Three‐dimensional finite element study of arching behavior in slope/drilled shafts system

Two‐dimensional slope stability analysis for a slope with a row of drilled shafts needs a mechanism to take into account the three‐dimensional effect of the soil arching due to the spaced drilled shafts on slope. To gain a better understanding of the arching mechanisms in a slope with evenly spaced drilled shafts socketed into a stable stratum (or a rock layer), the three‐dimensional finite element modelling technique was used for a comprehensive parametric study, where the nonlinear and plastic nature of the soil and the elastic behavior of the drilled shafts as well as the interface frictions were modelled. Various factors were varied in the parametric study to include (1) the rigidity of the drilled shafts as influenced by its diameter, modulus of elasticity, and total length; (2) shafts spacing and location on the slope; (3) the material properties of rock and the socket length of shaft; and (4) the soil movement and strength parameters. Evidences of soil arching and reduction in the stresses and displacements through the load transfer mechanisms due to the presence of the drilled shafts were elucidated through the finite element method (FEM) simulation results. Design charts based on regression analysis of FEM simulation results were created to obtain a numerical value of the load transfer factor for the arching mechanism provided by the drilled shafts on the slope. Observations of the arching behavior learned from the FEM simulations provide an insight into the behavior of drilled shafts stabilized slope. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Three‐dimensional responses of buried corrugated pipes and ANN‐based method for predicting pipe deflections

This study investigated localized responses, such as circumferential stresses, on corrugation and pipe deflections. Also, this study examined the effect of corrugation geometry on the overall and localized response of corrugated pipes with refined three‐dimensional modeling of the entire soil–pipe interaction system, including corrugation. To investigate the availability of the traditional two‐dimensional method, the results from the three‐dimensional finite element method (FEM) were compared with those from the two‐dimensional FEM. The soil–pipe modeling techniques of this study were verified by comparing the FEM results by Utah State University and analytical results. An artificial neural network (ANN)‐based model to predict vertical deflections of buried corrugated pipes was developed to overcome the shortcomings of existing methods and obtain results that are close to the level of accuracy of FEM results. In order to train an ANN, analyses on a large amount of data were executed with various standardized pipe geometries and burial depths regulated by the Korea Highway Corporation using the two‐dimensional FEM verified in this study. The widely used back propagation algorithm was adopted. The ANN‐based model developed in this study was shown to be an effective tool by comparing the results with test data and sensitivity analyses were executed based on the data from the developed ANN. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Three‐dimensional simulations of tensile cracks in geomaterials by coupling meshless and finite element method

Failure in geotechnical engineering is often related to tension‐induced cracking in geomaterials. In this paper, a coupled meshless method and FEM is developed to analyze the problem of three‐dimensional cracking. The radial point interpolation method (RPIM) is used to model cracks in the smeared crack framework with an isotropic damage model. The identification of the meshless region is based on the stress state computed by FEM, and the adaptive coupling of RPIM and FEM is achieved by a direct algorithm. Mesh‐bias dependency, which poses difficulties in FEM‐based cracking simulations, is circumvented by a crack tracking algorithm. The performance of our scheme is demonstrated by two numerical examples, that is, the four‐point bending test on concrete beam and the surface cracks caused by tunnel excavation. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Quantification of turbate microstructures through a subglacial till: dimensions and characteristics

Despite extensive study and debate regarding the significance of turbate (also known as ‘rotational’) microstructures in glacially deformed sediments, characteristics regarding the dimensions of these features remain unresolved. This study presents the first explicitly quantitative measurement and analysis of turbate microstructure dimensions, and their relation to till texture through thin section analysis. Samples were taken from coarse‐resolution horizontal and vertical transects of a macroscopically homogenous subglacial till, with subset areas of each thin section (30 mm²) analysed. The frequency and apparent a‐axes and b‐axes of both coreless and cored turbate structures (and their corestones) were measured, and simple univariate statistical methods used to establish the (in‐)variability of these dimensions through the till profile. Summarizing findings, (i) the dimensions of both cored and coreless turbate populations display log‐normal distributions when all measurements are analysed together, although not all individual sample populations possess these same distributions; (ii) turbate dimension populations are inconsistent within a sample block, precluding evaluation of turbate variability through a profile from single thin sections; (iii) analysis of turbate morphology and variability provisionally indicate that the three‐dimensional structure of turbates are likely to be cylindrical or flared, while weak relationships are also observed amongst till texture, turbate dimensions and frequency.     

