Helical probe tests in residual soils of the Appalachian Piedmont

Helical probe tests (HPT) are a quick and economical means for manual field testing of soils to depths of 1.5 m with readings taken at 0.15-m intervals in only 10 min. The equipment is lightweight (only 2 kg) and thus amenable to deploy on initial site reconnaissance explorations, shallow pavement projects, earth retention walls, and/or compaction of fills. Although suitable for use in a variety of geomaterials: sands, silts, clays, and mixed soils, the specific application to residual fine sandy silts and silty fine sands of the Appalachian Piedmont and Blue Ridge geologic provinces is shown here. Existing relationships for converting the measured HPT torque reading to equivalent cone penetration testing (CPT) tip resistances are reviewed, as well as other trends.     

免共振沉桩过程对地表振动影响的FLAC3D数值模拟

为研究免共振沉桩过程对地表振动影响,采用密度放大法以消除模型桩弹性模量过大对计算效率的影响,在有限差分软件FLAC^3D中建立了相应的连续振动沉桩模型,并和文献中的现场测试结果进行了比较,分析了激振力幅值和振动频率这两个施工参数对地表振动响应的影响。结果表明：密度放大法可有效提高数值模拟的计算效率,模拟沉桩7.0倍桩径（4.9 m）所需计算时间约为12.0 h,数值结果较好地模拟了现场测试中免共振沉桩的地表振动影响;激振力幅值和振动频率均主要对近场（水平距离为5.0倍桩径范围内）的地表振动有明显影响;临界沉桩深度与地表振动影响峰值相对应,该深度随水平距离先增大后趋于稳定;激振力幅值对临界沉桩深度的改变不明显,振动频率对远场临界沉桩深度则有较明显影响。     

DGZ-1多功能共振柱常规试验可靠性分析

针对新研制的多功能共振柱讕验机常规土类试验,发展此类仪器的试验可靠性分析理论,建立一套检验自身可靠性的分析方法傌技术,包括试验误差分析、试验定量考核、土工试验等多种技术手段。首先建立了共振柱仪动剪切模量误差、应叐误差和阻尼比误差的分析公式,得到了几种主要影响因素及其对试验误差影响程度的新认识。同时,通过若干已知动剪切模量且频率和土频率相接近的钢杆和铝杆试件的自振和共振试验,定量上验证该仪器常规试验结果的可靠性;通过砂土和原状粘土常规试验,定性上检验土工试验结果的合理性。通过对新研制的多功能共振柱试验机的常规试验功能进行可靠性的自身检验,所有试验结果是令人满意和可靠的,结果符合现有规律的认识。     

软土地区人工冻土无侧限瞬时抗压强度的试验研究

冻结法施工在上海隧道建设中(如隧道旁通道、地下泵房等的设计与施工)得到广泛应用,也曾引发过严重的地质灾害(如上海地铁4号线外滩段的地质灾害)。因此安全、经济、合理地将冻结法用于上海软土地区隧道建设中已经成为上海工程建设中的一个重要的研究课题。本文以上海复兴东路越江隧道旁通道冻结法施工中遇到的第⑥层粉质粘土及第⑦层粉细砂为研究对象,针对设计冻结壁重要强度参数无侧限瞬时抗压强度,进行了室内试验研究,揭示了两种土的冻结强度随温度的变化关系,同时研究了粉细砂的冻结强度随含水率的变化规律。     

A density-based approach for detecting network-constrained clusters in spatial point events

Existing spatial clustering methods primarily focus on points distributed in planar space. However, occurrence locations and background processes of most human mobility events within cities are constrained by the road network space. Here we describe a density-based clustering approach for objectively detecting clusters in network-constrained point events. First, the network-constrained Delaunay triangulation is constructed to facilitate the measurement of network distances between points. Then, a combination of network kernel density estimation and potential entropy is executed to determine the optimal neighbourhood size. Furthermore, all network-constrained events are tested under a null hypothesis to statistically identify core points with significantly high densities. Finally, spatial clusters can be formed by expanding from the identified core points. Experimental comparisons performed on the origin and destination points of taxis in Beijing demonstrate that the proposed method can ascertain network-constrained clusters precisely and significantly. The resulting time-dependent patterns of clusters will be informative for taxi route selections in the future.     

