Study of pore pressure variation during liquefaction using two constitutive models for sand

Numerical analyses of liquefiable sand are presented in this paper. Liquefaction phenomenon is an undrained response of saturated sandy soils when they are subjected to static or dynamic loads. A fully coupled dynamic computer code is developed to predict the liquefaction potential of a saturated sandy layer. Coupled dynamic field equations of extended Biot's theory with u–P formulation are used to determine the responses of pore fluid and soil skeleton. Generalized Newmark method is employed for integration in time. The soil behavior is modelled by two constitutive models; a critical state two-surface plasticity model, and a densification model. A class ‘B’ analysis of a centrifuge experiment is performed to simulate the dynamic response of level ground sites. The results of the numerical analyses demonstrate the capability of the critical sate two-surface plasticity model in producing pore pressures that are consistent with observations of the behavior of liquefiable sand in the centrifuge test.     

Centrifuge modeling of loose fill embankment subjected to uni-axial and bi-axial earthquakes

The seismic risk is fairly high in Hong Kong even though it is located in an intreplate area with low to moderate seismicity. This is because of its high seismic vulnerability due to the presence of many steep loose fill slopes with a marginal static factor of safety, and a high consequence ‘value’ as a result of the dense population and intense economic activity in Hong Kong. In order to investigate the seismic stability and potential flow liquefaction of loose fill slopes, dynamic centrifuge tests in uni-axial and bi-axial directions were performed on saturated model embankments made of loose completely decomposed granite (CDG). Three windowed sinusoidal waves with peak shaking amplitudes ranging from 0.08 g to 0.3 g (prototype scale) were adopted. During the strong uni-axial shaking of 0.3 g, the measured maximum excess pore pressure ratios ranged from 0.70 to 0.85 and a relatively small crest settlement of 5.8 mm (0.22 m prototype) was measured. No soil liquefaction or flow slides were observed. Comparing the results between the strong uni-axial and bi-axial shaking, the maximum pore pressure ratios measured from the bi-axial test varied from 0.75 to 0.87, which were marginally larger than those obtained from the uni-axial test. Although the measured crest settlement during the bi-axial shaking was about 27% larger than that of the uni-axial test, soil liquefaction and flow slide did not occur. These test results suggest that loose CDG fill slopes are likely to be stable under the proposed design PGA ranging from 0.08 to 0.11 g in Hong Kong.     

Experimental investigation on fluid characteristics of medium dense saturated fine sand in pre- and post-liquefaction

Liquefaction of saturated loose sand is a major cause of extensive damage to buildings and infrastructures during large earthquakes. A better understanding of the behaviour of liquefied soil is becoming increasingly necessary to mitigate earthquake damage, and the fluid method has become an increasingly popular means to study the behaviour of liquefied soils. The purpose of this study is to determine the fluid characteristics of liquefied fine sand. In this paper, the apparent viscosity was measured as an index of fluid characteristics using the shaking table tests of pre-liquefaction behaviour of saturated fine sand at approximately 45 % relative density; the relationship of apparent viscosity and shear strain rate on liquefying fine sand was indicated as a power-law shear-thinning non-Newtonian fluid; and liquefying fine sand has the alternating behaviour of shear dilatancy and compressibility during cyclic loading. Additionally, a series of a monotonic axial compression loading tests in an undrained manner were performed to measure the shear stress and excess pore pressure ratio relationship on the post-liquefaction saturated fine sand at approximately 50 % relative density. The fluid characteristics of post-liquefaction fine sand exhibits rate dependence and can be described by a combined fluid model of time-independent and time-dependent power-law functions; the time-independent viscous resistance is not relevant to the excess pore pressure ratio; but the time-dependent frictional resistance is closely related to the excess pore pressure ratio. Furthermore, the results of the verification tests demonstrate that the proposed fluid model has good applicability for the fluid behaviour of the post-liquefaction fine sand.     

Centrifuge modelling of flexible retaining walls subjected to dynamic loading

This paper outlines the results of an experimental program carried out on centrifuge models of cantilevered and propped retaining walls embedded in saturated sand. The main aim of the paper is to investigate the dynamic response of these structures when the foundation soil is saturated by measuring the accelerations and pore pressures in the soil, displacements and bending moment of the walls. A comparison among tests with different geometrical configurations and relative density of the soil is presented. The centrifuge models were subjected to dynamic loading in the form of sinusoidal accelerations applied at the base of the models. This paper also presents data from pressure sensors used to measure total earth pressure on the walls. Furthermore, these results are compared with previous dynamic centrifuge tests on flexible retaining walls in dry sand.     