Simplified analytical solution for point load acting behind a cantilever wall

The analysis of earth pressure resulting from an applied point load behind a retaining wall is to be carried out in three dimensions as the earth pressure distribution varies both in vertical and horizontal directions. In this research, the semi‐empirical expressions developed by Terzaghi [Trans. ASCE 1954; 119 ] for earth pressure due to point load are integrated and a correction factor is introduced to develop equivalent equations for two‐dimensional analyses. A new parameter referred to as the design width, which is the horizontal distance retained by the individual vertical retaining element is introduced. The used procedure and the resulted equations are tested and verified by adopting different design width values covering the practical range. The resulted equations together with the semi‐empirical expressions of earth pressure due to line load developed by Terzaghi [Trans. ASCE 1954; 119 ] can be easily used for two‐dimensional analysis of the effect of point load. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

碎石土古滑坡弹塑性接触有限元稳定性分析

为了准确评价碎石土古滑坡的稳定性,通过资料搜集整理和分析、现场工程地质调查与勘探和室内外的物理力学试验,采用三维大变形弹塑性接触有限元算法,结合复活碎石土古滑坡工程实例,提出利用三维计算结果计算二维剖面稳定性系数的方法,分析了滑坡的稳定性。结果表明,采用三维大变形弹塑性接触有限元算法分析滑坡稳定性可以考虑滑坡体的空间效应,使计算结果更加符合实际。新方法可以更准确分析碎石土滑坡的稳定性和获得该类型滑坡所处的实际状态,为滑坡治理提供准确的科学信患。     

General coupling extended multiscale FEM for elasto‐plastic consolidation analysis of heterogeneous saturated porous media

This paper presents a general coupling extended multiscale FEM (GCEMs) for solving the coupling problem of elasto‐plastic consolidation of heterogeneous saturated porous media. In the GCEMs, the numerical multiscale base functions for the solid skeleton and fluid phase of the coupling system are all constructed on the basis of the equivalent stiffness matrix of the unit cell, which not only contain the interaction between the solid and fluid phases but also consider the time effect. Furthermore, in order to improve the computational accuracy for two‐dimensional problems, a multi‐node coarse element strategy for the GCEMs is proposed, and a two‐scale iteration algorithm for the elasto‐plastic consolidation analysis is developed. Some one‐dimensional and two‐dimensional homogeneous and heterogeneous numerical examples are carried out to validate the proposed method through the comparison with the coupling multiscale FEM and standard FEM. Numerical results show that the newly developed GCEMs can almost preserve the same convergent property as the standard FEM and also possesses the advantages of high computational efficiency. In addition, the GCEMs can be easily applied to other coupling multifield and multiphase transient problems. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A three‐dimensional numerical model of sediment transport,erosion and deposition within a network of channel belts,floodplain and hill slope: extrinsic and intrinsic controls on floodplain dynamics and alluvial architecture

A three‐dimensional numerical model of sediment transport, erosion and deposition within a network of channel belts and associated floodplain is described. Sediment and water supply are defined at the upstream entry point, and base level is defined at the downstream edge of the model. Sediment and water are transported through a network of channels according to the diffusion equation, and each channel has a channel belt with a width that increases in time. The network of channels evolves as a result of channel bifurcation and abandonment (avulsion). The timing and location of channel bifurcation is controlled stochastically as a function of the cross‐valley slope of the floodplain adjacent to the channel belt relative to the down‐valley slope, and of annual flood discharge. A bifurcation develops into an avulsion when the discharge of one of the distributaries falls below a threshold value. The floodplain aggradation rate decreases with distance from the nearest active channel belt. Channel‐belt degradation results in floodplain incision. Extrinsic (extrabasinal, allogenic) and intrinsic (intrabasinal, autogenic) controls on floodplain dynamics and alluvial architecture were modelled, and sequence stratigraphy models were assessed. Input parameters were chosen based on data from the Rhine–Meuse delta. To examine how the model responds to extrinsic controls, the model was run under conditions of changing base level and increasing sediment supply. Rises and falls in base level and increases in sediment supply occurred over 10 000 years. Rising base level caused a wave of aggradation to move up‐valley, until aggradation occurred over the entire valley. Frequency of bifurcations and avulsions increased with rate of base‐level rise and aggradation rate. Channel‐belt width varied with water discharge and the lifespan of the channel belt. Wide, connected channel belts (and high channel‐deposit proportion) occurred around the upstream inflow point because of their high discharge and longevity. Less connected, smaller channel belts occurred further down‐valley. Such alluvial behaviour and architecture is also found in the Rhine–Meuse delta. During base‐level fall, valley erosion occurred, and the incised valley contained a single wide channel belt. During subsequent base‐level rise, a wave of aggradation moved up‐valley, filling the incised valley. Bifurcation and avulsion sites progressively moved upstream. Relatively thin, narrow channel belts bordered and cut into the valley fill. These results differ substantially from existing sequence stratigraphy models. The increase in sediment supply from upstream resulted in an alluvial fan. Most bifurcations and avulsions occurred at the fan apex (nodal avulsion), and channel belts were the widest and the thickest here (giving high channel‐deposit proportion) due to their high discharge and longevity. The width and thickness of channel belts decreased down‐valley due to decreased discharge, longevity and aggradation rate. This behaviour occurs in modern alluvial fans. Intrinsic controls also affect floodplain dynamics and alluvial architecture. Variation of aggradation rate, bifurcation frequency and number of coexisting channel belts occurred over periods of 500 to 2000 years, compared with 10 000 years for extrinsic controls. This variation is partly related to local aggradation and degradation of channel belts around bifurcation points. Channel belts were preferentially clustered near floodplain margins, because of low floodplain aggradation rate and topography there.     

