A mesh deformation algorithm for free surface problems

Employing the simple iterative technique of adjusting the element positions using computed potentials to locate the free surface can lead to finite elements with large aspect ratios as the free surface drops towards the base of the mesh. In particular, free surface modelling of earth dams with base drains suffer from this problem. The paper suggests a number of steps which can be taken to alleviate mesh distortion problems and improve the numerical stability of the iterative finite element analysis. This leads to a mesh deformation algorithm which adjusts element widths in a simple fashion depending on the free surface height as the iterations proceed. The algorithm is specialized to the sloped earth dam problem, but may find application to other geometries. © 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Seismic liquefaction potential assessment by using Relevance Vector Machine

Determining the liquefaction potential of soil is important in earthquake engineering. This study proposes the use of the Relevance Vector Machine (RVM) to determine the liquefaction potential of soil by using actual cone penetration test (CPT) data. RVM is based on a Bayesian formulation of a linear model with an appropriate prior that results in a sparse representation. The results are compared with a widely used artifi cial neural network (ANN) model. Overall, the RVM shows good performance and is proven to be more accurate than the ANN model. It also provides probabilistic output. The model provides a viable tool for earthquake engineers to assess seismic conditions for sites that are susceptible to liquefaction.     

BP神经网络在海洋平台桩基轴向承载力中的应用研究

目前海洋石油导管架平台桩基础的轴向极限承载力常用的设计方法为API RP2A(美国石油协会)和静力触探(CPT)的方法.在这两种方法的基础上,提出了用BP神经网络模型对桩的轴向极限承载力进行计算的思路,能够有效地预测桩的轴向极限承载力.根据BP神经网络算法具有较强的非线性映射能力和学习功能的特点,通过对影响单桩极限承载力因素的分析,依据静力触探资料建立了基于BP神经网络的单桩轴向极限承载力预测模型.通过利用API RP2A方法分析成果对该模型进行学习训练和预测检验,证明了预测模型性能良好、具有较高的精度和收敛速度快等特点,验证了神经网络方法的可行性,预测结果能够指导桩基础设计,缩短周期.因而具有较大的工程实用价值.     

Vertical spatial correlation length based on standard penetration tests

The spatial correlation length (SCL), or the scale of fluctuation, is a parameter for describing the spatial variability of soil and one of the important parameters used in random field theory. Studies reporting the spatial correlation length based on real field data of offshore/nearshore sea bottom soils are rather limited in the literature, so in this study, the vertical spatial correlation length is determined using site investigation data from two sites of the southern coast of Turkey. Based on quite extensive data, the vertical spatial correlation length is estimated using four different autocovariance functions. The values are within typical ranges reported in the literature for similar soil groups, both onshore and offshore. It is also noted that the widely-used exponential function almost always gives the lowest value of spatial correlation length. The results of this study add to the database of spatial correlation lengths based on real data and could be useful for future studies on reliability assessment of offshore foundations using random finite element method.     

复杂土层中自升式平台桩靴安装穿刺预测

由于复杂海洋工程地质条件的普遍性,自升式平台在安装过程中穿刺事故频发,近年来涌现出大量针对自升式平台桩靴基础在复杂土层中穿刺预测方法的研究。为了方便工程设计人员的理解和使用,首先简单介绍这些研究中所采用的技术手段,总结现行规范ISO 19905-1建议的桩靴在复杂土层中贯入阻力的预测方法以及最新文献中提出的新的设计方法,并对规范方法和新方法的优缺点进行了评价。所总结的设计方法针对国内外常见的含穿刺风险的海洋地基形式,包括双层"砂—黏"、三层"硬—软—硬"黏性土、三层"软—硬—软"黏性土、三层"黏—砂—黏"地层以及四层"黏—砂—黏—硬层土"地层。通过对离心机模型试验的预测,对规范方法和新方法的预测精度进行了比较,对比结果显示新方法对桩靴穿刺破坏的预测更为合理精确。     

霍尔锚抛锚深度模型试验研究

河床或海床中会布设光缆、管线、隧洞等结构物,如果该水域上有船只抛锚,就要考虑抛锚对结构物安全的影响。通过模型试验探究了霍尔锚在黏土中的抛锚深度,研究了贯入速度、锚重以及土强度对抛锚深度的影响。在模型试验中,用MEMS加速度传感器捕捉锚在土中运动时的加速度,并由加速度积分得到锚的下落速度及对应的下落位移。模型试验结果表明:当霍尔锚以极限速度贯入软黏土中时,17.8 t锚在强度为7.5 k Pa土中的贯入深度为4.0 m; 42 t锚在强度为8.3 k Pa的土中贯入深度为6.7 m。根据试验结果建立了霍尔锚在土中动力贯入时的运动微分方程,分析了作用在锚上的各项受力,并预测了抛锚深度。此外,根据模型试验结果,建立了抛锚深度和锚的总能量之间的经验公式。     

