terra/aqua satellite data of cloud parameters, ground-based Radiosonde/Rawinsonde upper air observations and records of wind speed accompanied with thunderstorms over Kolkata are considered for the study. The MLR models are formulated with the cloud parameters as input and the target output being the peak wind speed associated with the pre-monsoon thunderstorms. The MLR model is trained with the data and records from 2002 to 2009, and the results are validated with the observations of 2010 and 2011. The results reveal that the accuracy in nowcasting the ordinary and severe categories of thunderstorms during the pre-monsoon season over Kolkata with MLR models are 94.26 and 91.29 %, respectively, with lead time <12 h.     

Estimating spatial correlation structures based on CPT data

Spatial correlation structures are usually used while modelling inherent uncertainty associated with soil properties. To retrieve this information a sufficient number of measurements and equal intervals between measurements or samples are always required. However, in practice, it is not usual to conduct site investigation in that way subject to a limited budget. Therefore, it is of interest to understand the possible bias created by using samples with unequal intervals. This research focuses on estimating the vertical spatial correlation structures of cone penetration tests (CPT) data conducted at a liquefaction site in Taiwan. The appropriate fitting range used in calibrating the correlation model is also discussed. The results show that cone tip resistance has larger correlation distances than that of sleeve friction. The estimated correlation distances of the CPT profiles are similar while using an equal sampling interval within a certain fitting range (denoted as the critical interval of measurements in this research). The results indicate that the effect of using different curve-fitting ranges is relatively insignificant for correlation distances of sleeve friction, whereas the correlation distances of cone tip resistance are more sensitive to different curve-fitting ranges. Moreover, the mean values of correlation distances are more constant for the equal sampling interval cases than for the unequal interval cases.     

A Novel Methodology to Classify Soil Liquefaction Using Deep Learning

In this research, deep learning (DL) model is proposed to classify the soil reliability for liquefaction. The applicability of the DL model is tested in comparison with emotional backpropagation neural network (EmBP). The database encompassing cone penetration test of Chi–Chi earthquake. This study uses cone resistance (q_c) and peck ground acceleration as inputs for prediction of liquefaction susceptibility of soil. The performance of developed models has been assessed by using various parameters (receiver operating characteristic, sensitivity, specificity, Phi correlation coefficient, Precision–Recall F measure). The performance of DL is excellent. Consistent results obtained from the proposed deep learning model, compared to the EmBP, indicate the robustness of the methodology used in this study. In addition, both the developed model was also tested on global earthquake data. During validation on global data, both the models shows good results based on fitness parameters. The developed classification models a simple, but also efficient decision-making tool in engineering design to quantitatively assess the liquefaction potential. The finding of this paper can be further used to capture the relationship between soil and earthquake parameters.

     

Performance of a compaction-grouted soil nail in laboratory tests

This study proposed a new soil nail known as the compaction-grouted soil nail, and a physical model was established to investigate its pull-out behaviour with different grouting pressures. The study on scale effect of the physical model was performed subsequently via numerical modelling. Additionally, interface shear tests were performed using the same boundary conditions as the physical model test. The strength parameters obtained were used to estimate the pull-out resistance of a conventional soil nail. The merits of these two soil nail types were compared based on their pull-out resistances. The physical model test results showed that the pull-out resistance of the compaction-grouted soil nail increases with increasing grouting pressure. In addition, the pull-out resistance exhibits hardening behaviour without a yield point, indicating that the compaction-grouted soil nail enables soils to remain stable against a relatively large deformation before ultimate failure. Furthermore, a higher grouting pressure results in a higher rate of increase for pull-out resistance versus pull-out displacement, which improves the performance of the compaction-grouted soil nail in the stabilization of large deformation problems. A comparison of the two types of soil nails suggests that the new compaction-grouted soil nail is more sensitive to grouting pressure than the conventional soil nail in terms of pull-out resistance improvement. In other words, the performance (pull-out resistance) of the compaction-grouted soil nail can be markedly improved by increasing the grouting pressure without inducing any accidental or undesired cracking or soil displacement.