Supply limited sediment transport in a high-discharge event of the tropical Burdekin River, North Queensland, Australia

Interactions between catchment variables and sediment transport processes in rivers are complex, and sediment transport behaviour during high‐flow events is not well documented. This paper presents an investigation into sediment transport processes in a short‐duration, high‐discharge event in the Burdekin River, a large sand‐ and gravel‐bed river in the monsoon‐ and cyclone‐influenced, semi‐arid tropics of north Queensland. The Burdekin's discharge is highly variable and strongly seasonal, with a recorded maximum of 40 400 m³ s^?1. Sediment was sampled systematically across an 800 m wide, 12 m deep and straight reach using Helley‐Smith bedload and US P‐61 suspended sediment samplers over 16 days of a 29‐day discharge event in February and March 2000 (peak 11 155 m³ s^?1). About 3·7 × 10⁶ tonnes of suspended sediment and 3 × 10⁵ tonnes of bedload are estimated to have been transported past the sample site during the flow event. The sediment load was predominantly supply limited. Wash load included clay, silt and very fine sand. The concentration of suspended bed material (including very coarse sand) varied with bedload transport rate, discharge and height above the bed. Bedload transport rate and changes in channel shape were greatest several days after peak discharge. Comparison between these data and sparse published data from other events on this river shows that the control on sediment load varies between supply limited and hydraulically limited transport, and that antecedent weather is an important control on suspended sediment concentration. Neither the empirical relationships widely used to estimate suspended sediment concentrations and bedload (e.g. Ackers & White, 1973) nor observations of sediment transport characteristics in ephemeral streams (e.g. Reid & Frostick, 1987) are directly applicable to this river.     

Quantitative analysis of variations in depositional sequence thickness from submarine channel levees

Abstract Thickness variations across‐levee and downchannel in acoustically defined depositional sequences from six submarine channel‐levee systems show consistent and quantifiable patterns. The thickness of depositional sequences perpendicular to the channel trend, i.e. across the levee, decreases exponentially, as characterized by a spatial decay constant, k. Similarly, the thickness of sediment at the levee crest decreases exponentially down the upper reaches of submarine channels and can be characterized by a second spatial decay constant, λ. The inverse of these decay constants has units of length and defines depositional length scales such that k^?1 is a measure of levee width and λ^?1 is a measure of levee length. Quantification of levee architecture in this way allowed investigation of relationships between levee architecture and channel dimensions. It was found that these measures of levee e‐folding width and levee e‐folding length are directly related to channel width and relief. The dimensions of channels and levees are thus intimately related, thereby limiting the range of potential channel‐levee morphologies, regardless of allocyclic forcing. A simple sediment budget model relates the product of the levee e‐folding width and e‐folding length to through‐channel volume discharge. A classification system based on the quantitative downchannel behaviour of levee architecture allows identification of a ‘mid‐channel’ reach, where sediment is passively transferred from the through‐channel flow to the levees as an overspilling flow. Downstream from this reach, the channel gradually looses its control on guiding turbidity currents, and the resulting flow can be considered as an unconfined or spreading flow.     