A critical CAE analysis of the bottom shape of a multi stepped air cavity planing hull

One of the most important aspects, in the ACS and multi stepped hull design, is the choice of the geometrical shape of the cavity and the steps. In this article a complete experimental and numerical campaign on a multi stepped ACS has been carried out, varying the velocity and the air flow rate under the hull. The experimental tests have been conducted in an ITTC Towing Tank allowing to validate the numerical simulations obtained by means of a CFD U-RANSe (Unesteady Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes equations) code. The CFD setup is described in detail. From this campaign a critical analysis of the Froude number influence on the air cushion shape has been argued. The authors identified four different behaviours, from low to very high Froude numbers. The use of CFD has allowed to observe quantities of difficult evaluation by means of traditional experimental test, as e.g. the frictional component of the resistance, the airflow path lines and the volume of fraction in transversal and longitudinal sections. The results have been discussed.     

Static performance of power-augmented ram vehicle model on water

An experimental parametric study of a novel air-assisted platform-type model called power-augmented ram vehicle is described. The zero-speed regimes of the model over the water are investigated. The recovered thrust, pressure underneath the platform, and the model attitude are recorded for variable system geometry, loading conditions, and propulsor thrust. The stern flap under the model platform provides an effective mechanism for controlling the thrust recovery and the air-jet-induced lift. Unstable behavior of the model is found at sufficiently high levels of the propulsor thrust.     

Large-scale dune erosion tests to study the influence of wave periods

Large-scale physical model tests were performed to quantify the effects of the wave period on dune erosion. Attention was focussed on 2D cross-shore effects in a situation with sandy dunes and extreme water levels and wave conditions. Besides profile measurements, detailed measurements in time and space of water pressure, flow velocities and sediment concentrations were performed in the near near-shore area. It was concluded that a longer wave period leads to a larger dune erosion volume and to a larger landward retreat of the dune face. Tests with double-peaked wave spectra showed that the influence of the spectral shape on dune erosion was best represented by the T_m − 1,0 spectral mean wave period, better than the peak wave period, T_p. The effect of the wave period on dune erosion was implemented in a dune erosion prediction method that estimates erosion volumes during normative storm conditions for the Dutch coast. More details of the measurements and additional analyses of physical processes are described in an accompanying paper by Van Thiel de Vries et al. [Van Thiel de Vries, J.S.M., van Gent, M.R.A., Reniers, A.J.H.M. and Walstra, D.J.R., submitted for publication. Analysis of dune erosion processes in large scale flume experiments, In this volume of Coastal Engineering.].     

The new wave overtopping database for coastal structures

Significant effort has been made to generate a homogeneous database on wave overtopping consisting of more than 10,000 irregular wave overtopping tests from more than 160 independent projects or test series, each described by means of 31 parameters. Many coastal structures, including dikes, rubble mound breakwaters, berm breakwaters, caisson structures and combinations have been considered and have been schematised for inclusion in the database. All these overtopping tests are represented by over 300,000 numbers in the database.     

Prototype measurements and small-scale model tests of wave overtopping at shallow rubble-mound breakwaters: the Ostia-Rome yacht harbour case

The paper presents the comparison between the results of small-scale model tests and prototype measurements of wave overtopping at a rubble-mound breakwater. The specific structure investigated is the west breakwater of the yacht harbour of Rome at Ostia (Italy) and is characterized by a gentle seaward slope (1/4) and by a long, shallow foreshore. The laboratory tests firstly aimed at carefully reproducing two measured storms in which overtopping occurred and was measured. The tests have been carried out in two independent laboratories, in a wave flume and in a wave basin, hence using a two-dimensional (2-D) and a three-dimensional (3-D) setup. In the 2-D laboratory tests no overtopping occurred during the storm reproductions; in the 3-D case discharges five to ten times smaller than those observed in prototype have been measured. This indicates the existence of model and scale effects. These effects have been discussed on the basis of the results of several parametric tests, which have been carried out in both laboratories, in addition to the storm reproductions, varying wave and water level characteristics. Final comparison of all the performed tests with 86 prototype measurements still suggests the existence of scale and model effects that induce strong underestimation of overtopping discharge at small scale. The scale reproduction of wave breaking on the foreshore, together with the 3-D features of the prototype conditions and the absence of wind stress in the laboratory measurements, have been individuated as the main sources of scale and model effects. The paper also provides a comparison between the data and a largely used formula for wave overtopping discharges in the presence of structures similar to the one at hand. The suitable value of a roughness factor that appears in that formula is investigated and good agreement is found with other recent researches on rubble-mound breakwaters.