Large deformation finite element analysis of the installation of suction caisson in clay

The suction caisson (or called suction anchor) which is considered as a relatively new type of foundation of offshore structures, has been extensively studied and applied for offshore wind turbines and oil platforms. The installation of the suction caisson is of great importance in the design and construction because it can bring about several issues and further influence the performance of holding capacity in safety service. In this paper, large deformation finite element (FE) analyses are performed to model the installation of suction caisson (SC) by suction and jacking in normally consolidated clay. The penetration of the suction caisson is modeled using an axisymmetric FE approach with the help of the Arbitrary Lagrangian–Eulerian (ALE) formulation which can satisfactorily solve the large deformation problem. The undrained shear strength of the clay and elastic modulus are varied with depth of soil through the subroutine VUFIELD. The numerical results allow quantification of the penetration resistance and its dependence on the installation method. The centrifuge test and theoretical solution are used for the FE model validation. After the validation, the penetration resistance, the soil plug heave, and the caisson wall friction have been examined through the FE model. Based on the numerical results, it is shown that the ALE technique can simulate the entire suction caisson penetration without mesh distortion problem. The installation method can play an important role on the penetration resistance, namely, the suction installation reduces the penetration resistance significantly compared to the purely jacked installation. With a further study on the suction case, it is found that as the final applied suction pressure increases, the soil plug heave increases, while the penetration resistance reduces with increase of the final suction pressure. The effect of the friction of internal caisson walls has been also investigated and a conclusion is drawn that internal wall friction has a significant contribution to the penetration resistance and it can be implicitly represented by varying coefficient of internal wall friction. As for the penetration resistance, both jacked and suction installation have great dependency on the internal wall friction.     

Transmittance investigation on capacitive mesh on thick dielectric substrates as output windows for optically pumped terahertz lasers

This paper reports that an output window for optically pumped terahertz (THz) laser has been fabricated by depositing a capacitive nickel-mesh on a thick high-resistivity silicon substrate (approximating to 5 mm thick). Unlike the conventional process of depositing a gold film approximating to 100 nm on negative photoresist using electron-beam evaporation, a nickel film approximating to 1.5 μm thick is directly deposited on the clean surface of dielectric substrate using magnetron sputtering and then a positive photoresist is spun onto the nickel metal surface at 6000 r for 60 s. A transmittance spectrum of the output window in a certain frequency range (say, from zero to 1 THz) has been obtained by using THz time domain spectroscopy. Moreover a transmittance spectrum simulated numerically has also been estimated with respect to the output window using the transmission-line model (TLM) containing attenuation component from dielectric substrate. The simulation results show that the TLM can explain well the experimental curve in a certain frequency range from zero to 1 THz. Thus it is demonstrated that the improved optical component can be efficiently used as both output coupler and output window for optically pumped THz lasers.     

海床CPT和井下CPT在砂土中贯入机理差异研究

海洋石油建设中的一个关键环节是对有关海域的工程地质条件作出准确评价。海上原位静力触探(CPT)是主要的原位勘察手段,与陆地CPT不同,其贯入方式主要有Seabed和Downhole两种形式。这两种CPT由于贯入方式不同,所得到的锥端阻力存在一定的差异。采用有限元方法对这两种形式的CPT锥端阻力和贯入模式进行计算分析。研究显示,CPT入土过程中,周围土体存在两种不同位移状态,即滑动状态和排挤状态。在入土初期,土体以滑动状态为主,土体中竖向应力随贯入深度的增加而递增。在入土一定深度以后,土体的排挤状态占主导地位,竖向应力变化趋于平稳。这两种位移状态的相互转化解释了Seabed CPT和Downhole CPT实测数据之间的差异。在贯入深度较大时,Seabed CPT受排挤状态控制,而Downhole CPT仍然受滑动状态的影响。     

高转速钻进时金刚石钻头磨损的试验研究进展

讨论了金刚石钻进中提高机械钻速和降低钻探磨损问题 ;探讨了这两个技术指标与钻压、转速的关系 ;提出了表示机械钻速和钻头胎体磨损关系的钻探效果指标 ,并根据后者确定出了规程参数最优值