Centrifuge modelling of inclined micro-piles for liquefaction remediation of existing buildings

This paper describes four centrifuge tests investigating the performance of non-structural inclined micro-piles as a liquefaction remediation method for existing buildings. Two soil profiles with the same superstructure founded on each were tested under earthquakes of different magnitudes and durations. The first profile consisted of a deep, homogeneous layer of loose, liquefiable sand. The second comprised a shallow layer of loose sand overlying dense sand. Centrifuge tests were carried out with and without inclined micro-piles in each soil profile. The superstructure was modelled as an idealised single degree of freedom (SDOF) system. It is found that the micro-piles have no detrimental effect on the performance of the structure during and after earthquakes. It is also possible that their presence may decrease structural settlements in earthquakes which cause liquefaction to a depth less than that of the improved zone. However, no conclusive evidence is obtained to show that the micro-piles significantly restrain lateral soil movement due to monotonic shearing from the structure or impede the migration of excess pore pressures from the free field to the foundation zone. Both these processes have critical effects on structural settlement. The use of inclined micro-piles for liquefaction remediation should therefore be considered with caution.     

Local interpolation of coseismic displacements measured by InSAR

Coseismic displacements play a significant role in characterizing earthquake causative faults and understanding earthquake dynamics. They are typically measured from InSAR using pre- and post-earthquake images. The displacement map produced by InSAR may contain missing coseismic values due to the decorrelation of ASAR images. This study focused on interpolating missing values in the coseismic displacement map of the 2003 Bam earthquake using geostatistics with the aim of running a slip distribution model. The gaps were grouped into 23 patches. Variograms of the patches showed that the displacement data were spatially correlated. The variogram prepared for ordinary kriging (OK) indicated the presence of a trend and thus justified the use of universal kriging (UK). Accuracy assessment was performed in 3 ways. First, 11 patches of equal size and with an equal number of missing values generated artificially, were kriged and validated. Second, the four selected patches results were validated after shifting them to new locations without missing values and comparing them with the observed values. Finally, cross validation was performed for both types of patch at the original and shifted locations. UK results were better than OK in terms of kriging variance, mean error (ME) and root mean square error (RMSE). For both OK and UK, only 4 out of 23 patches (1, 5, 11 and 21) showed ME and RMSE values that were substantially larger than for the other patches. The accuracy assessment results were found to be satisfactory with ME and RMSE values close to zero. InSAR data inversion demonstrated the usefulness of interpolation of the missing coseismic values by improving a slip distribution model. It is therefore concluded that kriging serves as an effective tool for interpolating the missing values on a coseismic displacement map.     

基于D-InSAR技术的伊朗巴姆地震地表形变监测

以伊朗巴姆地区为例,对伊朗巴姆地震造成的地表形变进行了差分干涉测量,得到了垂直向的同震三维形变场,并运用GIS三维分析技术对形变场进行了分析。实验结果表明,地震在巴姆城市的东侧造成了较大形变,在西侧也产生了微量形变。巴姆城市北部地块沉降,南部地块隆起。同时在巴姆城市南部可明显看到地震造成的断层。实验结果验证了基于C波段的SAR数据的D-InSAR技术在干燥地区监测地表形变方面的可行性。本文对产生去相关效应的原因进行了解释,认为对于干燥少植被的地区干涉效果较好。并指出,如果能够通过技术进步提高雷达干涉测量的精度并降低观测成本,同时将该技术与GPS、GIS等技术相结合,从而更好地研究形变机理,这将对地质灾害的研究产生重大意义。     

Coseismic surface rupture characteristics and earthquake damage analysis of the eastern end of the 2021 MS 7.4 Madoi (Qinghai) earthquake

