Influence of shotcrete composition on load‐level estimation in NATM‐tunnel shells: Micromechanics‐based sensitivity analyses

Displacement measurement‐based estimations of loads and utilization degrees in shotcrete tunnel shells as part of the New Austrian Tunneling Method (NATM), have become standard tools in tunnel practice; their quality, however, may crucially depend on the knowledge of the actual shotcrete composition after spraying. To shed light on this issue, we here determine, based on experimentally validated micromechanical representations of shotcrete, the hydration degree‐dependent elastic, creep, and strength properties of different shotcretes, characterized by water cement ratios (w/c) between 0.4 and 0.6, aggregate cement ratios (a/c) between 3.5 and 5, and Young's modulus of aggregates (E_agg) between 40 and 80 GPa. These properties are fed into a structural shell model of the Sieberg tunnel, and this model is subjected to displacement fields approximated from daily displacement measurements at five selected points along the shell's inner surface. Resulting stresses and forces in the tunnel shell allow for analyzing the influence of shotcrete composition on load‐level estimation in NATM tunnel shells: The magnitudes of circumferential and longitudinal normal forces increase significantly with decreasing w/c, while a/c and E_agg have the inverse and relatively minor effect. The utilization degree is virtually insensitive to changes in w/c(especially at early ages), and only slightly decreases with decreasing a/c and E_agg. The location of maximum loading is unaffected by the shotcrete composition underlying the analysis. Conclusively, location and magnitude of maximum utilization degrees are very robust estimates (not affected by limited knowledge on the shotcrete composition), whereas realistic estimation of stresses and forces does require more accurate consideration of shotcrete composition. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Compression strength properties of the hardened cement mortar mixed with municipal incineration fine bottom ashes

In order to recycle the incineration fine bottom ash generated from municipal solid waste as a fine aggregate construction material(<4.75 mm), a series of uniaxial compression tests were carried out according to the mixing ratio of bottom ash, the curing temperature, the water–cement ratio, the mixing ratio of expanded poly styrene (EPS), and the curing time. As the results of tests, the compression strengths cured 28 days of all specimens prepared with different mixing ratios are ranged between 87 and 220 kg/cm². The water content of the hardened cement mortar is not much different with the curing time. Also, the water content is increased with increasing the mixing ratio of bottom ash, the water–cement ratio, and the mixing ratio of EPS. The unit weight of the hardened cement mortar is decreased with increasing the mixing ratio of bottom ash and the mixing ratio of EPS. The compression strength of the hardened cement mortar is decreased with increasing the mixing ratio of bottom ash. The compression strength of the hardened cement mortar cured at 30 ± 2°C and 40 ± 2°C is bigger than that of the cement mortar cured at normal temperature (20 ± 2°C). However, the compression strength of the hardened cement mortar cured at 30 ± 2°C is bigger than that of the cement mortar cured at 40 ± 2°C. The compression strength is increased at the range from 0.55 to 0.6 of water–cement ratio, and then the compression strength is decreased over 0.65 of water–cement ratio. Meanwhile, the compression strength of the hardened cement mortar is decreased with increasing the mixing ratio of EPS.     

隧道钢纤维喷射混凝土单层衬砌试验研究

为了解决隧道施工中采用单层喷射混凝土作为隧道永久衬砌的问题,对不同钢纤维及外添加剂掺量的混凝土分别进行了抗压、抗拉、抗渗以及弯曲强度等室内试验。结果表明,在喷射混凝土中加入钢纤维材料,其抗拉、抗弯以及抗渗水性能分别提高了65.6 %、94.7 %、98.1 %;并通过现场试喷,选定符合设计要求、经济合理的配合比,在摩天岭隧道通风斜井施作了湿喷钢纤维混凝土,以单层衬砌代替原设计的复合式衬砌。工程实践证明,钢纤维湿喷混凝土,其支护强度达到了设计要求,喷射作业回弹损失量减少7 %～15 %。研究成果可为类似隧道纤维喷射混凝土单层衬砌技术的应用提供参考。     

