An original method for characterizing internal waves

This study consisted in the characterization of internal waves in the south of the Strait of Messina (Italy). The observational data consisted in thermistor string profiles from the Coastal Ocean Acoustic Changes at High frequencies (COACH06) sea trial.An empirical orthogonal function analysis is applied to the data. The first two spatial empirical modes represent over 99% of the variability, and their corresponding time-dependent expansion coefficients take higher absolute values during internal wave events. In order to check how the expansion coefficients vary during an internal wave event, their time derivative, called here changing rates, are computed. It shows that each wave of an internal wave train is characterized by a double oscillation of the changing rates. At the front of the wave, both changing rates increase in absolute value with opposite sign, and then decrease to become null at the maximum amplitude of the wave. At the rear of the wave, the changing rates describe another period, again with opposite sign. This double oscillation can be used as a detector of internal waves, but it can also give information on the width of the wave, by measuring the length of the oscillation, as this information may sometimes be hard to read straight out of the data. When plotting the changing rates one versus another, the resulting scatter diagram puts on a butterfly shape that illustrates well this behaviour.     

Coronal index of solar activity: Years 1939–1963

A coronal index of solar activity (CI), based upon the total irradiance of the coronal 530.3 nm green line, has been constructed for the period 1939–1963 from observations at five stations worldwide. The monthly average CI exhibits a cyclic pattern with time, with succesive peaks monotonically increasing since solar cycle 18. Potential uses of the CI are discussed.     

夹有泥皮粗粒土与结构接触面力学特性试验研究

进行了粗粒土与结构之间夹有泥皮和无泥皮两种状态的接触面单调和循环剪切试验,初步研究了夹有泥皮时接触面静动力学特性的规律和作用机理。试验表明,泥皮对粗粒土与结构接触面的力学特性有重要影响。当泥皮不厚时,接触面仍表现出粗粒土与结构接触面的基本力学特性。泥皮越厚,接触面的抗剪强度越低,相对法向位移会越大。当泥皮极厚时,泥皮将隔断粗粒土与结构面的接触而成为泥皮与结构接触面。泥皮对接触面力学特性的影响程度不仅与泥皮本身的特性及其厚度有关,还与构成接触面的结构面材料与粗粒土的特性有关。     

粗粒土与结构接触面的可逆性与不可逆性剪胀规律

进行了粗粒土与结构接触面的单调和往返剪切试验,研究了接触面的剪胀特性。试验结果表明,接触面的剪胀体应变是由一个完全可逆性的体应变分量和一个不可逆性的体应变分量构成的。不可逆性剪胀体应变反映了接触面内的土颗粒破碎和剪切压密两种物态变化,其变化规律与接触面的应力相对位移关系的演化规律具有相似性,是接触面力学特性演化的一个重要量度。可逆性剪胀体应变存在相变点,并表现出明显的剪切异向性,该异向性的主要内因是由于剪切引起的结构面附近土的结构异向性。基于接触面受力变形机理分析,引入有效剪应变等概念,建立了剪胀方程。     

土与土工织物接触面力学特性的试验研究

在大型土与结构接触面循环加载剪切仪上添加了拉拔试验模块,进行了大尺寸的粗粒土与土工布接触面的单调和往返剪切试验以及土工布拉拔试验。剪切试验结果表明,粗粒土与土工布接触面出现了一定程度的应变软化,相对法向位移的变化受法向应力影响很大,并表现出异向性。土工布拉拔试验结果表明,由于土与土工织物接触面的剪胀造成该类接触面的抗剪强度与法向应力不再是线性关系;将接触面剪切试验和拉拔试验方法结合起来是研究土与土工织物接触面力学特性较为全面和合理的手段。     

From discrete to continuum modelling of boundary value problems in geomechanics: An integrated FEM-DEM approach

Double-scale numerical methods constitute an effective tool for simultaneously representing the complex nature of geomaterials and treating real-scale engineering problems such as a tunnel excavation or a pressuremetre at a reasonable numerical cost. This paper presents an approach coupling discrete elements (DEM) at the microscale with finite elements (FEM) at the macroscale. In this approach, a DEM-based numerical constitutive law is embedded into a standard FEM formulation. In this regard, an exhaustive discussion is presented on how a 2D/3D granular assembly can be used to generate, step by step along the overall computation process, a consistent Numerically Homogenised Law. The paper also focuses on some recent developments including a comprehensive discussion of the efficiency of Newton-like operators, the introduction of a regularisation technique at the macroscale by means of a second gradient framework, and the development of parallelisation techniques to alleviate the computational cost of the proposed approach. Some real-scale problems taking into account the material spatial variability are illustrated, proving the numerical efficiency of the proposed approach and the benefit of a particle-based strategy.     

Centrifuge model test study on pile reinforcement behavior of cohesive soil slopes under earthquake conditions

In this study, dynamic centrifuge model tests were conducted to investigate the dynamic response of cohesive soil slopes with the use of stabilizing piles during an earthquake. The behavior of the pile reinforcement was analyzed based on the obtained deformation over the entire slope through image-based measurement, and the behavior of the slope was compared to that of an unreinforced slope. The piles significantly increased the stability of the slope and reduced its deformation during an earthquake. The bending moment of the piles exhibited a nearly triangular distribution due to the earthquake. The acceleration response of the slope increased with increasing elevation, and the displacement accumulated apparently irreversibly over the course of the earthquake. The piles significantly affected the deformation of the slope in a certain area, the boundary of which was defined using a continuous surface. A strain analysis of the slope demonstrated that the piles had a significant effect on the reduction in the deformation of the slope in their vicinities, and this effect expanded upward along the slope and arrested the possible slip surface that would have occurred in an unreinforced slope. Several influencing factors were simulated in the tests, and observation of these factors demonstrated that the dynamic response of the pile-reinforced slope was affected by the pile spacing, pile location, slope gradient, and input earthquake to varying extent.     

Progressive failure behavior of pile-reinforced clay slopes under surface load conditions

Stabilizing piles are widely used to improve stability level of slopes to avoid landslides. In this paper, the full failure process of clay slopes reinforced using stabilizing piles was produced using serialized centrifuge model tests under surface loading conditions. The strength of pile material and the pile location closer to the slope top were both indicated to have a positive influence on the limit bearing capacity of the reinforced slope on the basis of test observations. The displacement field over the reinforced slope was measured during loading and used to capture a significant progressive failure caused by the surface loading. Local failure started near the inner edge of the load plate and expanded in a downward direction to produce a final slip surface. The pile exhibited a bending failure coupled with the progressive failure of the slope. The failure mechanism could be illustrated with the deformation localization in the slope that developed prior to the slip surface. The surface load exhibited a significant spreading behavior within the slope according to the displacement distribution of the slope.