Characterisation of shear wave velocity profiles of non-uniform bi-layer soil deposits: Analytical evaluation and experimental validation

A crucial aspect of physical geotechnical model tests (under both 1-g and n-g conditions) is the evaluation of the initial (low-strain) stiffness of the soil layers of the sample test deposit, especially in the case of coarse materials. While for uniform soil deposits this issue can be addressed in a straightforward manner, e.g. by determining the fundamental frequency through the transfer function of an applied white-noise excitation, the problem becomes cumbersome for multi-layered deposits. After reviewing a number of available theoretical solutions, this paper illustrates a simplified yet reliable analytical procedure for determining the shear wave velocity profile (V_s) in a single or bi-layer deposit, taking into account the inhomogeneity of the individual soil layers, under the hypothesis of vanishing shear modulus at ground surface. The fundamental natural frequency of the inhomogeneous bi-layer deposit is analysed using the Rayleigh quotient procedure. The associated shape function is evaluated by considering the equilibrium of the soil column under a pseudo-static lateral inertial excitation imposed at its base, accounting for both layering and inhomogeneity. A validation of the proposed method is provided by comparing numerical results obtained from both time- and frequency- domain analyses against experimental data on Leighton Buzzard sand, from a recently-completed research project conducted on the shaking table facility at BLADE Laboratory, University of Bristol (UK).     

Shaking-table tests and numerical simulations on a subway structure in soft soil

Shaking table tests were performed to investigate the damage mechanisms of a subway structure in soft soil while experiencing strong ground motions. The seismic responses of the structure and soil were found to be more sensitive to input motions with richer low-frequency components. The excess pore pressure ratio of soil increased slightly, and the distribution of the excess pore pressure surrounding the structure showed clear spatial effects. The frequency spectrum characteristics of input ground motions clearly influenced the lateral displacement of the structure. In addition, the structure was most severely damaged at the top or the bottom of the interior columns. Finite element analyses were conducted by using the modified Martin–Seed–Davidenkov viscoelastic and the rate-independent plastic-damage constitutive models for soil and concrete, respectively. Satisfactory agreement was observed between the simulation and test results, the difference between these results was discussed in detail. The results provide insight into how the characteristics of strong ground motion might influence and present a simplified analysis method to quantitatively evaluate the damage of subway structures in soft soil.     

A GLE-based model for seismic displacement analysis of slopes including strength degradation and geometry rearrangement

Seismic performance of natural slopes, earth structures and solid-waste landfills can be evaluated through displacement-based methods in which permanent displacements induced by earthquake loading are assumed to progressively develop along the critical sliding surface as a result of transient activation of plastic mechanisms within the soil mass. For sliding mechanisms of general shape the earthquake-induced displacements should be computed using a model that provides a closer approximation of sliding surface. When large permanent displacement are induced by seismic actions, due to substantial shear strength reduction, and significant changes in ground surface occur, an improved estimate of permanent displacement can be obtained using a model which accounts for shear strength reduction and mass transfer between adjacent portions of the slope resulting from geometry changes of ground surface during the seismic event.In this paper, a GLE-based model is proposed for seismic displacement analysis of slopes that accounts for shear strength degradation and for geometry rearrangement. Model accuracy is validated against experimental results obtained from shaking table tests carried out on small scale model slopes. Comparison of computed and experimental results demonstrates the capability of the proposed approach in capturing the main features of the observed seismic response of the model slopes.     

Cyclic and post-cyclic monotonic behavior of Adapazari soils

The August 17, 1999 Kocaeli earthquake affected the city of Adapazari, which is located in the northwest of Turkey, with severe liquefaction and bearing capacity failures causing tilting of buildings, excessive settlements and lateral displacements. To understand the stress–strain behavior and pore pressure behavior of undisturbed soils during the earthquake, the cyclic and post-cyclic shear strength tests have been conducted on soil samples obtained from Adapazari in a cyclic triaxial test system within the scope of this research. Cyclic tests have been conducted under stress controlled and undrained conditions. Post-cyclic monotonic tests have been conducted following cyclic tests. The strength curves obtained in the experiments showed that the dynamic resistance of silty sand was found to be 45% lower than those of high plasticity soils (MH). The strength of clayey soils with the plasticity index of PI=15–16% was lower compared to the strength of high plasticity soils. Also, it was observed that silty sand soils had the lowest strength. The dynamic strength of the soils increased with the increase in plasticity.     

