Finite element analysis of reinforced embankment foundation

A finite element analysis of a reinforced embankment-foundation system has been conducted using a coupled formulation and elastoplasticity theory. Such important factors as type of reinforcement, the type of clay, depth of foundation and drainage condition affecting the system have been systematically investigated using appropriate constitutive models to depict various components of the system and material parameters of two typical soft clay deposits found in India. The displacements, reinforcement force and maximum heights of the embankments are among the aspects presented and discussed. It is shown that the effectiveness of the reinforcement is dependent on its stiffness and the shear strength of the clay deposit. The foundation depth has significant effect on the nature and magnitude of displacement, the reinforcement force and the height of embankment. Drainage conditions are shown to markedly influence the effectiveness of reinforcement. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Finite element analysis for a finite conductivity fracture in an infinite poroelastic medium

In the technology of oil recovery, oil production rate can be increased by generation of a vertical conductive fracture adjacent to the well-bore. In this paper the seepage flow and isothermal deformation in both the oil formation and the fracture are studied by modelling the formation as a two-dimensional infinite poroelastic medium and the conductive fracture as a one-dimensional poroelastic material, saturated by a one-phase compressible fluid. The plane strain condition is employed. Solutions for a growing conductive fracture and a stationary conductive fracture in the infinite medium are obtained by means of the finite element method based on a variational principle for the formation which can impose the governing equations of the fracture. Infinite elements are used outside the finite element domain. Numerical results indicate that the injection rate, the applied pressure and the crack mouth opening displacement at the well-bore oscillate during the propagation of the conductive fracture. The production rate of a well with the conductive fracture is compared with that of a well without the conductive fracture. Finally, a new definition of the conductivity coefficient for the conductive fracture is presented. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Elastic solutions for a transversely isotropic half-space subjected to buried asymmetric-loads

Elastic closed-form solutions for the displacements and stresses in a transversely isotropic half-space subjected to various buried loading types are presented. The loading types include finite line loads and asymmetric loads (such as uniform and linearly varying rectangular loads, or trapezoidal loads). The planes of transverse isotropy are assumed to be parallel to its horizontal surface. These solutions are directly obtained from integrating the point load solutions in a transversely isotropic half-space, which were derived using the principle of superposition, Fourier and Hankel transformation techniques. The solutions for the displacements and stresses in transversely isotropic half-spaces subjected to linearly variable loads on a rectangular region are never mentioned in literature. These exact solutions indicate that the displacements and stresses are influenced by several factors, such as the buried depth, the loading types, and the degree and type of rock anisotropy. Two illustrative examples, a vertical uniform and a vertical linearly varying rectangular load acting on the surface of transversely isotropic rock masses, are presented to show the effect of various parameters on the vertical surface displacement and vertical stress. The results indicate that the displacement and stress distributions accounted for rock anisotropy are quite different for those calculated from isotropic solutions. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Pile driving by numerical cavity expansion

A cavity expansion procedure for the simulation of pile driving is presented and assessed in this paper. The analysis uses a non-linear finite-element model and the penetration of the pile into the soil is simulated by a radial opening of the soil around the pile. The case of a pile advanced by expansion will be compared to a similar pile subjected to computational driving (referred to, respectively, as ‘expanded’ and ‘driven’ piles for convenience). The state of stress and deformation, and the evolution of pore-water pressure in the soil will be monitored for the expanded and driven piles. Further computational driving will be applied to both cases and the pile response and soil resistance will be compared. The computational cost of advancing the pile by expansion will finally be investigated. Copyright © John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Limit state analysis of earthen slopes using dual continuum/FEM approaches

A framework alternative to that of classical slope stability analysis is developed, wherein the soil mass is treated as a continuum and in-situ soil stresses and strengths are computed accurately using inelastic finite element methods with general constitutive models. Within this framework, two alternative methods of stability analysis are presented. In the first, the strength characteristics of the soil mass are held constant, and the gravitational loading on the slope system is increased until failure is initiated by well-defined mechanisms. In the second approach, the gravity loading on the slope system is held constant, while the strength parameters of the soil mass are gradually decreased until well-defined failure mechanisms develop. Details on applying both of the proposed methods, and comparisons of their characteristics on a number of solved example problems are presented. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Instability of gradient dependent elasto-viscoplasticity for clay

A gradient-dependent viscoplastic constitutive model for water saturated clay is proposed to describe the strain localization phenomena and pattern formation during deformation. Second- and fourth-order gradients of volumetric viscoplastic strain are introduced into the constitutive equations to account for the non-local effects due to the motion of microstructures. A linear perturbation analysis is applied to this model. The instability of the government equations (i.e. the constitutive equations and the equations of motion for the clay skeleton and pore water) is discussed for both the one-dimensional and the two-dimensional situations. In addition, issues concerned with the formulation of boundary value problems by finite element analysis in relation to the formulation and the boundary conditions are presented. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Use of sparse iterative methods for the resolution of three-dimensional soil/structure interaction problems

In this paper we present a study of the performance of sparse iterative solvers regarding the resolution of three-dimensional and non-linear problems encountered in soil/structure interaction. It is composed of two parts. In the first one, we present briefly iterative methods and preconditioners used in this study, then we analyse their performance on three soil/structure interaction problems: a shallow foundation under a vertical loading, a single pile subjected to a lateral loading and the construction of a lined tunnel in a soft soil. Tests are performed assuming an elastic–perfectly plastic constitutive law for the soil material with a non-associated Mohr–Coulomb flow rule. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Disturbed state model for sand–geosynthetic interfaces and application to pull-out tests

Successful numerical simulation of geosynthetic-reinforced earth structures depends on selecting proper constitutive models for soils, geosynthetics and soil–geosynthetic interfaces. Many constitutive models are available for modelling soils and geosynthetics. However, constitutive models for soil–geosynthetic interfaces which can capture most of the important characteristics of interface response are not readily available. In this paper, an elasto-plastic constitutive model based on the disturbed state concept (DSC) for geosynthetic–soil interfaces has been presented. The proposed model is capable of capturing most of the important characteristics of interface response, such as dilation, hardening and softening. The behaviour of interfaces under the direct shear test has been predicted by the model. The present model has been implemented in the finite element procedure in association with the thin-layer element. Five pull-out tests with two different geogrids have been simulated numerically using FEM. For the calibration of the constitutive models used in FEM, the standard laboratory tests used are: (1) triaxial tests for the sand, (2) direct shear tests for the interfaces and (3) axial tension tests for the geogrids. The results of the finite element simulations of pull-out tests agree well with the test data. The proposed model can be used for the stress-deformation study of geosynthetic-reinforced embankments through numerical simulation. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

黄河小浪底傍河地下水源地资源评价的有限体积法

为准确评价小浪底傍河地下水源地的可采资源。根据小浪底傍河地下水源地的水文地质条件,应用有限体积法评价该水源地的可采资源,提出2种开采方案。结果显示：此方法对该区地下水资源所做的评价正确,反演计算的水文地质参数合理。     

土钉墙支护设计的非线性有限元法

土钉墙支护是1种经济、安全、可靠的基坑支护型式。采用非线性平面应变有限元方法对土钉墙支护设计进行数值模拟。与传统的极限平衡法相比具有显著优越性。该方法将土钉与岩土介质作为1个系统研究,对十钉支护的作用机理、变形、和土钉墙内的受力进行分析,计算开挖最终阶段的变形量。与工程实例的对比检验,证实该方法的合理性。研究结论对土钉墙支护的设计与施工具有较高的应用价值。