Response of unconfined turbidity current to deep‐water fold and thrust belt topography: Orthogonal incidence on solitary and segmented folds

Sea‐floor topography of deep‐water folds is widely considered to have a major impact on turbidity currents and their depositional systems, but understanding the flow response to such features was limited mainly to conceptual notions inspired by small‐scale laboratory experiments. High‐resolution three‐dimensional numerical experiments can compensate for the lack of natural‐scale flow observations. The present study combines numerical modelling of thrusts with fault‐propagation folds by Trishear3D software with computational fluid dynamics simulations of a natural‐scale unconfined turbidity current by MassFlow‐3D? software. The study reveals the hydraulic and depositional responses of a turbidity current (ca 50 m thick) to typical topographic features that it might encounter in an orthogonal incidence on a sea‐floor deep‐water fold and thrust belt. The supercritical current (ca 10 m sec^?1) decelerated and thickened due to the hydraulic jump on the fold backlimb counter‐slope, where a reverse overflow formed through current self‐reflection and a reverse underflow was issued by backward squeezing of a dense near‐bed sediment load. The reverse flows were re‐feeding sediment to the parental current, reducing its waning rate and extending its runout. The low‐efficiency current, carrying sand and silt, outran a downslope distance of >17 km with only modest deposition (<0·2 m) beyond the fold. Most of the flow volume diverted sideways along the backlimb to surround the fold and spread further downslope, with some overspill across the fold and another hydraulic jump at the forelimb toe. In the case of a segmented fold, a large part of the flow went downslope through the segment boundary. Preferential deposition (0·2 to 1·8 m) occurred on the fold backlimb and directly upslope, and on the forelimb slope in the case of a smaller fold. The spatial patterns of sand entrapment revealed by the study may serve as guidelines for assessing the influence of substrate folds on turbiditic sedimentation in a basin.     

Meltwater discharge during the Holocene from the Wilkes subglacial basin revealed by beryllium isotope analysis of marine sediments

Understanding Antarctic Ice Sheet dynamics related to global climate change is of scientific and societal interest as the future behaviour of the ice sheet under the currently changing climate is unknown. We present beryllium‐10 (¹⁰Be) analysis of a high‐resolution marine sediment core from the Adélie Basin near the eastern Wilkes Land margin, which is susceptible to marine ice sheet instability due to the low‐lying nature and down‐sloping trough of the Wilkes Subglacial Basin. Combined with a newly constructed age model using compound specific radiocarbon dates, the data reveal three events associated with high meteoric ¹⁰Be at ca. ~10 ka, ca. ~6.5 ka and from ca. ~4 ka. We interpret these high meteoric ¹⁰Be events to be derived from the deposition of ¹⁰Be released from the ice sheet during meltwater discharge. In particular, the shift to higher meteoric ¹⁰Be concentration at~4 ka may correspond to changes in climate patterns at this time. Copyright © 2019 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Three‐dimensional to two‐dimensional cross‐strata transition in the lower Pleistocene Catanzaro tidal strait transgressive succession (southern Italy)

Sandstone tidal cross‐strata are the predominant sedimentary feature of strait‐fill stratigraphic successions. However, although widely described in numerous studies, tidal strait‐fill two‐dimensional and three‐dimensional cross‐strata have rarely been reported to occur in discrete intervals which are laterally adjacent or vertically stacked, and the meaning of this stratigraphic architecture has not yet been fully investigated. Understanding of the processes responsible for changes in the internal features of modern and ancient tidal bedforms is essential in order to predict lateral and vertical heterogeneities in analogous reservoir strata. This facies‐based study aims to interpret the three‐dimensional to two‐dimensional cross‐strata transition observed in the lower Pleistocene mixed siliciclastic/bioclastic sandstone filling the Catanzaro Strait, in southern Italy, during a continuous phase of tectonically driven marine transgression. Tidal cross‐strata disappear in the uppermost interval of the studied succession, where mudstone strata prevail. This stratigraphic trend is interpreted as the evidence of an important change in the tidal strait hydrodynamics due to a phase of relative sea‐level rise. At the beginning of the transgression, three‐dimensional tidal dunes migrated throughout the ca 3 to 4 km wide and ca 30 km long, WNW–ESE‐oriented Catanzaro Strait, due to strong tidal currents amplified through the seaway and flowing in semi‐diurnal phase opposition. As the intermediate phase of transgression enlarged the seaway width, the tidal current strength decreased as tidal water exchange occurred over a larger cross‐sectional area. The progressive reduction of the bed shear stress modified three‐dimensional tidal dunes into an extensive two‐dimensional bedform field. At the end of the transgression, the further widening of the Catanzaro Strait into a ca 10 to 12 km wide marine passageway changed the tidally dominated strait into a non‐tidal open shelf. The results of this research suggest the presence of a ‘critical cross‐sectional area’ in the narrowest strait‐centre zone which controls the activation and deactivation of tidal current amplification along a marine seaway.     