     

钻井船插桩CEL数值模拟中的若干问题分析

依据模拟钻井船在不同场地条件下贯入阻力的离心模型试验结果及具体工程实例,对利用耦合欧拉-拉格朗日（CEL）有限元方法模拟钻井船在黏土、砂土、黏土下覆砂土、砂土下覆黏土及成层土场地插桩过程时,影响贯入阻力计算结果的几个因素进行了研究。结果表明,对于不同土层场地条件,有限元模型中欧拉区域范围对贯入阻力几乎没有影响。为确保CEL数值结果的精度,有限元建模时靠近桩靴部分设置为细网格区域,以外区域设置为粗网格区域;对于不同土层场地条件,减小细网格尺寸及增大细网格范围可以减小贯入阻力的振荡情况;经比较总结,细网格尺寸建议取0.05倍桩靴直径,细网格范围建议取2倍桩靴直径。采用位移控制模拟钻井船插桩时,桩靴贯入速率对黏土场地的贯入阻力影响较小,对砂土下覆黏土场地的贯入阻力影响很大,对一般成层土场地的贯入阻力有一定影响。经比较总结,建议在研究钻井船在不同土层场地的计算贯入阻力时,有限元模型的桩靴贯入速率取0.2 m/s。     

深厚软土地基上充灌袋围埝下沉计算研究

采用大型充灌袋在深厚软土地基上建造围埝具有节约材料、降低造价、方便施工等优势,因此,在围海造陆中得到了广泛地应用。软弱地基由于承载力不足,且常处于流塑状态,故充灌袋围埝建造时会挤出淤泥而沉入软土中。随着下沉深度增加,围埝两侧的边载也随之增加,围埝基底也逐渐落在承载力较高的土层上,当围埝的重量与地基承载力相等时,围埝停止下沉,达到极限平衡状态。确定围埝达到设计标高时的下沉深度和充灌袋的用量是充灌袋围埝设计的核心问题。利用土体极限平衡理论并考虑隆起淤泥对承载力的影响,推导出充灌袋围埝挤淤深度的计算公式,并通过挤淤的模型试验和现场工程的监测数据来验证公式的合理性和适用性。此研究成果可供充灌袋围埝挤淤深度的设计及相关工程以参考。     

层状地基静压桩贯入过程机理试验

通过在多层软粘土地基中静力压入单桩的室内模型试验,对模型桩在整个沉桩过程中压桩力、桩动端阻力及桩动侧阻力随桩贯入深度的变化情况进行了研究,获得了桩在贯入不同土层分界面时阻力的变化规律以及桩周土体应力的分布特征。并对开口管桩和闭口管桩贯入试验情况进行了比较分析,揭示了不同桩端形式桩在贯入过程中桩动侧摩阻力的发展规律,以及分层土体中开口管桩贯入过程中土塞的变化情况。试验结果表明：在粘性土中沉桩时,压桩阻力主要来自桩端向下穿越土体产生的端阻力,而侧摩阻力较小;由于桩侧水平应力的释放使得同一深度点上的动摩阻力随着桩的下沉表现出不同程度的降低,出现摩擦疲劳。     

Comparison of the load response of closed-ended and open-ended pipe piles driven in gravelly sand

Slow-maintained static load tests were performed on closed-ended and open-ended steel pipe piles driven side by side in a gravelly sand soil profile. The site investigation consisted of multiple cone penetration tests (CPTs) and standard penetration tests (SPTs), as well as laboratory tests on soil samples collected at various depths from the test site to determine basic soil properties. The test piles were densely instrumented with a combination of electrical-resistance and vibrating-wire strain gauges. The open-ended test pile was a specially fabricated double-wall, fully-instrumented pile, allowing for separation of the measurements of the inner and outer shaft resistances. Detailed comparison of the load test results, in terms of driving resistance, load response and profiles of unit shaft and base resistances for the two test piles, is presented and discussed. The applicability of three CPT-based pile design methods is assessed through a layer-by-layer comparison of the estimated resistances with those measured in the static load tests.