隧道喷射混凝土强度增长规律及硬化速度对初期支护性能影响试验研究

隧道结构的围岩-支护特征曲线理论表明,初期支护强度变化及支护时机将极大地影响隧道周围围岩的变形及应力分布。相应地,作为初期支护重要组成部分的喷射混凝土,其喷射后的强度增长变化规律及硬化速度也极大地影响着围岩的变形及应力重分布。为探明喷射混凝土的强度增长规律及其硬化速度对初期支护性能的影响,结合隧道工程实践,进行了一系列喷射混凝土现场试验,建立了喷射混凝土强度和弹性模量增长规律,确定了喷射混凝土硬化速度对初期支护性能的影响规律。分析表明：（1）隧道喷射混凝土早期强度发展较快、较平稳,24 h抗压强度平均值为6.4 MPa,48 h抗压强度平均值为11.4 MPa。（2）在软弱围岩中提高喷混凝土的早期强度十分重要,是控制围岩变形和稳定的关键,喷混凝土早期强度越大,隧道初期支护作用越明显。（3）喷混凝土硬化速度对控制拱顶沉降变形效果较显著。与慢速硬化相比,喷射混凝土快速硬化时拱顶沉降减少10.4%,拱脚处减小17%,边墙水平收敛减少了30.7%。（4）喷射混凝土硬化速度对控制围岩塑性变形方面差异较小。（5）应充分考虑喷射混凝土的强度硬化过程,不考虑喷射混凝土硬化速度会在一定程度上高估初期支护性能,使其相应支护结构位移明显小于考虑硬化速度时相应的结构位移。     

Experimental study on the electrical resistivity of soil–cement admixtures

Recently in China, soil–cement is widely used to improve the soft ground in the highway construction engineering. Literature studies are mainly investigating the mechanical properties of the soil–cement, while its properties of the electrical resistivity are not well addressed. In this paper, the properties of the electrical resistivity of the reconstituted soil-cement and the in situ soil–cement columns are investigated. The test results show that the electrical resistivity of the soil–cement increases with the increase in the cement-mixing ratio and curing time, whereas it decreases with the increase in the water content, degree of saturation and water–cement ratio. A simple equation is proposed to predict the electrical resistivity of soil–cement under the condition of the specified curing time and water–cement ratio. It is found that the electrical resistivity has a good relationship with the unconfined compression strength and blow count of SPT. It is expected that the electrical resistivity method can be widely used for checking/controlling the quality of soil–cement in practice.     

Acidic Rocks as Aggregates in Concrete: Engineering Properties,Microstructures and Petrologic Characteristics

In this research, the possibility of replacing different portions of the normally used aggregate by acidic rocks was investigated. These rock types outcrop at the northern part of Eastern Desert, southwest Ras Gharib area where large quantities of good quality acidic rocks are available their. Portland cement concrete is a composite material made up of the hydrated cement matrix, fine aggregate and coarse aggregate. The scanning electron microscope equipped with an energy dispersive X-ray analysis system (EDX) has been applied to investigate several aspects of Portland cement concrete microstructure. The topics investigated so far include the influence of aggregate composition on the development of the cement paste-aggregate interface and the formation of calcium silicate hydrate CSH/calcium silicate aluminate CSA formation. The silicate gel coated the aggregates in the concrete paste and crystallized into well defined needle like shape, cotton shape as well as euhedral to subhedral crystals of silicate/alumiante and ettringite minerals with free lime librated from the hydrolysis process. The free lime can react again with the aggregates leading to the formation of cementing materials which increase strength and durability of the concrete paste by increasing the interfacial bonds between the used aggregates.     

Stability analysis of shotcrete supported crown of NATM tunnels with discontinuity layout optimization

For tunnel constructed by New Austrian Tunnelling Method, the crown is the upper part of tunnel section, constructed during excavation process and supported by shotcrete. The stability of the crown has great influence on the safety of tunnel itself and the buildings above, which correlates, among others, with geometrical setup of tunnel and material properties of shotcrete and soil/rock. In this paper, aiming at analyzing the stability of shotcrete supported crown, a recently presented numerical method discontinuity layout optimization is adopted, which introduces a great amount of potential discontinuities cross over one another and provides a wide search space for efficient upper limit analysis. In the analysis, a well‐established hydration model of cementitious material is implemented for accounting the hydration of shotcrete. Then assumptions based on convergence‐confinement method are used for accounting the 3‐dimensional effect in 2‐dimensional analysis, finally providing time‐space–dependent assessments of stability of shotcrete supported crown.     

