Effect of non-plastic silt content on the liquefaction behavior of sand–silt mixture

To identify the effect of non-plastic silt on the cyclic behavior of sand–silt mixtures, total sixty undrained cyclic triaxial stress-control tests were carried out on sand–silt mixtures. These tests were conducted on specimens of size 71 mm diameter and 142 mm height with a frequency of 1 Hz. Specimens were prepared at a constant relative density and constant density approach. The effect of relative density, confining pressure as well as magnitude of cyclic loading was also studied. For a constant relative density (D_r=60%) the effect of limiting silt content, pore pressure response and cyclic strength was observed. The rate of generation of excess pore water pressure with respect to cycles of loading was found to initially increase with increase in silt content till the limiting silt content and thereafter it reverses its trend when the specimens were tested at a constant relative density. The cyclic resistance behavior was observed to be just opposite to the pore pressure response. Permeability, CRR and secant shear modulus decreased till limiting silt content; after that they became constant with increasing silt content.     

How hydrological factors initiate instability in a model sandy slope

Knowledge of the mechanisms of rain‐induced shallow landslides can improve the prediction of their occurrence and mitigate subsequent sediment disasters. Here, we examine an artificial slope's subsurface hydrology and propose a new slope stability analysis that includes seepage force and the down‐slope transfer of excess shear forces. We measured pore water pressure and volumetric water content immediately prior to a shallow landslide on an artificial sandy slope of 32°: The direction of the subsurface flow shifted from downward to parallel to the slope in the deepest part of the landslide mass, and this shift coincided with the start of soil displacement. A slope stability analysis that was restricted to individual segments of the landslide mass could not explain the initiation of the landslide; however, inclusion of the transfer of excess shear forces from up‐slope to down‐slope segments improved drastically the predictability. The improved stability analysis revealed that an unstable zone expanded down‐slope with an increase in soil water content, showing that the down‐slope soil initially supported the unstable up‐slope soil; destabilization of this down‐slope soil was the eventual trigger of total slope collapse. Initially, the effect of apparent soil cohesion was the most important factor promoting slope stability, but seepage force became the most important factor promoting slope instability closer to the landslide occurrence. These findings indicate that seepage forces, controlled by changes in direction and magnitude of saturated and unsaturated subsurface flows, may be the main cause of shallow landslides in sandy slopes. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Incorporating velocity shear into the magneto-Boussinesq approximation

Motivated by consideration of the solar tachocline, we derive, via an asymptotic procedure, a new set of equations incorporating velocity shear and magnetic buoyancy into the Boussinesq approximation. We demonstrate, by increasing the magnetic field scale height, how these equations are linked to the magneto-Boussinesq equations of Spiegel and Weiss (Magnetic buoyancy and the Boussinesq approximation. Geophys. Astrophys. Fluid Dyn. 1982, 22, 219–234).     

山东及附近海域构造环境剪应力场分析

利用山东数字地震台网的地震波形记录,选取2007年以来台网记录清晰的ML≥2．0数字地震波形资料,计算每次地震的环境剪应力值τ0和矩震级MW,并分析其相关关系;结合山东地区地质构造和地震活动性特点,对胶东半岛及北部海域、南黄海北部地区、沂沭带地区、冀鲁豫交界地区应力场分布和时空变化进行细致分析,并探讨其区域特征及与地震活动性的关系。     

基于OpenSees的RCS组合框架结构抗震性能模拟分析

选取已有钢筋混凝土柱—钢梁组合结构（RCS）框架的低周期反复试验数据,采用地震工程开源模拟软件OpenSees对其进行有限元模拟,对比骨架曲线与滞回曲线,试验结果与有限元结果吻合较好。随后考察弯矩放大系数（Mc/Mb=0.86、1.48、2.04）、柱轴压比（n=0.06、0.2、0.3、0.6、0.8）对抗震性能的影响,得到了各参数下框架的滞回曲线、骨架曲线和各特征阶段的荷载与位移值。分析了框架的破化过程、延性与强度退化。结果表明：RCS组合框架滞回曲线饱满,具有良好的变形及耗能能力;随着弯矩放大系数的减小、柱轴压比的增大,框架的水平极限承载力降低、屈服状态提前、位移延性降低。分析结果可供有关研究或工程应用参考。     

Effects of fabric anisotropy on elastic shear modulus of granular soils

The fabric anisotropy of a granular soil deposit can strongly infl uence its engineering properties and behavior. This paper presents the results of a novel experimental study designed to examine the effects of fabric anisotropy on smallstrain stiffness and its evolution with loading on the elastic shear modulus of granular materials under a K0 condition. Two primary categories of fabric anisotropy, i.e., deposition-induced and particle shape-induced, are investigated. Toyoura sand deposits with relative densities of 40% and 80% were prepared using deposition angles oriented at 0o and 90o. Piezoelectric transducers were used to obtain the elastic shear modulus in the vertical and horizontal directions(Gvh and Ghh). The measurements indicate distinct differences in the values of G with respect to the different deposition angles. Particle shapeinduced fabric anisotropy was examined using four selected sands. It was concluded that sphericity is a controlling factor dominating the small-strain stiffness of granular materials. The degree of fabric anisotropy proves to be a good indicatorin the characterization of stress-induced fabric evolution during loading and unloading stress cycles. The experimental data were used to calibrate an existing micromechanical model, which was able to represent the behavior of the granular material and the degree of fabric anisotropy reasonably well.     

