A pneumatic shaking table and its application to a liquefaction test on saturated sand

The shaking tables that are used in earthquake engineering are normally driven by hydraulic actuators, which require high maintenance and operation costs. In some studies, when it is only desirable to conduct small-scaled model tests, a pneumatic shaking table can be considered as an alternative to a hydraulic shaking table. This paper describes the design, development, calibration, and performance of a pneumatic shaking table system. It was proved that the pneumatic shaking table can offer satisfactory performances. Using the pneumatic shaking table, a liquefaction test on saturated sand was conducted. During liquefaction, both the stiffness and acceleration response of the ground greatly decreased. In comparison to the sharp increase in excess pore water pressure (EPWP) when liquefaction started, the dissipation process lasted for a much longer time period.     

土工袋垫层抗液化性能振动台试验研究

土工袋能够有效地约束袋内土体,具有良好的滤水保土作用,可以用于地基抗液化,但土工袋抗液化性能尚未有系统及深入的研究。开展了一系列小振动台试验,验证土工袋垫层的抗液化效果,研究了振动加速度、土工袋层数和排列方式对抗液化性能的影响。结果表明：土工袋具有良好的抗液化效果,袋内土体的超静孔压比小于同深度处周围的土体;土工袋垫层的排水性能是在土工袋本身具有良好透水性的基础上,孔隙水会沿着土工袋与土体的界面以及袋间的空隙排出;相较于不透水刚性垫层,振动过程中土工袋垫层表面基本保持水平,发挥出较好的变形协调性;土工袋层数增加及交错式排列对抗液化效果有利。     

Centrifuge shaking table tests on 4 × 4 pile groups in liquefiable ground

A series of centrifuge shaking table model tests are conducted on 4?×?4 pile groups in liquefiable ground in this study, achieving horizontal–vertical bidirectional shaking in centrifuge tests on piles for the first time. The dynamic distribution of forces on piles within the pile groups is analysed, showing the internal piles to be subjected to greater bending moment compared with external piles, the mechanism of which is discussed. The roles of superstructure–pile inertial interaction and soil–pile kinematic interaction in the seismic response of the piles within the pile groups are investigated through cross-correlation analysis between pile bending moment, soil displacement, and structure acceleration time histories and by comparing the test results on pile groups with and without superstructures. Soil–pile kinematic interaction is shown to have a dominant effect on the seismic response of pile groups in liquefiable ground. Comparison of the pile response in two tests with and without vertical input ground motion shows that the vertical ground motion does not significantly influence the pile bending moment in liquefiable ground, as the dynamic vertical total stress increment is mainly carried by the excess pore water pressure. The influence of previous liquefaction history during a sequence of seismic events is also analysed, suggesting that liquefaction history could in certain cases lead to an increase in liquefaction susceptibility of sand and also an increase in dynamic forces on the piles.     

排水刚性桩群桩抗液化性能的振动台试验研究

排水刚性桩是一种将竖向排水体与刚性桩相结合的新型抗液化处理措施。为研究排水刚性桩群桩的抗液化作用效果,开展了桩顶竖向荷载作用下排水刚性桩处理可液化地基的振动台试验研究,分析了地基土体的超孔压响应、加速度响应及桩顶结构的水平位移响应,并与未设置排水体的普通桩群桩工况进行对比。结果表明：加载开始后,排水桩桩身排水通道有大量超孔隙水排出,普通桩桩身没有排水现象。采用排水桩时超孔压比峰值比普通桩中减小12%,孔压消散稳定后超孔压比减小13%左右,排水桩桩身的排水通道对超孔压的消散作用集中在振动作用的前期。排水桩桩顶的侧向永久位移较普通桩桩顶侧向永久位移减小约27%。试样土体液化前,剪应力-应变滞回圈包络面积较大,土体呈现一定的剪胀特性。液化后,排水桩的剪应力-应变滞回圈的割线模量更大。上述试验结果均表明了排水刚性桩在抗液化方面的有效作用。     