复合单元法的物理和数值试验验证

简述了复合单元法的基本原理和算法,该方法的主要优点在于可以明显地减少前处理的工作量和难度,且可以与有限单元很好地耦合在一个系统中。介绍了宝珠寺重力坝的物理模型超载试验。分别采用三维弹黏塑性复合单元法和三维弹黏塑性有限单元法对宝珠寺重力坝的超载工况进行了数值试验,并与物理试验进行比较。结果表明,三种方法得到的特征点位移吻合得较好,两种数值试验方法的整体位移和应力也基本一致。研究验证了复合单元法的正确性,也说明了该算法的主要优点：前处理简单,计算精度与有限单元法相当,同时还证实了复合单元单元法可以较好地解决复杂岩基上重力坝的变形与破坏问题。     

Darcian flow under/through a leaky cutoff wall: Terzaghi–Anderson's seepage problem revisited

An analytical solution is obtained for 2‐D steady Darcian flow under and through a cutoff wall partially obstructing a homogeneous isotropic foundation of a dam. The wall is leaky; that is, flow across it depends on the ratio of hydraulic conductivity of the wall and the wall thickness that results in the third‐type (Robin) boundary condition along the wall, as compared with the Terzaghi problem for an impermeable wall. The Laplace equation for the hydraulic head is meshlessly solved in a non‐standard flow tube. A Fredholm equation of the second kind is obtained for the intensity of leakage across the wall. The equation is tackled numerically, by adjusted successive iterations. Flow characteristics (total Darcian discharge and its components through the wall and the window between the wall top and horizontal bedrock, stream function, head distribution, and Darcian velocity along the wall and tailwater bed) are obtained for various conductivity ratios, head drops across the structure, thicknesses of the foundation, and the degree of its blockage by the wall. Comparisons with the Terzaghi limit of an impermeable wall show that for common wall materials and thicknesses, the leakage may constitute tens of percent of the discharge under the dam. The through‐flow hydraulic gradients on a vertical wall face (Robin's boundary condition) as well as the exit gradients along a horizontal tailwater boundary (Dirichlet's boundary condition) acting for decades have deleterious impacts on dam stability because of potential heaving, piping, and mechanical–chemical suffusion. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Terrain correcting Australian gravity observations using the national digital elevation model and the fast Fourier transform

The release of a digital elevation model (DEM) for Australia on a 9″ (～250 m) grid has enabled the computation of gravimetric terrain corrections thus allowing the computation of complete Bouguer anomalies across the continent. The terrain correction was calculated through a two‐dimensional fast Fourier transform algorithm applied to a linear, planar approximation of the terrain‐correction formula, and with a constant topographic density of 2670 kg.m^‐3. The technique was applied to two datasets in order to test for instabilities in the terrain‐correction algorithm: the original 9″ DEM, and a 27″ DEM averaged from the 9″ data. The 27″ terrain corrections were compared with values supplied by the Australian Geological Survey Organisation in Tasmania: 86% of these data were found to agree within 3.91 μm.s^‐2; 98% agreed to within 5.32 μm.s^‐2 (1σ).     

Groundwater balance in the Khor Arbaat basin, Red Sea State, eastern Sudan

The Khor Arbaat basin is the main source of potable water supply for the more than 750,000 inhabitants of Port Sudan, eastern Sudan. The variation in hydraulic conductivity and storage capacity is due to the heterogeneity of the sediments, which range from clay and silt to gravely sand and boulders. The water table rises during the summer and winter rainy seasons; it reaches its lowest level in the dry season. The storage capacity of the Khor Arbaat aquifer is estimated to be 21.75?×?10⁶ m³. The annual recharge through the infiltration of flood water is about 1.93?×?10⁶ m³. The groundwater recharge, calculated as underground inflow at the ‘upper gate’, is 1.33?×?10⁵ m³/year. The total annual groundwater recharge is 2.06?×?10⁶ m³. The annual discharge through underground outflow at the ‘lower gate’ (through which groundwater flows onto the coastal plain) is 3.29?×?10⁵ m³/year. Groundwater discharge due to pumping from Khor Arbaat basin is 4.38?×?10⁶ m³/year on average. The total annual groundwater discharge is about 4.7?×?10⁶ m³. A deficit of 2.6?×?10⁶ m³/year is calculated. Although the total annual discharge is twice the estimated annual recharge, additional groundwater flow from the fractured basement probably balances the annual groundwater budget since no decline is observed in the piezometric levels.     

