Calibration of resistance factor for design of pile foundations considering feasibility robustness

The resistance factor for pile foundations in load and resistance factor design (LRFD) is traditionally calibrated considering target reliability index (β_T) and statistics of load and resistance bias factors. However, the resistance bias factor is hard to quantify statistically. Consequently, the design obtained using the calibrated resistance factor can still miss β_T if the variation in resistance bias factor has been underestimated. In this paper, we propose a new resistance factor calibration approach to address this dilemma by considering “feasibility robustness” of design in the calibration process. Herein, the feasibility robustness is defined as a probability that the β_T requirement can still be satisfied even in the presence of uncertainty or variation in the computed bearing capacity. For illustration, LRFD approach for pile foundations commonly used in Shanghai, China is examined. Emphasis is placed on re-calibration of resistance factors at various feasibility robustness levels, with due consideration of the variation in the resistance bias factor. A case study is presented to illustrate the use of the re-calibrated resistance factors. The results show that the feasibility robustness is gained at the expense of cost efficiency; in other words, the two objectives are conflicting. To aid in the design decision-making, an optimal feasibility robustness level and corresponding resistance factors are suggested in the absence of a designer’s preference.     

元坝长兴组超深层生物礁大气田优质储层发育机理

通过系统开展元坝气田长兴组超深层生物礁储层岩石学与岩石地球化学分析,结合碳酸盐岩溶蚀动力学模拟实验,以及储层古压力恢复,揭示了元坝超深层生物礁优质储层的发育保存机理。研究表明,早期暴露溶蚀、浅埋藏白云岩化是基质孔隙发育的基础,储层深埋引起的古油藏原油裂解导致的超压水力破裂缝的形成,是储层渗透性改善的关键,"孔-缝耦合"共同控制了超深层优质储层的发育。在此基础上,构建了生物礁非均质"孔-缝双元结构"储层模型,为生物礁储层预测奠定了理论基础。     

地埋管换热影响岩土体传热因素及热影响范围分析

该文介绍了地埋管换热器传热模型,对影响地下岩土体传热的地埋管换热功率、持续时间、热泵机组运行的方式与模式、换热器规格、管外回填材料以及地质-水文地质条件等因素进行了探讨,认为周围岩土体热响应范围大小与换热功率大小和持续时间长短、管外回填材料和周围岩土体导热性能高低呈正相关性,热泵机组间歇运行方式有利于地温场的及时恢复,冬季制热夏季制冷模式能削弱单一负荷聚集产生的热影响程度,同等能条件下双U型De32地埋管较单U型De25地埋管热影响范围要大。由于地埋管换热器吸热或放热不平衡而引起的冷热量累积效应,渗流速度越大,热影响范围则越大。济南东部碎屑岩区某模拟夏季工况试验表明,其他条件相同的前提下,8 k W换热功率持续运行,以换热孔为中心,岩体温度响应速率和影响幅度与径向距离成负相关性,距离越近,响应速率和影响幅度越大,反之就越小;47天后,地埋管换热器热影响范围大于5m。     

Kinematic bending moments in pile foundations

In this paper the kinematic seismic interaction of single piles embedded in soil deposits is evaluated by focusing the attention on the bending moments induced by the transient motion. The analysis is performed by modeling the pile like an Euler–Bernoulli beam embedded in a layered Winkler-type medium. The excitation motion is obtained by means of a one-D propagation analysis. A comprehensive parametric analysis is carried out by varying the main parameters governing the dynamic response of piles like the soil properties, the bedrock location, the diameter and embedment in the bedrock of piles. On the basis of the parametric analysis, a new design formula for predicting the kinematic bending moments for both the cross-sections at the deposit–bedrock interface and at the pile head is proposed.     

渭河断裂窖店浅层地震与钻孔联合剖面研究

为确定渭河断裂中部隐伏段的位置,在咸阳窑店布设了浅层地震勘探测线,在浅层地震勘探资料对断层解译的基础上,进一步开展了窑店和陈家沟钻孔联合剖面勘探工作,详细查明了渭河断裂的精确位置和组合特征,结合钻孔土样光释光(OSL)年龄测试和区域地层资料,深入研究了渭河断裂带最新活动年代和滑动速率等特征。     

四川青川县乔庄镇城区活动断裂探测与评价

青川县乔庄镇主城区坐落于乔庄河Ⅰ级河流阶地面上,平武-青川断裂分为3支呈隐伏状穿过主城区,地表未见明显的断裂新活动形迹。2008年5月12日发生的汶川MS8.0级地震,对青川县乔庄镇造成了比较严重的破坏,出现了沿平武-青川主干断裂通过位置震害显著加重的条带状异常现象,但未见明显的地表破裂。本文在地面地质调查、浅层地球物理勘探和探槽开挖验证结果的基础上,对平武-青川断裂在乔庄镇主城区的通过位置进行了重新定位,定位结果与前人研究结果存在一定的差异。结合地表调查发现的零星地表破裂和探槽下部砂砾石层出现的小尺度变形及位错现象分析,乔庄镇条带状震害加重异常现象应是平武-青川断裂在汶川地震时发生的近地表错动所致。由此联系到汶川地震的余震条带与平武-青川断裂乔庄以东段基本重合的事实,平武-青川断裂的活动性应是下一步研究工作的方向。     