The potential effect of cementitious colloids on radionuclide mobilisation in a repository for radioactive waste

Colloid-facilitated transport of contaminants could enhance the release rate of radionuclides from the cementitious near field of a repository for radioactive waste. In the current design of the planned Swiss repository for intermediate-level radioactive waste, a gas-permeable mortar is employed as backfill material for the engineered barrier. The main components of the material are hardened cement paste (HCP) and quartz aggregates. The chemical condition in the backfill mortar is controlled by the highly alkaline cement pore water present in the large pore space. The interaction of pore water with the quartz aggregates is expected to be the main source for colloids. Colloid transport is facilitated due to the high porosity of the backfill mortar. Batch-type studies have been performed to generate colloidal material in systems containing crushed backfill mortar or quartz in contact with artificial cement pore water (ACW) at pH 13.3. The chemical composition of the colloidal material corresponds to that of calcium silicate hydrates (CSH). Batch flocculation tests show that, after about 20 days reaction time, the concentration of the CSH-type colloids is typically below 0.1 mg l⁻¹ due to reduced colloid stability in ACW. Uptake studies with Cs(I), Sr(II) and Th(IV) on a CSH phase (initial C:S ratio=1.09) have been carried out to assess the sorption properties of the colloidal material. The influence of uptake by colloids on radionuclide mobilisation is expressed in terms of sorption reduction on the immobile phase (HCP). Sorption reduction factors can be estimated on the assumption that the sorption properties of the colloidal material are either similar to those of the CSH phase or HCP, and that sorption is linear and reversible. A scaling factor accounts for the higher specific surface area of the colloidal material compared to the CSH phase and HCP. At colloid concentration levels typically encountered in highly alkaline cement pore waters, colloid-induced sorption reduction is predicted to be negligibly small even for strongly sorbing radionuclides, such as Th(IV). Thus, no significant impact of cementitious colloids on radionuclide mobilisation in the porous backfill mortar is anticipated.     

利用油页岩灰渣制备通用硅酸盐水泥

采用正交试验确定水泥熟料最佳组成配比：石灰饱和系数为0.92、硅率为2.5、铝率为1.5;水泥熟料最佳煅烧温度为1 350 ℃。按上述条件,利用工业原料配制水泥熟料,根据其XRD结果可知,矿物组成与吉林亚泰水泥厂的熟料相似。将油页岩灰渣作为混合材,直接掺加到水泥厂熟料中。实验结果表明：随着油页岩灰渣掺量的增加,3 d强度下降明显;但后期补强作用较高,28 d强度较为稳定;在水泥强度满足PC32.5标准的前提下灰渣的最大掺加量以35%～40 %为宜。     

Advanced constitutive modelling of shotcrete: Model formulation and calibration

Shotcrete is one of the main support elements for tunnels constructed according to the principles of the New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM). In this paper, a sophisticated constitutive model for the complex mechanical and time-dependent behaviour of shotcrete is presented, which is formulated within the framework of elasto-plasticity. Two independent yield surfaces govern the material behaviour in compression and tension under multi-axial loading conditions, which is further controlled by non-linear plastic strain hardening and softening rules following uniaxial stress–strain curves. The main novelty of the model is the introduction of normalised hardening and softening parameters which enable a more realistic simulation of the shotcrete loading history. In addition, cracking of the shotcrete is treated within the smeared crack concept by applying a fracture energy approach as a regularisation technique, which eliminates the dependency of the results on the size of the elements in a finite element mesh. Furthermore, the model takes into account the gradual change of the main material properties of the shotcrete due to cement hydration during the first 28 days after spraying. Other important time effects such as creep, shrinkage and hydration temperature induced deformations at early ages are considered in the current model formulation. This paper aims to describe in detail the developed structure of the constitutive model and model calibration.     

A mesoscopic model for the behaviour of concrete under high confinement

When impact loaded, concrete is submitted to high triaxial stresses. The experimental response of concrete under quasi‐static triaxial compression is studied using a triaxial press capable of applying a mean pressure greater than 1 GPa on cylindrical samples measuring 7 cm in diameter and 14 cm high. A numerical analysis of these previous experiments is performed herein at a mesoscopic scale. Concrete is modelled as a biphasic material consisting of a mortar (cement paste and fine aggregates) and roughly spherical aggregates (with a diameter exceeding 2 mm) whose characteristics are applied on a regular cubic finite element mesh. A damage‐plasticity model is then used to model the behaviour of mortar. An identification of model parameters on mortar samples and the subsequent comparison between numerical and experimental tests will be presented for hydrostatic and triaxial compression. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Cement-Stabilization of Sabkha Soils from Al-Auzayba,Sultanate of Oman