Centrifuge modeling of offshore wind foundations under earthquake loading

The construction of large offshore wind turbines in seismic active regions has great demand on the design of foundations. The occurrence of soil liquefaction under seismic motion will affect the stability of the foundations and consequently the operation of the turbines. In this study, a group of earthquake centrifuge tests was performed on wind turbine models with gravity and monopile foundations, respectively, to exam their seismic response. It was found that the seismic behavior of models was quite different in the dry or saturated conditions. Each type of foundation exhibited distinct response to the earthquake loading, especially in the offshore environment. In the supplementary tests, several remediation methods were evaluated in order to mitigate the relatively large lateral displacement of pile foundation (by fixed-end pile and multi-pile foundation) and excessive settlement of gravity foundation (by densification, stone column, and cementation techniques).     

Pre-shear effect on liquefaction resistance of a Fujian sand

Pre-shear history has been shown to be a critical factor in the liquefaction resistance of sand. By contrast to prior experimental studies in which triaxial shear tests were used to examine the effects of pre-shear on the liquefaction resistance of sand, hollow cylinder torsional shear tests were used in this study to avoid the influence of the inherent anisotropy that is inevitably produced during the sample preparation process because of gravitational deposition. A series of cyclic undrained shear tests were performed on sand samples that had experienced medium to large pre-shear loading. The test results showed that the liquefaction resistance of sand can be greatly reduced by its pre-shear history, and a pre-shear strain within the range from 0.1% to 5% can cause sand to be more prone to liquefaction. During the cyclic shear tests, the samples that had experienced pre-shear loading exhibited different behaviors when cyclic shear loading started in different directions, i.e., the clockwise direction and the counterclockwise direction. If the cyclic loading started in the identical direction as the pre-shear loading, then the mean effective stress of the sand was almost unchanged during the first half of the loading cycle; if the cyclic loading started in the direction opposite to that of the pre-shear loading, then the mean effective stress decreased significantly during the first half of the loading cycle. However, this anisotropic behavior was only remarkable during the first loading cycle. From the second cycle onward, the speeds of the decrease in the mean effective stresses in the two types of shear tests became similar.     

Spatiotemporal variation and driving forces of reference evapotranspiration in Jing River Basin,northwest China

Evapotranspiration is an important component of the hydrological cycle, which integrates atmospheric demands and surface conditions. Research on spatial and temporal variations of reference evapotranspiration (ET_o) enables understanding of climate change and its effects on hydrological processes and water resources. In this study, ET_o was estimated by the FAO‐56 Penman–Monteith method in the Jing River Basin in China, based on daily data from 37 meteorological stations from 1960 to 2005. ET_o trends were detected by the Mann–Kendall test in annual, seasonal, and monthly timescales. Sensitivity coefficients were used to examine the contribution of important meteorological variables to ET_o. The influence of agricultural activities, especially irrigation on ET_o was also analyzed. We found that ET_o showed a decreasing trend in most of the basin in all seasons, except for autumn, which showed an increasing trend. Mean maximum temperature was generally the most sensitive parameter for ET_o, followed by relative humidity, solar radiation, mean minimum temperature, and wind speed. Wind speed was the most dominant factor for the declining trend in ET_o. The more significant decrease in ET_o for agricultural and irrigation stations was mainly because of the more significant decrease in wind speed and sunshine hours, a mitigation in climate warming, and more significant increase in relative humidity compared with natural stations and non‐irrigation stations. Changes in ET_o and the sensitivity coefficient of meteorological variables in relation to ET_o were also affected by topography. Better understanding of ET_o response to climate change will enable efficient use of agricultural production and water resources, which could improve the ecological environment in Jing River Basin. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

相对密实度对随机波与定次数波作用下土体变形关系的影响

通过砂土的一系列动三轴实验,研究不规则地震荷载作用下与定次数等幅荷载作用下土体变形间的关系,给出砂土相对密实度对二者间关系的影响规律。结果表明:真实地震荷载下土的变形发展与等幅正弦荷载明显不同,应变发展时程的形态主要受地震动的形态控制;应变比C与砂土相对密度间关系具有规律性,随相对密度增大而降低,若采用以20周作为标准作用次数、0.65倍地震波峰值为等幅荷载代替不规则的地震荷载,修正真实地震应力下的残余变形,其应变比C随砂土密实度的增大而减小。同时,冲击型荷载的应变比C`要远大于振动型荷载。     

CT扫描技术在我国土工试验中的应用研究进展

介绍岩土CT可视化系统的特点,总结CT扫描技术在土工试验中的应用情况,包括黄土、冻土、膨胀土、粗粒土等土体的初始结构观测与结构性演化方面的研究进展,指出开发定量的计算机图像分析系统,通过CT细观结构图像来建立土体数值模型和开发研制动态试验CT扫描设备是今后应予以深入关注的研究方向。