At 02:04 on May 22, 2021, an M_S 7.4 earthquake occurred in Madoi County in Qinghai Province, China. This earthquake is the largest seismic event in China since the 2008 M_S 8.0 Wenchuan earthquake. Thus, it is critical to investigate surface deformation and damage in time to accurately understand the seismogenic structure of the Madoi earthquake and the seismogenic capacity of the blocks in this region. This study focuses on the Xuema Village, located at the eastern end of the coseismic surface ruptures produced by the event, and assesses the deformation and seismic damage in this area based on field surveys, UAV photogrammetry, and ground penetrating radar (GPR). The results indicate that the rupture scale is substantially smaller at the eastern end of the rupture zone compared to other segments. En echelon type shear tensile fractures are concentrated in a width range of 50–100 m, and the width of single fractures ranges from 20 to 30 cm. In contrast, the degree of seismic damage significantly increases at this site. All of the brick and timber houses are damaged or collapsed, while the steel frame structures and the color steel houses are slightly damaged. More than 80% of the bridge decks on the Changma River Bridge collapse, similar to the terraces along the Youerqu and Changma Rivers and the cut slopes of Provincial Highway S205. We infer that the seismogenic fault of the Madoi earthquake exerts a tail effect in this segment. The tension zone has led to a reduction at the eastern end of the rupture zone, causing shaking damage. Local topography and buildings without earthquake-resistant construction along the strike of the rupture zone have undergone different levels of seismic damage.     

基于静力触探试验的液化判别新方法

近来地震液化灾害频发,再次成为研究重点,发展具有良好应用前景的基于静力触探试验（CPT）的液化判别方法对预防液化灾害具有重要意义。以Boulanger数据库171组数据为回归样本,分析既有方法存在的问题,提出了基于CPT液化判别的双曲线模型和计算公式,并通过提取2011年新西兰地震147组液化新数据,对该方法进行对比检验。研究表明,我国岩土工程勘察规范的CPT液化判别方法对浅埋砂层偏于保守,对深层土又明显偏于危险,而国际上具有代表性的Robertson方法,其液化临界线存在低烈度区不合理回弯、高烈度区又偏于保守的问题。提出的新公式在不同地震动强度和砂层埋深下均可给出合理判别结果,克服了国内外既有方法的缺点,并纳入到具有样板规范性质的《建筑工程抗震性态设计通则》修订稿中,可为我国相关规范修订和工程应用提供支持。     

MICP联合纤维加筋改性钙质砂的动力特性研究

为了提高我国南海钙质砂地基的抗液化性能,提出利用微生物诱导碳酸钙沉积（MICP）技术联合纤维加筋技术对钙质砂进行改性处理。通过开展动三轴试验,对比分析了改性前后钙质砂试样的动应变、动孔压、应力−应变滞回曲线以及动弹性模量的发展规律和演化特征,并结合扫描电镜（SEM）试验探究了MICP和纤维加筋技术对钙质砂的联合改性机制。研究结果表明：（1）MICP技术可以明显改善钙质砂试样的抗变形与抗液化性能,相比于未胶结处理试样,仅MICP处理试样的动应变和动孔压分别降低了95.74% 和 92.46%;（2）纤维的掺入进一步提升了MICP的改性效果,相比于仅MICP处理试样,MICP和纤维加筋联合处理试样的动应变和动孔压分别降低了 74.32%和 74.18%;（3）MICP 和纤维加筋技术通过减轻试样在循环荷载作用下的循环活动强度和能量耗散、提高试样的动弹性模量和减小动弹性模量的衰减速率,从而实现试样抗变形与抗液化性能的显著提高;（4）SEM 试验分析结果表明,MICP 与纤维对钙质砂动力特性的改善具有协同作用。纤维的掺入为细菌提供了更多的附着场所,促进了碳酸钙晶体的生成量,该部分碳酸钙不仅增加了颗粒间的胶结强度,同时也将纤维固定在砂颗粒上增强了纤维网的约束作用。     