饱和弱化与液化土层的水平极限抗力

通过给饱和砂土层施加反压,模拟地震荷载作用下具有残余孔压的饱和弱化、液化土层。选择粉质细砂与细砂,进行了18组水平荷载作用下桩与饱和弱化、液化土层相互作用的模型试验,研究了饱和弱化、液化土层水平极限抗力随土层残余孔压增加的变化规律。结果表明,随土层中残余孔压增加,水平极限抗力逐渐降低,土层液化后的水平极限抗力大约降低80%~90%。通过定义饱和弱化、液化土层的强度,定量分析了饱和弱化、液化砂土的强度参数与水平极限抗力之间关系。又通过引入土层的残余孔压比折减系数,建立了确定饱和弱化、液化土层等效强度的关系式,进而提出了一种按等效强度确定饱和弱化、液化土层水平极限抗力的方法。     

Experimental p-y curves for liquefied soils from centrifuge tests

The present study aims to obtain p-y curves(Winkler spring properties for lateral pile-soil interaction) for liquefied soil from 12 comprehensive centrifuge test cases where pile groups were embedded in liquefiable soil. The p-y curve for fully liquefied soil is back-calculated from the dynamic centrifuge test data using a numerical procedure from the recorded soil response and strain records from the instrumented pile. The p-y curves were obtained for two ground conditions:(a) lateral spreading of liquefied soil, and(b) liquefied soil in level ground. These ground conditions are simulated in the model by having collapsing and non-collapsing intermittent boundaries, which are modelled as quay walls. The p-y curves back-calculated from the centrifuge tests are compared with representative reduced API p-y curves for liquefied soils(known as p-multiplier). The response of p-y curves at full liquefaction is presented and critical observations of lateral pile-soil interaction are discussed. Based on the results of these model tests, guidance for the construction of p-y curves for use in engineering practice is also provided.     

液化场地土-地铁车站结构大型振动台模型试验研究

本文对浅埋于可液化南京细砂地基中的地铁车站结构进行了大型振动台试验研究,对部分试验结果进行了整理,分析了模型地基的加速度和振动孔隙水压力的反应规律。试验结果表明:在整个试验过程中,模型地基浅层土和地铁车站侧向附近地基土最容易发生液化;其次,随着振动台台面输入地震动峰值加速度的增大,离车站结构较远的侧向地基土和底层地基土再发生液化,而车站结构正下方的模型地基土最不容易液化。同时,在模型地基土发生液化后,地铁车站结构发生了明显的整体上浮现象。     

Excess pore pressure dissipation and solidification after liquefaction of saturated sand deposits

To understand the post-liquefaction behavior of liquefied ground, it is important to get a better understanding and a more suitable characterization of the variation of excess pore pressure after liquefaction. In this paper, the soil permeability is considered as one of the key soil parameters for clarifying the mechanism of post-liquefaction behavior of liquefied ground. For this reason, a series of shaking table tests were conducted for a Toyoura sand deposit with different soil permeability values. Polymer fluid was used in model tests to vary the permeability of sand deposits. Excess pore pressures and settlements were measured in each test. A basic mechanism in post-liquefaction behavior and the solidification phenomenon after liquefaction were discussed based on these test results. Also, a new method for predicting the dissipation of excess pore pressure was developed. This study provides evidence of the important effect of soil permeability on the velocity with which the solidification front moves upward in liquefied ground. It is suggested that the value of coefficient of permeability of liquefied sand can increase to about 4.0 times the initial value. This variation of permeability after liquefaction should be taken into account in post-liquefaction analysis.     

Liquefied soil pressures on vertical walls with adjacent embankments

Horizontal earth pressures on rigid vertical walls in liquefied soils have extensively been studied by many researchers for the level ground surface condition. In this paper, a series of centrifuge tests was conducted to investigate the effects of embankments resting on ground surfaces on the pressure on the rigid vertical walls. In the tests, earth pressures on the rigid walls were successfully measured with built-in earth pressure cells with small accelerometers attached on them. The earth pressure cells are capable of measuring both normal and shear stresses simultaneously with a good accuracy. It appears that dynamic component of the earth pressure of liquefied sand is in proportion to the acceleration of the rigid wall irrespective of amplitude and frequency of the input motion, and increases with increasing average embankment load. On the other hand, the residual component of the earth pressure is found to be well estimated from FEM assuming the liquefied soil as an incompressible elastic body. A practical formula of the earth pressures is established for the purpose of practical use.Another series of centrifuge tests was carried out on models with solidification or densification zones below embankment toes as a remedial countermeasure against liquefaction-induced embankment failure. It was found that the proposed formulae holds valid independently of the movement of walls as long as the liquefied soil behaves as a heavy fluid, and the countermeasure does not soften significantly.     