     

一种静力触探模型箱试验装置的研制及其试验研究

设计了一套静力触探模型箱试验装置,该装置可以在模型箱水平面内任意位置进行贯入试验,贯入速率在一定范围可控,贯入倾角可调节。将该装置用于TJ-1模拟月壤静力触探力学特性的研究,试验结果表明：地基表层模拟月壤发生刺入剪切破坏;贯入阻力随贯入深度的增加而增加;探杆周围同一深度处土体的水平土压力表现出轴对称特征,其值在探头靠近土压力盒过程中逐渐增大至最大值,后随探头远离土压力盒又逐渐减小至0,且不同深度土体水平土压力峰值随贯入深度增加而增大;贯入点正下方土体的垂直土压力随贯入深度的增加而增加,主要影响范围约为距探头200 mm处。基于以上试验研究,表明该模型箱的设计是合理的,且TJ-1模拟月壤力学特性的研究成果能够为将来涉及到TJ-1模拟月壤的航天试验提供必要的技术参考。     

Soil compaction under different management practices in a Croatian vineyard

The use of machinery in vineyards is increasing soil compaction and erosion. However, there is a lack of information about the impacts of different management practices on soil conditions of vineyards. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess soil compaction in Croatian vineyards under four different management systems: no-tillage (NT) system, conventional tillage (CT), yearly inversed grass covered (INV-GC) and tillage managed (INV-T) treatments. Four key top-soil (0–20 cm) parameters were assessed in the different land uses: bulk density (BD), penetration resistance (PR), soil water content (SWC) and carbon dioxide (CO₂) fluxes. Tractor traffic increased the BD and PR in all treatments, with exception of CT treatment, as consequence of tillage. SWC showed higher values in INV-GC treatment during the dry period; meanwhile, it was similar during the wet season in every management type. Lower CO₂ fluxes were found in INV-GC and NT than in the CT and INV-T treatments.     

Determination of efficiency of Vaseline slide and Wilson and Cooke sediment traps by wind tunnel experiments

The trap efficiency of a catcher in wind erosion measurements plays a significant role, and in many cases suspension trap efficiencies at high wind velocities are still unknown. The sediment trap efficiency generally changes with particles size and with wind speed. In this study, the efficiency of Vaseline Slide (VS) and Modified Wilson and Cooke (MWAC) catchers were determined with different sand particle sizes (<50, <75, 50–75, 200–400, and 400–500 μm) at a fixed wind speed (13.3 ms⁻¹) and with different soil textures at different wind velocities (10.3, 12.3, and 14.3 ms⁻¹) in the wind tunnel of the International Center for Eremology (ICE), Ghent University, Belgium. The traps were placed at different heights (4, 6.5, 13, 20, 120, and 192 cm for VS and 1.5, 3, 5, 8, 11, and 30 cm for MWAC) to catch saltating and suspended sediments in a 12-m long, 1.2-m wide and 3.2-m high working section of the wind tunnel. In the sand particle experiments, the efficiency of the VS catcher was 92% for particles smaller than 50 μm and decreased with increasing particles size, falling to 2.2% for 400–500 μm particle size at 13.4 ms⁻¹. However, the MWAC’s efficiency was 0% for particles smaller than 50 μm and increased with increasing particle size to 69.5% at 400–500 μm. In the experiments with different soil textures, the efficiency of each catcher significantly changed with soil and with wind speed. It also considerably varied with the catchers: for instance, for sand (S), the MWAC efficiency was very high (67.4, 113.4, and 90.5% at 10.3, 12.3, and 14.4 ms⁻¹, respectively) while the efficiency of VS was relatively very low (5.2, 4.4, and 1.9% at 10.3, 12.3, and 14.4 ms⁻¹, respectively). Results indicated that the efficiency depends critically on the particle size, type of catcher, and wind speed, and these could be helpful to increase the robustness of wind erosion measurements.