基于耗散能量的饱和黄土动孔压模型

通过一系列不排水动三轴试验探究了饱和黄土振动液化过程中孔隙水压力和累积耗散能量的演化模式,并讨论了围压、动应力幅值和固结应力比对其演化过程的影响。结果表明：饱和黄土的孔隙水压力和耗散能量随着循环荷载作用逐渐累积。固结围压抑制孔隙水压力增长而消耗更多能量;更大的动应力幅值使得孔隙水压力增长更快而消耗能量更少;等压固结下,孔隙水压力增长至围压从而触发初始液化,而偏压固结下,通常先达到振动液化应变标准而孔隙水压力并没有增长至围压水平,并且固结应力比越大,液化时孔隙水压力越小,消耗能量也更少。归一化孔隙水压力u/σ₀’与累积耗散能量W/W_f之间关系受围压、循环应力比和固结应力比影响较小,可统一用双曲线模型表示。     

Earthquake-induced liquefaction hazard mapping at national-scale in Australia using deep learning techniques

Australia is a relatively stable continental region but not tectonically inert, having geological conditions that are susceptible to liquefaction when subjected to earthquake ground motion. Liquefaction hazard assessment for Australia was conducted because no Australian liquefaction maps that are based on modern AI techniques are currently available. In this study, several conditioning factors including Shear wave velocity (Vs30), clay content, soil water content, soil bulk density, soil thickness, soil pH, distance from river, slope and elevation were considered to estimate the liquefaction potential index (LPI). By considering the Probabilistic Seismic Hazard Assessment (PSHA) technique, peak ground acceleration (PGA) was derived for 50 yrs period (500 and 2500 yrs return period) in Australia. Firstly, liquefaction hazard index (LHI) (effects based on the size and depth of the liquefiable areas) was estimated by considering the LPI along with the 2% and 10% exceedance probability of earthquake hazard. Secondly, ground acceleration data from the Geoscience Australia projecting 2% and 10% exceedance rate of PGA for 50 yrs were used in this study to produce earthquake induced soil liquefaction hazard maps. Thirdly, deep neural networks (DNNs) were also exerted to estimate liquefaction hazard that can be reported as liquefaction hazard base maps for Australia with an accuracy of 94% and 93%, respectively. As per the results, very-high liquefaction hazard can be observed in Western and Southern Australia including some parts of Victoria. This research is the first ever country-scale study to be considered for soil liquefaction hazard in Australia using geospatial information in association with PSHA and deep learning techniques. This study used an earthquake design magnitude threshold of M_w 6 using the source model characterization. The resulting maps present the earthquake-triggered liquefaction hazard and are intending to establish a conceptual structure to guide more detailed investigations as may be required in the future. The limitations of deep learning models are complex and require huge data, knowledge on topology, parameters, and training method whereas PSHA follows few assumptions. The advantages deal with the reusability of model codes and its transferability to other similar study areas. This research aims to support stakeholders’ on decision making for infrastructure investment, emergency planning and prioritisation of post-earthquake reconstruction projects.     

Finite element simulations of seismic effects on retaining walls with liquefiable backfills

Finite element simulations of two centrifuge tests on the same cantilever retaining wall model holding liquefiable backfill were conducted using the Biot formulation‐based program DIANA–SWANDYNE II. To demonstrate the effects due to different pore fluids in seismic centrifuge experiments, water was used as the pore fluid in one experiment whereas a substitute pore fluid was used in the second experiment. The cantilever wall model parameters were determined by comparing simulations with measurements from free‐vibration tests performed on the model wall without backfill. The initial stress conditions for dynamic analysis for the soil backfill were obtained by simulating static loads on the retaining wall from the soil backfill. Level‐ground centrifuge model results were used to select the parameters of the Pastor–Zienkiewicz mark III constitutive model used in the dynamic simulations of the soil. The effects due to different pore fluids were captured well by the simulations. The magnitudes of excess pore pressures in the soil, lateral thrust and its line of action on the wall, and wall bending strains, deflections, and accelerations were predicted well. Predictions of settlements and accelerations in the backfill were less satisfactory. Relatively high levels of Rayleigh damping were needed to be used in the retaining wall simulations in order to obtain numerically stable results, which is one of the shortcomings of the model. The procedure may be used for engineering purpose dealing with seismic analysis of flexible retaining walls where lateral pressures, bending strains and deflections in the wall are typically of importance. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.