Sabkha soils are salt-bearing formations that are formed in arid regions. In their in situ states the sabkha soils have high compressibility and low shear strength. These soils are also heterogeneous and their properties depend on the type and amount of salt present. Thus, these soils are not suitable for support of infrastructures without the risk of high settlement and/or bearing capacity failure. This paper investigates the possibility of using cement to improve the shear strength of sabkha soils for possible use as a foundation-bearing soil. The sabkha soil used in this study is a sandy sabkha obtained from the coastal plains at Al-Auzayba, Sultanate of Oman. Cement was added in percentages of 2.5, 5, 7.5 and 10%, by dry weight of soil. The soil-stabilizer mixers were allowed to cure for 7, 14 and 28 days. Laboratory tests such as compaction, unconfined compression, consolidated undrained triaxial and durability tests were performed to measure the engineering characteristics of the stabilized material. The results showed substantial improvements in the shear strength of the sabkha–cement mixtures and the mixtures are also durable with small weight loss after 12 wetting/drying cycles. Thus, cement can be used to improve the shear strength of sabkha soils. Furthermore, the effective stress path and the tress-strain relation of the sabkha–cement mixtures follow trends similar to those of cemented calcareous soils.     

Experimental Investigation of Cement Treated Sand Behavior Under Triaxial Test

In this paper, an experimental investigation of cement treated sand is performed under triaxial tests in order to quantify the effects of cementation on the stress–strain behavior, stiffness and shear strength. Samples were cured up to 180 days. The results show that the stress–strain behavior of cemented sands is nonlinear with contractive–dilative stages. The stress–strain response is strongly influenced by effective confining pressure and cement content. Stiffness and strength are greatly improved by an increase in binder content. An increase of the angle of shearing resistance and cohesion intercept with increasing cement content is observed consistently. Brittle behavior is observed at low confining pressure and high cement content. After yielding, the increase in the dilatancy accelerates. Two competing related processes determine the peak strength: Bond breakages cause a strength reduction but the associated dilatancy leads to a strength increase. This finding and the experimental observation that the dilatancy at the peak state increases with increasing cement content explain why the measured peak-state strength parameters, c′ and φ_p′, are relevant to the binder content.     

天然气水合物沉积物力学性质的试验研究

利用研制的天然气水合物沉积物合成及力学性质一体化试验设备,以粉细砂土作为土骨架,分别对冰沉积物以及对四氢呋喃(THF)、二氧化碳(CO2)和甲烷3种水合物沉积物进行了室内合成和三轴剪切试验,分析和比较了这4种沉积物样品的应力-应变和强度特性,初步探究了冰和不同气体在水合物沉积物强度中所起的作用。试验结果表明：4种沉积物均表现为塑性破坏;围压越大,水合物沉积物强度越高;在水合物含量相同条件下,不同气体水合物会使水合物沉积物的强度不同。     

注浆材料和预制裂纹缺陷角度对类岩石试件单轴抗压强度及破坏模式的影响

选用环氧树脂和纯水泥浆作为注浆材料,对含不同角度和不同注浆材料裂隙试样进行单轴压缩试验。试验结果表明,注浆材料和裂纹缺陷角度对类岩石试件单轴抗压强度及破坏模式具有重要影响;环氧树脂加固效果优于纯水泥浆,环氧树脂可以有效地消除预制裂纹尖端的应力集中;在裂纹缺陷角度很小( <30°)和角度很大( =90°)的情况下无论裂隙是注环氧树脂还是纯水泥浆,注浆效果都不明显,当 =60°时两种注浆材料的加固效果都很好。提出滑动裂纹模型,对注浆裂隙进行力学分析发现,含注浆裂隙试样的抗压强度随着注浆材料和完整材料胶结面摩擦系数和黏聚力的增大而增大,不同注浆材料和完整材料胶结面的摩擦系数和黏聚力不同,解释了为什么不同的注浆材料对注浆试样强度提升作用不同。研究成果为分析工程中注浆材料和裂纹缺陷角度对岩体强度的影响提供了一定的理论基础。     

Effects of tunnelling on existing support systems of perpendicularly crossing tunnels