Hybrid foundation for offshore wind turbines: Environmental and seismic loading

A hybrid foundation for offshore wind turbines (OWT) is studied, combining a monopile of diameter d and length L with a lightweight circular footing of diameter D. The footing is composed of steel plates and stiffeners forming compartments, backfilled to increase the vertical load. A special pile–footing connection is outlined, allowing transfer of lateral loads and moments, but not of vertical loads. The efficiency of the hybrid foundation is explored through 3D finite element modelling. Hybrid foundations of L=15 m are comparatively assessed to an L=30 m reference monopile. A detailed comparison is performed focusing on a 3.5 MW OWT. While the moment capacity of the monopile is larger, the hybrid foundation exhibits stiffer response, outperforming the monopile in the operational loading range. Under cyclic loading, the hybrid foundation experiences less stiffness degradation and rotation accumulation. Besides installation, the cost savings depend on the design of the footing and buckling can be crucial. The rubble fill is shown to provide lateral restraint to the stiffeners, being beneficial for buckling prevention. Although seismic shaking is not critical in terms of capacity, it may lead to substantial accumulation of rotation and settlement. Combined with cyclic environmental loading, the latter may challenge the serviceability of the OWT, potentially leading to a reduction of its service life. To derive insights on the effect of seismic loading, two scenarios are investigated: (a) seismic loading; and (b) combined environmental and seismic loading. In the first case, even a D=15 m hybrid foundation may outperform the reference monopile. This is not the case for combined environmental and seismic loading, where a D=20 m hybrid system would be required to outperform the reference monopile.     

Mitigation of reverse faulting deformation using a soil bentonite wall: Dimensional analysis,parametric study,design implications

Recent major seismic events, such as the Chi-Chi (1999) and the Wenchuan (2008) earthquakes occurred in Taiwan and China, have offered a variety of case histories on the performance of structures subjected to reverse faulting–induced deformation. A novel faulting mitigation method has recently been proposed, introducing a soft deformable wall barrier in order to divert the fault rupture away from the structure. This can be materialized by constructing a thick diaphragm-type soil bentonite wall (SBW) between the structure and the fault rupture path. The paper investigates the key parameters in designing such a SBW, aiming to mitigate the fault rupture hazard on shallow foundations. The paper employs a thoroughly validated finite element analysis methodology to explore the efficiency of a weak SBW barrier in protecting slab foundations from large tectonic deformation due to reverse faulting. A dimensional analysis is conducted in order to generalize the validity of the derived conclusions. The dimensionless formulation is then used to conduct a detailed parametric study, exploring the effect of SBW thickness w/H, depth H_SBWl/H, and shear strength τ_soil/τ_SBW, as well as the bedrock fault offset h/H, foundation surcharge load q/ρgB, and fault outcrop location s/B. It is shown that the wall thickness, depth, and shear strength should be designed on the basis of the magnitude of the bedrock fault offset, the location of the fault relative to the structure, and the shear strength of the soil. The efficiency of the weak barrier is improved using lower strength and stiffness material compared to the alluvium. A simplified preliminary design methodology is proposed, and presented in the form of a flowchart.     

Experimental evaluation of vulnerability for urban segmental tunnels subjected to normal surface faulting

Faulting is one type of permanent ground displacement (PGD); tunnels are at the risk of damage when they are susceptible to faulting. The present study proposes an experimental approach to create the fragility curves for shallow segmental tunnels in alluvial deposits subjected to normal surface faulting. Centrifuge testing was carried out in order to achieve this purpose. The proposed approach allows evaluation of new fragility curves considering the distinctive features of tunnel geometry and fault specifications. The comparison between the new fragility curves and the existing empirical curves was discussed as well. Compared to tunnels in rock, tunnels in alluvial deposits are more susceptible to failure because of different mechanisms of collapse into tunnel at large exerted PGD.     

Progressive failure mechanism in one-dimensional stability analysis of shallow slope failures

In many slopes, overstressed zones can develop where the shear stress is larger than the available shear strength. Along a shear surface within a soil exhibiting a strain-softening behavior, the shear displacement increases while the available shear strength decreases. The excess shear stress is transferred from the overstressed zone to the adjacent zones, providing more shear strength. This stress-transferring mechanism induces stress redistribution within the slope and could enlarge the overstress zone. A one-dimensional model that satisfies the strain compatibility and force equilibrium is proposed for the stability analysis of a slope of strain-softening behavior. This paper’s objective is to facilitate the application of this model to estimate stress distribution along the failure surface of a strain-softening slope and thereafter the stability status. The study presents a set of specific solutions to this model by describing and demonstrating procedures to identify the pattern of a stress state and to calculate stress distribution within a one-dimensional, strain-softening slope. The progressive failure mechanism is also investigated by using the proposed approach. As the magnitude of released stress gets large enough, it induces an overstressed zone adjacent to the initial unstable zone and progressive failure develops. The proposed approach is also applied to study the pattern of stress redistribution. It is found that the pattern of stress redistribution is affected by the magnitude of released stress. It is too complex to be reasonably expressed by simple models. Though some limitations exist, the proposed approach serves as a simple tool for a better understanding of the progressive failure mechanism.