利用循环强度分析张紧式吸力锚循环承载力的方法

按照在最佳系泊点受倾斜荷载作用的张紧式吸力锚的破坏机制,建议了利用软土不排水循环剪切强度计算软土中吸力锚循环承载力的极限平衡分析方法。该方法考虑了平均系泊荷载在土中引起的平均剪应力对土体循环剪切强度、进而对锚循环承载力的影响。为了说明该方法的可行性,进行了大量张紧式吸力锚在平均系泊荷载与循环荷载共同作用下的承载力模型试验。依据试验结果确定了锚被竖向拔出土层时系泊点的位移破坏标准,并据此确定了与不同模型试验条件对应的循环承载力。进而利用循环三轴试验确定的土层不排水循环强度随平均应力的变化关系和实测的土层剪切强度,通过极限平衡分析计算了与模型试验对应的循环承载力。计算与模型试验结果比较表明,对于张紧式吸力锚被竖向拔出土层的破坏模式,计算结果比模型试验结果偏大,平均偏大1.9%,绝大多数偏差在10%以内。因此,对于软土中的张紧式吸力锚,如果采用该方法计算与竖向拔出土层破坏模式相应的循环承载力时,将结果减小10%是恰当的。     

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.     

Bivariate flood frequency analysis using the copula function: a case study of the Litija station on the Sava River

As an alternative to the commonly used univariate flood frequency analysis, copula frequency analysis can be used. In this study, 58 flood events at the Litija gauging station on the Sava River in Slovenia were analysed, selected based on annual maximum discharge values. Corresponding hydrograph volumes and durations were considered. Different bivariate copulas from three families were applied and compared using different statistical, graphical and upper tail dependence tests. The parameters of the copulas were estimated using the method of moments with the inversion of Kendall's tau. The Gumbel–Hougaard copula was selected as the most appropriate for the pair of peak discharge and hydrograph volume (Q‐V). The same copula was also selected for the pair hydrograph volume and duration (V‐D), and the Student‐t copula was selected for the pair of peak discharge and hydrograph duration (Q‐D). The differences among most of the applied copulas were not significant. Different primary, secondary and conditional return periods were calculated and compared, and some relationships among them were obtained. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Liquefaction behaviour of loose and compacted pond ash

Most of the ash produced all over the world is primarily disposed off by wet disposal method onto the ash ponds, which are occupying huge valuable lands. This disposal problem can be minimized by utilizing ash in large geotechnical earthworks. However, its use in earthquake prone areas requires thorough understanding of its liquefaction resistance and nature of development of excess pore pressures under dynamic loading conditions. Investigations have been carried out in this paper on the liquefaction behaviour of pond ash by conducting cyclic triaxial tests on inflow and outflow ash samples collected from two different ash ponds. Distinctly different liquefaction phenomenon was observed for the ash samples from inflow and outflow points of the same ash pond. Inflow samples exhibited higher cyclic resistance than outflow samples and their strengths were comparable with the natural sands. Further studies revealed that the influence of various factors on liquefaction susceptibility of both the types of ashes is similar to that of natural sands.     

A note on the measurement of travel times using bender and extender elements

By using the bender and extender elements tests, the travel times of the shear (S) and the primary (P) waves were measured for dry sand samples at different relative densities and effective confining pressures. Three methods of interpretations, namely, (i) the first time of arrival, (ii) the first peak to peak, and (iii) the cross-correlation method, were employed. All the methods provide almost a unique answer associated with the P-wave measurements. On contrary, a difference was noted in the arrival times obtained from the different methods for the S-wave due to the near field effect. The resonant column tests in the torsional mode were also performed to check indirectly the travel time of the shear wave. The study reveals that as compared to the S-wave, it is more reliable to depend on the arrival times’ measurement for the P-wave.     

An experimental study of the liquefaction strength of silty sands in terms of the state parameter

An elaborate program of monotonic and cyclic triaxial laboratory tests on mixtures of sand and silt with fines content 0%, 15% and 25% was performed to investigate the effect of density, consolidation stress and non-plastic fines on the liquefaction strength. The monotonic tests illustrated that the critical state lines of all mixtures do not cross each other, and are, approximately, parallel to each other. The results of the cyclic tests illustrated that the relationship between the cyclic strength and the state parameter does not depend on the consolidation stress, the soil density and the silt content. Analysis in terms of the state parameter showed that: (i) as the consolidation stress increases, the cyclic strength decreases and this effect is more pronounced as the specimens become denser, especially as the fines content increases and (ii) the cyclic strength decreases as the fines content increases and this effect is more pronounced as the specimens become denser.     

真三轴条件下Q2黄土的破坏模式与强度特性研究

基于西安理工大学自主研发的新型真三轴试验仪,对不同含水率Q2黄土在不同b值、不同固结围压条件下进行了真三轴试验研究,分析了真三轴试样破坏方式、中主应力对抗剪强度参数的影响以及π平面上的强度破坏面。结果表明,Q2黄土真三轴试样破坏方式主要有侧胀破坏、锥形破坏、梯形破坏、六边形破坏;不同b值应力路经条件下黏聚力与三轴压缩条件下黏聚力的比值在0.9～1.9之间,内摩擦角比值在0.7～1.5之间。土的结构性和土体破坏方式对π平面上的强度破坏面的形状影响较大,固结围压对π平面上的强度破坏面的大小影响较大;原状Q2黄土在π平面上的强度破坏面形状主要呈现梨形和轴对称六边形;随着结构性由强到弱,π平面上的强度破坏面形状由梨形向轴对称六边形变化。     

GDS空心圆柱仪动力试验能力探讨

为更好地模拟多向应力和主应力轴旋转等复杂应力路径,与英国GDS公司合作研发了能施加轴向和扭矩动载的空心圆柱仪。文中介绍了该仪器的工作原理和性能,分析对比了其与传统单向动三轴仪试验结果,并探讨该空心圆柱仪所完成的5组典型动力荷载及一组不规则随机波动力试验能力。动力加荷时,通过调整设定刚度参数,实测波形与设定波形误差较小。该仪器能很好地模拟地震、波浪和交通荷载引起的应力,为研究复杂应力状态下土体动力本构关系提供了很好的工具。     

岩土材料的各向异性强度准则

岩土材料的强度往往表现出很强的各向异性,而已有的各向同性强度准则不能够描述这一特性。提出一个岩土材料的各向异性强度准则。为了描述材料的各向异性,引入了一个由应力张量和组构张量的联合不变量表达的各向异性参数。该参数可以描述加载方向和材料组构方向的夹角。强度准则是基于材料在子午面和偏平面上的破坏特性而建立的,这为描述广义的材料强度各向异性提供了方便。与原各向同性强度准则相比,各向异性强度准则只引入了两个新的模型参数,而且所有的模型参数都可以通过常规的室内试验结果确定。该准则的预测结果与砂土、黏土、天然黏土和岩石的试验结果比较表明,它能够很好地描述岩土材料强度的各向异性