基于现场液化试验的饱和砂土孔压增量计算模型

采用现场液化试验,研究水平场地孔压增长模式,提出孔压增量计算模型。通过不同密实度砂土的液化试验,以加速度、埋深、砂土密实度等现场参数为指标构建孔压增量模型,发现现场和室内试验孔压增长模式的区别和联系,并验证该孔压模型的可靠性。研究结果表明：等幅循环荷载下,与现有动三轴等土单元试验的孔压增量随作用次数一直呈单调递减模式不同,现场试验孔压增量随作用次数呈现出先增大后减小的规律,中间存在阈值;通过参数分析和试验实例验证,构建的孔压增量计算模型,可更方便地用于随机荷载下水平场地的饱和砂土孔压计算。     

近远场地震动作用下地铁车站结构地基液化效应的振动台试验

开展了近场和远场地震动作用下3跨3层地铁车站结构地基液化效应的振动台模型试验,测试了地铁车站结构的加速度、应变、水平位移反应和地基土孔隙水压力、加速度、震陷及其作用于模型结构侧墙的动土压力反应。分析和总结了地铁车站结构地基液化效应特征,结果表明：模型结构对其周围地基土孔隙水压力场的分布有明显影响,结构两侧和底部地基土中的孔压峰值小于相同深度离结构较远地基土中的孔压峰值;地基土中孔压的消散速度自下而上呈逐渐减慢的趋势;地震动作用过程中,模型结构产生向上的相对运动,强地震动作用时模型结构上浮现象明显;模型结构侧墙受到的动土压力随深度增大而减小,输入地震动特性对动土压力的大小有显著影响。     

液化土层中桩基水平承载特性分析

通过桩土相互作用的振动台模型试验,获得了不同相对密度的砂土在振动液化过程中桩身弯矩随土层振动累积孔压的变化关系。进而通过拟静力方法,确定了土层液化过程中的衰化p-y曲线,并计算出桩身弯矩的分布。计算结果与实测结果的比较分析表明：若土层的振动累积孔压比ru≤比≤0.2时,桩的水平承载能力没有明显降低。当土层的振动累积孔压比ru≥0.8时,若土层的相对密度Dr≤40 %,桩的水平承载能力降低90 %;若土层的相对密度Dr≥50 %,桩的水平承载能力降低75 %。     

液化土层地震动模拟计算方法及验证

针对目前土层反应分析方法难以模拟液化土层地震动时程的缺欠,在工程力学研究所原有有效应力分析程序基础上提出了一个改进的计算方法并进行了验证。改进方法中,通过每个应力循环模拟土的非线性进程以及液化导致的土刚度衰减过程,并引入了新建立的适于非均等固结随机地震荷载作用下的孔压增长模型。将计算方法与实际地震记录及大型振动台实验结果进行了对比,结果表明：在峰值加速度、液化后波形变化、时频曲线及加速度反应谱等主要特征上,计算结果均与现场实际记录及振动台实验基本一致;在液化引起地震动特征变化上,计算出的液化较非液化土层加速度反应谱的增量与实验结果一致。说明所提出的改进方法可以用于液化土层地震动的模拟。     

液化自由场地震响应大型振动台模型试验分析

开展了含上部黏土层、饱和砂土层、密实砂土层的可液化自由场地在水平地震动激励下的大型振动台模型试验研究,分析了地震动激励时饱和砂土液化后场地加速度、位移、孔压比时空响应等动力响应。试验结果表明：在小震激励时,场地动力反应较小,加速度反应自下而上不断放大,各深度处孔压比均较小,模型地基整体处于弹性反应阶段;0.3g汶川地震卧龙台地震记录输入时,孔压积累迅速,可液化土体最上部土层孔压比达到1,饱和土体液化,模型地基表现出明显的非线性反应特征,加速度反应在饱和砂土层中未有明显放大,土体卓越周期对应的反应加速度自下而上有不断增大趋势。该研究是土-群桩-上部结构体系大型振动台系列试验中可液化自由场动力反应部分,可供今后做对比分析和验证数值模拟参考。     

