应力状态对膨胀土SWCC的影响研究

探讨了应力对膨胀土的土-水特征曲线的影响。试验研究表明：膨胀土的首次干湿循环过程的“滞后”现象明显。应力状态对膨胀土的土-水特征曲线影响显著,与常规试验方法相比,一维固结状态和各向等压应力状态下的土-水特征曲线更具线性关系,干湿循环甚至出现了逆向回滞现象。     

Nonlinear Behaviour of an Embankment on Floating Stone Columns

This paper describes a benchmark problem for a floating stone columns supported embankment. In the 3D model, a thick soft subsoil deposit represented by Singapore marine clay was treated by floating stone columns to support a 2.0 m high embankment. The 3D numerical results were compared among different constitutive models such as the hardening soil model, soft soil model, modified Cam-clay model and Mohr-Coulomb model, highlighting the effect of non-linearity in the overall performance of the ground structure. The advanced constitutive soil models allow more realistic soil response to be investigated. From the numerical results, the Mohr-Coulomb model with elastic-perfectly plastic stress-strain response was able to give comparable total settlements but failed to demonstrate some intrinsic behaviours obtained with advanced soil models. These intrinsic behaviours include the mode of failure, displacements profile, stress transfer mechanism and rate of consolidation. This benchmark example has given us an improved understanding of the performance of floating stone columns when a more realistic soil behaviour is modelled.     

Remote sensing mapping of the regeneration of coastal natural habitats in Singapore: Implications for marine conservation in tropical cities

Rapid urbanization has resulted in the loss of coastal and marine habitats in cities worldwide. The effective conservation of urban coastal ecosystems requires detailed knowledge of their spatial distribution, necessitating high-resolution mapping. Our study produces a high-resolution coastal and marine habitat map and shoreline map for the tropical city-state of Singapore created through pixel-based supervised classification of satellite imagery, bathymetry data and expert ground knowledge. These maps can be used as a base reference for multiple applications including ecological research, conservation and urban planning. They also help identifiy trends in the extent of key coastal habitats, providing insight into their differing levels of vulnerability to loss and potential for restoration to ensure long-term resilience. The method used for mapping shoreline typologies and resulting insights gained, can guide other rapidly urbanizing coastal cities on strategies to assemble useful spatial knowledge for effective conservation of their urban coastal ecosystems.     

Parametric analyses of push-out tests and implications for design of rock-socketed steel H-pile

The load response of a rock-socketed steel H-pile can be strongly influenced by the nonlinear interfacial behavior between the grout and the steel H-pile, and between the pile and the rock mass. This paper focuses on the load-transfer mechanism of the former interface through experimental push-out tests and numerical simulation of the tests. The study is divided into two parts. In the first part, a series of push-out tests have been carried out on four types of specimens (with studs + confinement (Case I); no stud + confinement (Case II); no stud + no confinement (Case III); and studs + no confinement (Case IV)). The second part is a numerical study based on three-dimensional finite element technique, which takes into account possible damage and cracking in grout, as well as bond-slip along the interface. It is shown that the numerical predictions of the four cases compare favorably with the corresponding test results, including the load–displacement response and the development of cracks. Furthermore, parametric study has been carried out to investigate the influence of various factors, including the studs, the casing confinement, the grout fracture energy, and the dilation property of steel-grout interface. Lastly, some implications, based on the test and numerical results, on the design of socketed steel H-piles are discussed.     

A 3-D time-domain coupled model for nonlinear waves acting on a box-shaped ship fixed in a harbor

A 3-D time-domain numerical coupled model is developed to obtain an efficient method for nonlinear waves acting on a box-shaped ship fixed in a harbor. The domain is divided into the inner domain and the outer domain. The inner domain is the area beneath the ship and the flow is described by the simplified Euler equations. The remaining area is the outer domain and the flow is defined by the higher-order Boussinesq equations in order to consider the nonlinearity of the wave motions. Along the interface boundaries between the inner domain and the outer domain, the volume flux is assumed to be continuous and the wave pressures are equal. Relevant physical experiment is conducted to validate the present model and it is shown that the numerical results agree with the experimental data. Compared the coupled model with the flow in the inner domain governed by the Laplace equation, the present coupled model is more efficient and its solution procedure is simpler, which is particularly useful for the study on the effect of the nonlinear waves acting on a fixed box-shaped ship in a large harbor.     

Slow rotational perturbations of Robertson-Walker universes

A slow rotation perturbation of Robertson-Walker universes filled with perfect fluid has been investigated. It is found that the unit-four vector of perfect fluid hasno angular velocity in the perturbed cosmological models. The slow rotation which is related to the dragging of the local inertial frames, is compatible only with the cases of positive and negative curvatures of the cosmological universe. The intrinsic velocity vector field of the Universe isexpanding as well asshearing.     

A non-linear numerical model for soil mechanics

A new computer program (CONBAL-2) is developed for 2D numerical simulations of granular soil by random arrays of spheres. CONBAL-2 uses the discrete-element method and is based on 3D program TRUBAL, previously presented by Cundall. As in TRUBAL, the new program models a random array of elastic spheres in a periodic space. The main modification of TRUBAL is the implementation by the authors of a rigorous solution for the force–displacement relation at the interparticle contacts. This force-displacement relation is a function of the elastic constants, friction coefficient and sizes of the spheres, with the properties of quartz used to simulate sand. Other specific features of CONBAL-2 include its 2D character, the lack of particle rotation and its capability to simulate shear loading on any plane. Simulated laboratory test results are presented using CONBAL-2 and several random arrays of 531 spheres having two particle sizes. These simulations include monotonic loading drained and undrained (constant volume) ‘triaxial’ experiments, as well as a cyclic-loading, constant-volume ‘torsional shear’ test. The stress–strain curves, effective stress paths, volume changes, as well as the ‘pore water pressure’ build-up behaviour obtained in the simulations compare favourably—qualitatively and in some aspects quantitatively—with similar laboratory results on sands. However, the simulated soil is somewhat stiffer and stronger due to the perfectly rounded particles, limited range of grain sizes, lack of particle rotation and 2D character of the model.