砂土自由场地震响应的离心机试验研究

离心机模型试验是研究岩土地震工程问题的有效手段。本文使用层状剪切箱,通过干落法制备了均匀的砂土模型,进行了离心机振动试验;观测了振动过程中孔隙水压力的发展,土体的加速度响应、侧向变形以及竖向沉降。结果表明,土体的运动和变形与孔隙水压力的发展密切相关,但离心机中的试验现象和现场观测的现象存在显著区别。研究结果增强了对振动过程中土-水之间相互作用机理的理解,同时为自由场地震响应分析方法的验证提供了基础数据。     

Flow deformation of liquefied sand under constant shear load and its application to analysis of flow slide of infinite slope

This paper intended to evaluate the behavior of saturated sand and sloped ground subjected to flow failure with seepage of pore water in the ground after earthquake and the resultant liquefaction. Triaxial compression tests of sand with constant deviator stress but changing of pore pressure and volume of the specimens were conducted in this study. It was revealed that the relation between the volume change and the amount of shear strain during deformation depended on the initial density of the sand but it did not much depend on shear stress and initial confining stress levels. Based on this test results and numerical analysis of the seepage of pore water in liquefied ground, a methodology was proposed to predict the deformation of inclined ground due to liquefaction.     

Computational modeling of cyclic mobility and post-liquefaction site response

Under seismic excitation, liquefied clean medium to dense cohesionless soils may regain a high level of shear resistance at large shear strain excursions. This pattern of response, known as a form of cyclic mobility, has been documented by a large body of laboratory sample tests and centrifuge experiments. A plasticity-based constitutive model is developed with emphasis on simulating the cyclic mobility response mechanism and associated pattern of shear strain accumulation. This constitutive model is incorporated into a two-phase (solid–fluid), fully coupled finite element code. Calibration of the constitutive model is described, based on a unique set of laboratory triaxial tests (monotonic and cyclic) and dynamic centrifuge experiments. In this experimental series, Nevada sand at a relative density of about 40% is employed. The calibration effort focused on reproducing the salient characteristics of dynamic site response as dictated by the cyclic mobility mechanism. Finally, using the calibrated model, a numerical simulation is conducted to highlight the effect of excitation frequency content on post-liquefaction ground deformations.     

Comparison between VELACS numerical ‘class A’ predictions and centrifuge experimental soil test results

The numerical ‘class A’ predictions performed within the framework of the VELACS Project are compared to the experimental results recorded in the centrifuge experiments. The comparisons are made in terms of: (1) the root mean square error of the predictions with respect to the mean of the experimental results; and (2) the size of a confidence interval centered at the predicted value which contains the estimated true value of the experimental results with a 75% probability. An assessment of the capability of various groups of constitutive soil models to predict excess pore pressures induced by dynamic loading is also presented.     

A model for presentation of seismic pore water pressures

A model for presentation of pore water pressures induced in sand samples during cyclic undrained testing is described. The proposed model belongs to a class of so-called ‘damage parameter models’, which correlate the pore pressure rise with a parameter based on an accumulated variable during testing. The concept of threshold strain is also incorporated in the model. The model has been verified on several series of published cyclic test data. Its parameters lie in a narrow band for a wide range of sand properties. The empirical functions that represent the common shape of individual curves for interpreted pore pressure data are also suggested. The proposed procedure has been adapted for presentation of other cyclic soil tests, and examples of interpretation of cyclic stress-controlled as well as cyclic drained tests are included.     

A performance-based approach for design of ground densification to mitigate liquefaction

In performance-based geotechnical earthquake engineering, the required degree and spatial extent of ground densification for mitigation of liquefaction beneath a structure should be determined based on the acceptable levels of performance of foundation. Currently, there is no solution for evaluation of the amount of settlement and tilt of footings constructed on a densified ground which is surrounded by a liquefiable soil. This implies the need for numerical procedures for simulation of seismic behavior of shallow foundations supported on both liquefiable and densified subsoil. In this paper, the dynamic response of shallow foundations on a densified ground is studied using a 3D fully coupled dynamic analysis. For verification of the numerical model, simulation of a series of centrifuge experiments has been carried out and the results were compared with the experimental measurements. After verification of the numerical model, a comprehensive parametric study has been performed to develop a methodology for estimating the effectiveness of subsoil densification in reducing liquefaction-induced settlement of shallow foundations. Range of problem variables were considered in a way that the possibility of bearing capacity failure is low enough. The proposed methodology can be utilized for development of a performance-based design procedure for liquefaction hazard mitigation by soil densification.     