Dynamic liquefaction of shear zones in intact loess during simulated earthquake loading

The 2010–2011 Canterbury earthquake sequence in New Zealand exposed loess-mantled slopes in the area to very high levels of seismic excitation (locally measured as >2?g). Few loess slopes showed permanent local downslope deformation, and most of these showed only limited accumulated displacement. A series of innovative dynamic back-pressured shear box tests were undertaken on intact and remoulded loess samples collected from one of the recently active slopes replicating field conditions under different simplified horizontal seismic excitations. During each test, the strength reduction and excess pore water pressures generated were measured as the sample failed. Test results suggest that although dynamic liquefaction could have occurred, a key factor was likely to have been that the loess was largely unsaturated at the times of the large earthquake events. The failure of intact loess samples in the tests was complex and variable due to the highly variable geotechnical characteristics of the material. Some loess samples failed rapidly as a result of dynamic liquefaction as seismic excitation generated an increase in pore water pressure, triggering rapid loss of strength and, thus, of shear resistance. Following initial failure, pore pressure dissipated with continued seismic excitation and the sample consolidated, resulting in partial shear strength recovery. Once excess pore water pressures had dissipated, deformation continued in a critical effective stress state with no further change in volume. Remoulded and weaker samples, however, did not liquefy and instead immediately reduced in volume with an accompanying slower and more sustained increase in pore pressure as the sample consolidated. Thereafter, excess pressures dissipated and deformation continued at a critical state. The complex behaviour explained why, despite exceptionally strong ground shaking, there was only limited displacement and lack of run-out: dynamic liquefaction was unlikely to occur in the freely draining slopes. Dynamic liquefaction, however, remained a plausible mechanism to explain loess failure in some of the low-angle toe slopes, where a permanent water table was present in the loess.     

地震历史对砂土抗液化性能影响的试验研究

为探讨地震历史对饱和砂土抗液化性能的影响,通过离心机动力模型试验,观测了遭受过不同强度地震的饱和砂土水平场地在再次地震荷载作用下的响应,包括超静孔隙水压力的发展和土体的变形。研究表明,小地震有利于增强砂土颗粒之间的咬合及结构的稳定性,极大地提高了其抗液化能力,而遭受强地震并且发生液化的砂土,由于在沉积过程中形成的不稳定结构,则可能在将来强度相对较小的地震中再次液化。试验结果说明了地震历史对砂土液化性能有重大影响及进一步开展砂土细观结构研究的重要性。     

液化土层上建筑物倾斜计算要点初步分析

地震中饱和砂土地基液化会引起结构物倾斜并导致其功能丧失,但目前缺乏相应的数值模拟方法。通过振动台简单模型试验,寻找输入波-基底竖向动应力-基底孔压-结构震陷之间的关系,提出发展液化土层上建筑物倾斜数值模拟方法所需要考虑的要点和应满足的条件。结果表明：（1）分析方法中孔压增长模型应适于不规则波计算,能准确地计算出孔压增长过程,准确地计算出峰值一样但不同波形下孔压增长的差别;（2）孔压增长模型应能反映土的各向异性特性对孔压增长的影响,能合理地计算出拉、压不同应力作用下孔压增长的差异;（3）孔压增长模型应能反映非均等固结条件对孔压增长过程的影响,能合理地计算出结构底部不同固结比土体中孔压增长过程;（4）分析方法中土体变形的计算应能跟踪液化过程中的变形发展,且具备大变形计算能力。     