Evolution of the ductile shear zone of the Paishanlou gold deposits,western Liaoning,China

The combination of field surveys with analysis of microstructure of tectonite and Electron Backscatter Diffraction (EBSD) on quartz fabric indicated that three periods of ductile shear events developed in the Paishanlou gold deposits and the E-W and NE-striking ductile shear zones were formed during each event. The E-W-striking ductile shear zone, accompanied by compressional and dextral shear slip, was shear-cut by the NE-striking shear zones, accompanied by compressional-sinistral shear slip and sinistral-normal shear slip, successively. An E-W-striking ductile shear zone developed at a deeper tectonic level and at middle- to high-temperatures, accompanied by abundant microstructures, including microlayering between a polycrystal quartz belt and mica, and quartz deformation was depended on cylinder (10-10) 〈a〉 or 〈c〉 glide. The development of an E-W-striking shear zone can be seen as a tectonic pattern in the region of the Paishanlou gold deposits of the collision between the Mongolian tectonic belt and the North Archean Craton from Suolun to the Linxi suture zone during the Indosinian. The NE-striking ductile shear zone developed approximately 160 Ma during the early Yianshanian at middle to shallow tectonic levels and at middle- to low-temperatures, accompanied by typical microstructures, including polycrystal quartz aggregation and quartz subgrain rotation recrystallization, etc., and quartz deformation was depended on prismatic (1011) 〈a〉 glide. The last ductile shear event around the NE-striking shear zone developed at low temperatures and shallow tectonic levels, yielding to a pre-existing NE-striking shear zone, accompanied by abundant microstructures, including low-temperature quartz grain boundary migration and bulging recrystallization. The last ductile shear movement may be related to lithosphere thinning and the destruction of the North China Craton from approximately 130-120 Ma, and this shear event resulted directly in the mineralization in the Paishanlou region.     

裂隙面对强膨胀土抗剪强度影响分析

膨胀土作为一种特殊性土,其抗剪强度取值不同于一般的黏性土。实践证明,在进行膨胀土边坡设计时,不仅要考虑土体的土块强度,而且也要考虑裂隙面强度,其抗剪强度在很大程度上受其裂隙面规模与产状的影响,尤其是对裂隙极发育的强膨胀土而言。为了更加真实地模拟强膨胀土在裂隙面控制下的剪切破坏,特在南水北调中线工程南阳段强膨胀土地段进行大剪试验,通过拟合试验数据,对强膨胀土抗剪强度影响因素进行分析。结果表明,裂隙面的发育程度、倾角、裂面的起伏程度都对强膨胀土的抗剪强度有着很大的影响。     

考虑加筋与遮帘效应计算群桩沉降的相互作用系数法

群桩中各基桩在地基土中的加筋与遮帘效应是客观存在的,然而,在目前的桩基沉降理论与实践中,相关的研究仍显不足。基于剪切变形法理论,考虑桩的加筋与遮帘效应,求得各基桩在自身桩顶荷载作用下产生的沉降以及其引起相邻桩的附加沉降量,由此提出群桩中任两桩的相互作用系数简化公式,同时,也得到各基桩桩侧及桩端桩-土接触等效弹簧刚度,并基于荷载传递法原理,建立了成层地基条件下各基桩在自身桩顶荷载作用下的桩身位移平衡方程,推导出各土层层顶处桩身沉降、轴力与层底处桩身沉降、轴力之间的递推关系,进而将公式推广到高、低承台群桩基础计算中。工程算例分析表明,用该方法计算有较高的精度,求得的荷载-沉降曲线及两桩相互作用系数与实测值吻合较好;相互作用系数要明显小于弹性理论计算结果。     

一种控制直剪蠕变试验剪应力的简易装置

土的蠕变是指土在保持应力不变的条件下,应变随时间延长而增加的现象。研究土的蠕变性质对于确定土的长期强度有重要意义,土的蠕变研究也是近几年的研究热点。然而,土的蠕变试验周期特别长,因此简便、易行又有一定可信度的蠕变试验仪器,对于土蠕变性质的研究有较大的推动意义。直剪蠕变试验是研究确定土的蠕变性质的一种最简单、最直观的试验方法。但由于该试验只是控制剪切力不变,剪切过程中,试样受剪面积逐渐减小,剪应力持续增大,整个过程并不是蠕变。通过在传统仪器上附加一个简单装置,利用液体的浮力来控制试验剪切力,从而使得试样在剪切过程中的剪应力不变。在对仪器进行相应改进后,做了对比试验,检验该装置对剪应力的控制效果,试验结果表明,该简易装置可在一定程度上控制剪应力。