饱和砂土地铁车站的振动台试验研究

地震作用下,饱和砂土地层地铁车站的动力反应特征是城市轨道工程抗震的关键问题。以太原地铁新近沉积粉细砂地层地铁工程为对象,通过模拟地震运动输入的饱和砂土地基地下结构的振动台模型试验,分析了不同峰值加速度地震作用下饱和砂土与地下结构相互作用的动力反应性状。研究了地震波作用的放大效应与频率特征,动孔压比增长发展过程和液化区域分布,以及动土压力的变化规律。表明加速度放大系数为1.5~2.0;0.1~0.25g峰值加速度地震作用下饱和砂土均产生动孔隙水压力累计发展;0.3g峰值加速度地震作用下饱和砂土产生液化,抑制了土与地下结构的振动放大效应,地表面大量冒水,结构模型出现了明显上浮,地下结构两侧产生震陷。     

不同厚度饱和砂土中群桩结构动力响应试验研究

液化土中桩基础动力响应规律一直是工程抗震领域关注的热点问题。本文基于非液化砂土和不同厚度饱和砂土中的2×2群桩结构模型振动台试验,通过输入一定峰值加速度和频率的正弦波,对群桩在非液化土层和两种不同厚度饱和砂土层中的横向动力响应特性进行振动台试验研究。研究结果表明:在正弦波输入情况下,非液化砂土中群桩承台加速度和位移时程与台面输入时程相比,波形变化规律与峰值大小均相差不大;而对两种不同厚度饱和砂土中承台加速度和位移峰值放大较多,在相对较薄的饱和砂土中群桩承台加速度峰值较台面输入放大了1.83倍,较台面输出位移峰值放大了1.58倍;在相对较厚的饱和砂土中承台加速度和位移峰值则分别放大了2.18倍和1.91倍,说明在相同输入条件下,较厚的饱和砂土在发生液化后群桩承台的动力响应更加显著。     

复杂应力条件下松砂振动孔隙水压力与体变特性的试验研究

利用新研制的土工静力-动力液压三轴-扭转多功能剪切仪,在5种初始主应力方向角与5种中主应力系数相组合的初始固结条件下,对饱和松砂进行了不排水循环扭剪试验。讨论了初始固结条件对不排水条件下饱和松砂孔隙水压力变化规律及对剪胀、剪缩、卸荷体缩等体积变化过程的影响。试验研究表明：（1）分别以稳定残余孔隙水压力和破坏时循环次数归一化后的残余孔隙水压力比和循环次数比之间的关系可以用双曲线模式表达。其参数主要依赖于初始主应力方向,中主应力系数对参数的影响并不显著。归一化后的孔隙水压力比与广义剪应变之间的关系也可以用双曲线模式表达,其中的2个待定参数依赖于初始主应力方向,与中主应力系数无关;（2）在三向非均等固结条件下的不排水循环扭剪试验中,饱和松砂表现出卸荷体缩特性,不同初始主应力方向时,饱和松砂剪缩、剪胀、卸荷体缩呈现出不同的交替变化模式。     

液化场地桥梁足尺桩抗震简化分析方法

采用国际VELACS项目中离心机试验标定的内华达砂的动力计算参数,建立液化场地足尺桩-土动力相互作用分析的三维有限元模型;获得不同幅值的正弦波作用下桩-土动力相互作用的p-y曲线,修正并发展一种可用于液化场地桩-土动力相互作用分析的宏单元模型,并基于非线性文克尔地基梁模型建立桥梁足尺桩抗震分析的数值模型与简化方法,通过有限元分析结果验证该简化方法的正确性。     

黄土液化微细观特性试验研究

黄土液化演化过程的微观机理分析是液化防御的科学问题之一。通过微细观及动力学试验探索黄土液化的本质和影响因素。首先用CT细观扫描实验探索黄土渗透液化的细观变化,研究表明土体液面上升的根本原因是弱碱性盐类胶结物的吸水作用导致土样含水面整体上升;试样达到高饱和度,大孔隙周围颗粒间胶结物质破坏后有效应力为零,土层液化。粉土的孔隙尺寸和特殊的胶结物质导致高饱和度。土样微观结构的差异也会影响土的液面上升和破坏强度。针对低黏性粉土、粉质砂土及粉质黏土的三类黄土液化实验分析表明,低黏性粉土动荷加载时间更短,更易于液化,即低粘性粉土液化最为严重,粉质砂土为中等液化,粉质黏土相比其他黄土类别不易液化。电镜扫描土样微观结构参数分析表明,土颗粒周围胶结物质的化学元素比值(Ca/Fe),以及土颗粒粒径分布和孔隙尺寸(孔隙与颗粒比)均影响液化等级,可初步判断液化的强弱。