Effects of Non-Plastic Silts on Liquefaction Potential of Solani Sand

Loose saturated cohesionless soils are most susceptible to liquefaction, however there are strong historical evidence suggesting that soils containing fines such as silty sands are also prone to liquefaction during earthquakes. The liquefaction of silty sands has been observed in a number of recent case studies. This paper presents the effects of fine silts on liquefaction potential of sandy soil. Tests have been conducted on the vibration table at different accelerations and pore water pressure is measured. During the lab investigation, locally (Roorkee, India) available Solani Sand and Dhanauri Silt have been used. The soil samples have been prepared by varying silt content and the initial relative density. The results of the study performed are used to clarify the effects of non-plastic fines content on the Solani sand. As the silt content increases, the number of cycles required to produce maximum pore water pressure increases. For a particular level of excitation, rate of pore water pressure generation is maximum at critical silt content. It is observed that critical silt content to generate maximum pore water pressure is different for different accelerations. Further, effect of silt content is very much dependent on relative density.     

Shake Table Tests and Numerical Modeling of Liquefaction of Kasai River Sand

As a part of the seismic safety evaluation of several bridges and other hydraulic structures located on Kasai River bed in India, the liquefaction potential of Kasai River sand is studied in 1-g shake table in laboratory and numerically using a commercial software FLAC 2D. The surface settlement, lateral spreading, predominant frequency, amplification of the ground motion and pore water pressure development in Kasai River sand in dry and liquefied states have been studied when subjected to sinusoidal motions of amplitude 0.35 g at a frequency of 2 Hz. The nonlinear curves used to represent shear strain dependency of stiffness and damping ratio of Kasai River sand are obtained from cyclic triaxial tests. Reasonably good agreement between the experimental and the numerical results is observed. It is found that the settlement and lateral spreading for the liquefied sand is 2.60 and 2.50 times than those of the sand in the dry state. The volumetric strain of the liquefied sand is found to be around 4%, which is significantly higher than 1.53% observed in the dry sand. It is observed that the amplification of the peak ground acceleration for the saturated sand is 1.08 and 1.32 times higher than that for the dry sand from theoretical and experimental results, respectively. The shear strain developed in the liquefied sand is 1.17 times more than that for dry sand. The fundamental and higher modal frequencies of dry sand are found to be 1.13, 1.117 and 1.119 times more than those for the saturated sand, respectively.     

小型土石坝加密抗液化离心机振动台试验研究

地震作用下土石坝液化易导致坝坡失稳滑移等严重后果,加密法是常用的抗液化手段之一。针对坝趾压重与坝壳翻压两种坝身加密加固方法,开展了离心机振动台试验,分析了不同加密型抗液化处理的小型土石坝坝坡地震响应规律。试验结果表明,由于高水头作用下坝坡底部土体软化,未处理坝坡加速度放大系数沿高程先减小后增大,而加密坝坡加速度放大系数沿高程逐渐增大,且坝坡表面处加速度存在表面放大现象。坝趾压重和坝壳翻压提高了坝身有效应力,降低地震产生的超静孔压比,有效防止土体液化。未处理坝坡在峰值加速度为0.24g地震作用下即发生坝趾液化现象,而加密坝坡在峰值加速度为0.24g和0.45g下均未发生液化。未处理坝坡整体侧向位移大,加密处理后,在峰值加速度为0.24g下坝坡整体表现为竖向位移。坝趾压重区坝趾水平位移明显减小,坝壳翻压区坡顶沉降减小了50%。试验结果验证了坝趾压重和坝壳翻压的抗液化效果,为小型土石坝抗震加固设计提供了参考。     

Seismic centrifuge modelling of earth dams

Three dynamic centrifuge models were tested to obtain data for safety evaluation of the Jen-Yi-Tan Dam in Taiwan subject to a strong earthquake. In these tests, recorded 1999 Chi-Chi earthquake ground motions were modified and used on the electro-hydraulic shaking table mounted on the 400 g-ton centrifuge at the University of Colorado at Boulder. All tests were conducted under centrifugal acceleration of 150 g, and the input acceleration was scaled accordingly in order to simulate the given earthquake. A rigid container and water as pore fluid were used in the tests. In both Models 2 and 3, no sign of soil liquefaction was observed in the tests although a noticeable amount of settlements were found from the earth dam cross-section profile after testing.     