The interactions between perpendicularly crossing tunnels in the Sydney region are investigated using a full three-dimensional (3D) finite element analysis coupled with elasto-plastic material models. Special attention is paid to the effect of subsequent tunnelling on the support system, i.e. the shotcrete lining and rock bolts, of the existing tunnel. The results of the analysis show that in a region such as Sydney, with relatively high horizontal stresses, installation of the new tunnel causes the shotcrete lining of the existing tunnel to be in tension in the side facing towards the tunnel opening and in compression at the crown and invert. The pre-stressed rock bolts are usually tensioned more in the sections closest to the tunnel opening. For this particular study, if a new tunnel is driven perpendicularly beneath an existing tunnel, significant increases are induced in the bending moments in the shotcrete lining at the lateral sides of the existing tunnel and in the axial forces at its crown and invert. The increase in side bending moments causes further tensile cracking but the crown and invert stresses remain within the thresholds for both compressive failure and tensile cracking for shotcrete lining of typical concrete quality. Moreover, the driving of the new tunnel causes the tensile forces in the existing side rock bolts to increase and those in the existing crown rock bolts to decrease. In contrast, if the new tunnel is driven perpendicularly above the existing tunnel, compressive failure of the existing shotcrete lining is induced at the crown of the deeper tunnel for concrete of typical capacity and a significant tensile force increase of the existing rock bolts around the crown. It is concluded that in order to ensure the stability of the existing tunnel, local thickening is needed at the sides of the existing shotcrete lining if the shallow tunnel is installed first and local thickening is needed at the crown if the deep tunnel is installed first.     

A constitutive mechanical model for gas hydrate bearing sediments incorporating inelastic mechanisms

Gas hydrate bearing sediments (HBS) are natural soils formed in permafrost and sub-marine settings where the temperature and pressure conditions are such that gas hydrates are stable. If these conditions shift from the hydrate stability zone, hydrates dissociate and move from the solid to the gas phase. Hydrate dissociation is accompanied by significant changes in sediment structure and strongly affects its mechanical behavior (e.g., sediment stiffenss, strength and dilatancy). The mechanical behavior of HBS is very complex and its modeling poses great challenges. This paper presents a new geomechanical model for hydrate bearing sediments. The model incorporates the concept of partition stress, plus a number of inelastic mechanisms proposed to capture the complex behavior of this type of soil. This constitutive model is especially well suited to simulate the behavior of HBS upon dissociation. The model was applied and validated against experimental data from triaxial and oedometric tests conducted on manufactured and natural specimens involving different hydrate saturation, hydrate morphology, and confinement conditions. Particular attention was paid to model the HBS behavior during hydrate dissociation under loading. The model performance was highly satisfactory in all the cases studied. It managed to properly capture the main features of HBS mechanical behavior and it also assisted to interpret the behavior of this type of sediment under different loading and hydrate conditions.     

Molecular analysis of petroleum derived compounds that adsorb onto gas hydrate surfaces

Field observations have shown that some streams of water, gas and crude oil do not form gas hydrate plugs during petroleum production even when operating within thermodynamic conditions for hydrate formation. Also, when studied under controlled laboratory conditions, some oils are found to form hydrate dispersed systems whereas others form plugs. Oils with low tendency to form hydrate plugs are believed to contain natural hydrate plug inhibiting components (NICs) that adsorb onto the hydrate surface, making them less water-wet and preventing the particles from agglomerating into large hydrate clusters. The molecular structure of the NICs is currently unknown. In this work, hydrate adsorbing components were extracted from crude oils using freon hydrates as an extraction phase. The fractions were found to be enriched in polar material, and more polar material is associated with hydrates generated in biodegraded crude oils than in non-biodegraded oils. Various fractionation schemes and analytical techniques have been applied in the search for molecular characterisation. The average molecular weights were found to be approximately 500 g/mole. GC–MS chromatograms show a large UCM (Unresolved Complex Mixture). Thus, GC–MS has a limited potential for identification of compounds. A commercial biosurfactant was used as a model compound in the search for similar structures in the extracts. The results from analysis of the hydrate adsorbing components suggest that the type and structure are more important for hydrate morphology than the amount of material adsorbed.     

隧道喷射混凝土支护的曲线结构单元模拟

将一种新的曲线结构单元引入到块体一弹簧算法中,对圆形断面隧道围岩表面喷射不同混凝土衬砌的支护作用机理以及开挖速度对喷射混凝上材料早期强度的影响等进行分析,得出了一些有意义的结论。