Seismogenic Structure around the Epicenter of the May 12, 2008 Wenchuan Earthquake from Micro‐seismic Tomography

Abstract: A three-dimensional local-scale P-velocity model down to 25 km depth around the main shock epicenter region was constructed using 83821 event-to-receiver seismic rays from 5856 aftershocks recorded by a newly deployed temporary seismic network. Checkerboard tests show that our tomographic model has lateral and vertical resolution of ~2 km. The high-resolution P-velocity model revealed interesting structures in the seismogenic layer: (1) The Guanxian-Anxian fault, Yingxiu-Beichuan fault and Wenchuan-Maoxian fault of the Longmen Shan fault zone are well delineated by sharp upper crustal velocity changes; (2) The Pengguan massif has generally higher velocity than its surrounding areas, and may extend down to at least ~10 km from the surface; (3) A sharp lateral velocity variation beneath the Wenchuan-Maoxian fault may indicate that the Pengguan massif’s western boundary and/or the Wenchuan-Maoxian fault is vertical, and the hypocenter of the Wenchuan earthquake possibly located at the conjunction point of the NW dipping Yingxiu-Beichuan and Guanxian-Anxian faults, and vertical Wenchuan-Maoxian fault; (4) Vicinity along the Yingxiu-Beichuan fault is characterized by very low velocity and low seismicity at shallow depths, possibly due to high content of porosity and fractures; (5) Two blocks of low-velocity anomaly are respectively imaged in the hanging wall and foot wall of the Guanxian-Anxian fault with a ~7 km offset with ~5 km vertical component.     

Sedimentary architecture and 3D ground-penetrating radar analysis of gravelly meandering river deposits (Neckar Valley, SW Germany)

Sedimentological outcrop analysis and sub‐surface ground‐penetrating radar (GPR) surveys are combined to characterize the three‐dimensional sedimentary architecture of Quaternary coarse‐grained fluvial deposits in the Neckar Valley (SW Germany). Two units characterized by different architectural styles are distinguished within the upper part of the gravel body, separated by an erosional unconformity: (i) a lower unit dominated by trough‐shaped depositional elements with erosional, concave‐up bounding surfaces that are filled by cross‐bedded sets of mainly openwork and filled framework gravel; and (ii) an upper unit characterized by gently inclined sheets of massive and openwork gravels with thin, sandy interlayers that show lateral accretion on a lower erosional unconformity. The former is interpreted as confluence scour pool elements formed in a multi‐channel, possibly braided river system, the latter as extensive point bar deposits formed by the lateral migration of a meandering river channel. The lateral accretion elements are locally cut by chute channels mainly filled by gravels rich in fines, and by fine‐grained abandoned channel fills. The lateral accretion elements are associated with gravel dune deposits characterized by steeply inclined cross‐beds of alternating open and filled framework gravel. Floodplain fines with a cutbank and point bar morphology cover the gravel deposits. The GPR images, revealing the three‐dimensional geometries of the depositional elements and their stacking patterns, confirm a change in sedimentary style between the two stratigraphic units. The change occurred at the onset of the Holocene, as indicated by ¹⁴C‐dating of wood fragments, and is related to a re‐organization of the fluvial system that probably was driven by climatic changes. The integration of sedimentological and GPR results highlights the heterogeneity of the fluvial deposits, a factor that is important for modelling groundwater flow in valley‐fill aquifers.     

Three‐dimensional inverse analyses of a deep excavation in Chicago clays

Numerical models are commonly used to estimate excavation‐induced ground movements. Two‐dimensional (2D) plain strain assumption is typically used for the simulation of deep excavations which might not be suitable for excavations where three‐dimensional (3D) effects dominate the ground response. This paper adapts an inverse analysis algorithm to learn soil behavior from field measurements using a 3D model representation of an excavation. The paper describes numerical issues related to this development including the generation of the 3D model mesh from laser scan images of the excavation. The inverse analysis to extract the soil behavior in 3D is presented. The model captures the measured wall deflections. Although settlements were not sufficiently measured, the predicted settlements around the excavation site reflected strong 3D effects and were consistent with empirical correlations. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.