Effect of Pavement Thickness and Width on Liquefaction-Induced Settlements and the Contribution of Sand Ejecta in Total Settlement

Geotechnical and Geological Engineering - This paper investigates the settlement in a pavement due to soil liquefaction. Four 1-g shaking table tests were performed on saturated sand bed-pavement...     

强震作用下液化场地群桩动力响应及p-y曲线

为研究液化场地中群桩在强震作用下的动力响应特征及桩侧土抗力-桩土相对位移（p-y）曲线规律,依托海文大桥实体工程,基于振动台模型试验,开展了0.15g～0.35g地震动作用饱和粉细砂土层不同埋置深度下的砂土孔压比、桩身弯矩及p-y曲线动力响应研究。结果表明：地震动强度达到0.25g时,不同埋置深度下的饱和粉细砂土层孔压比均大于0.8,产生液化现象,且随埋置深度增加,孔压比增长时刻明显滞后;不同埋置深度下,桩身弯矩最大值均位于液化土层和非液化土层分界面处;同一埋置深度时,随地震动强度的增大,p-y曲线所包围的面积逐渐增大,其整体斜率逐渐变小,说明桩-土相互作用动力耗能逐渐增大,桩周土体刚度逐渐减小;随埋置深度增加,p-y曲线所包围的面积逐渐减小,其整体斜率逐渐增大,说明桩-土相互作用动力耗能逐渐减小,桩周土体刚度逐渐增大。因此,液化场地桥梁群桩抗震设计时,应综合考虑液化土层与桩基础的相互位置关系,确保桩基础在液化土层与非液化土层分界处的抗弯承载能力。     

Seismic behaviors of soil slope in permafrost regions using a large-scale shaking table

Large-scale shaking table model tests were carried out to study the dynamic behaviors of slopes and failure mechanism of landslide in permafrost regions. The model slope was constituted of silty clay layer stacked on an ice layer with 8° surface slope. Acceleration, displacement, and pore pressure were measured subjected to vertical and horizontal seismic loadings. The horizontal wave has a stronger influence on the failure of the model than the vertical wave motion, and the natural frequency of vibration in the horizontal direction decreased obviously at the failure state. The model slope has three components of different nonlinear mechanical properties, which are the soil layer, soil-ice interface, and ice layer. The amplification factor of peak ground acceleration is obviously smaller at the soil-ice interface than that at the soil and ice layer. The acceleration responses are nonlinear because of the nonlinear soil properties and degradation of modulus with increasing horizontal acceleration. Especially, excess pore pressure generation was observed near the soil-ice interface of the slope subjected to higher input acceleration, which resulted in the decrease of the effective stress. Failure surface appeared to be the soil-ice interface, which was consistent with the field observations of landslides in permafrost regions. Slope failure could be defined based on the massive movement of the slope, characterized by integral sliding pattern along the soil-ice interface without the distinct deformation inside the sliding body. The results show that the sliding of the slope with soil layer at gentle gradient is mainly triggered by the combined action of horizontal seismic wave, existence of soil-ice interface, and pore pressure generation in permafrost regions.     

Laboratory assessment of saturation and sample molding effects on shear resistance and mechanical characteristics of sandy soil

In order to evaluate shear resistance characteristics of sand, which has previously experienced liquefaction, two series of drained and undrained monotonic triaxial compression tests on medium dense sand were carried out. In the first test series, the influence of the specimen preparation method and confining pressure has been studied. It was found that there was a marked difference in the behavior even though the density and stress conditions were identical. The conclusion was that the soil fabric was responsible for this result. In the second series of tests, the saturation influence on the shear resistance of the sand was examined. The results showed that the decrease in Skempton's pore pressure coefficient B improves the shear resistance and increases the friction angle of the sand.