Reliability assessment of granular filters in embankment dams

Empirical criteria have been used successfully to design filters of most embankment large dam projects throughout the world. However, these empirical rules are only applicable to a particular range of soils tested in laboratory and do not take into account the variability of the base material and filter particle sizes. In addition, it is widely accepted that the safety of fill dams is mainly dependent on the reliability of their filter performance. The work herein presented consists in a new general method for assessing the probability of fulfilling any empirical filter design criteria accounting for base and filter heterogeneity by means of first‐order reliability methods (FORM), so that reliability indexes and probabilities of fulfilling any particular criteria are obtained. This method will allow engineers to estimate the safety of existing filters in terms of probability of fulfilling their design criteria and might also be used as a decision tool on sampling needs and material size tolerances during construction. In addition, sensitivity analysis makes possible to analyse how reliabilities are influenced by different sources of input data. Finally, in case of a portfolio risk assessment, this method will allow engineers to compare the safety of several existing dams in order to prioritize safety investments and it is expected to be a very useful tool to evaluate probabilities of failure due to internal erosion. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

青藏铁路管道通风试验路基地温变化及热状况分析

基于青藏铁路北麓河试验段管道通风路基在2个冻融循环周期内的地温监测资料，分析了路基温度的发展、温度场分布特征及多年冻土的热流量变化．结果表明：通风管埋设于路堤中部的路基温度变化和发展情况与一般路基类似，路基在施工后的2个冻融周期内仍处于整体升温的过程；通风管埋设于路堤下部的路基，虽然前2个冻融循环周期内土体温度与原始状态相比同样有所升高，但开始出现逐渐降低的趋势，同时地温场的分布在横向上的对称性也比较好，在热交换方面，一般填土路基和通风管位于路堤中部的路基在施工后的前2个冻融循环周期内一直处于吸热过程，而通风管位于路堤下部的路基在经历了第1个周期的持续吸热过程后，在第2个冻融循环周期内已经开始放热。     

路堤下现浇薄壁管桩复合地基工作特性分析

现浇薄壁管桩和土工格栅加筋碎石垫层所组成的复合地基加固软弱路基具有经济合理，施工时间短，承载力高，沉降减小明显等优点。采用非线性有限元对路堤荷载作用下的现浇薄壁管桩复合地基的工作特性进行了分析，结果表明：在路堤荷载作用下，路堤填土材料中的拱效应、土工格栅的拉膜效应或加筋垫层的刚性垫层效应、桩土间刚度差异引起的应力集中效应保证了大部分荷载由桩承担，有效地减小了总沉降和不均匀沉降。同时对荷载传递机理的影响因素做了分析.     

曲线铁路路基下沉病害检测与分析

以阐明曲线铁路路基下沉病害检测、基床强度评估和病害成因分析方法为目标，采用轻便动力触探试验和土工试验方法对沪宁线下行k55 450-k55 500曲线路基下沉病害段进行了试验测试，根据轻便动力触探和土工试验结果，计算出曲线路基基床承载力，与曲线线路路基中总应力进行比较，评估了基床强度状况，分析出该段曲线铁路路基病害产生的成因。     

列车动荷载下桩网结构路基土拱效应试验研究

通过三维模型试验研究了列车动荷载作用下的土拱效应。试验结果表明,动荷载作用下土拱效应依然有效,随着填土的增高,土拱效应在增强,土工格栅的存在可以增强土拱效应的作用。但动荷载条件下动应力的分布与自重条件下的应力分布截然不同。动荷载作用下土拱效应会发生退化,表现为动荷载施加过程中先前由桩所承担的部分动应力会转移至桩间土;完成动荷载施加后,最初由桩承担的部分自重荷载也会转移至桩间土。填土高度和土工格栅对于动荷载作用下土拱的稳定性有很大的影响,但当高度达到一定值之后,填土高度的影响就可忽略,土工格栅的存在使得土拱效应的削弱程度减小了一半。     

灰关联神经网络法及防洪堤边坡稳定性分析

灰关联分析神经网络方法首先是对防洪堤边坡稳定性影响因素进行灰关联分析,得出各因素影响程度的大小排序,然后建立该工程的神经网络模型,选择灰关联分析得到的优势因子作为样本输入以及关联度作为网络权值确定的一个因素,利用大量南宁市防洪堤边坡工程实例对网络进行训练学习,最后用训练成功的网络对工程进行预测。预测的结果与实际情况进行对比表明,这个方法能够满足南宁市防洪堤边坡稳定性预测的要求。     

Effect of abutment modeling on the seismic response of bridge structures

Abutment behavior significantly influences the seismic response of certain bridge structures. Specifically in the case of short bridges with relatively stiff superstructures typical of highway overpasses, embankment mobilization and inelastic behavior of the soil material under high shear deformation levels dominate the response of the bridge and its column bents. This paper investigates the sensitivity of bridge seismic response with respect to three different abutment modeling approaches. The abutment modeling approaches are based on three increasing levels of complexity that attempt to capture the critical components and modes of abutment response without the need to generate continuum models of the embankment, approach, and abutment foundations. Six existing reinforced concrete bridge structures, typical of Ordinary Bridges in California, are selected for the analysis. Nonlinear models of the bridges are developed in OpenSees. Three abutment model types of increasing complexity are developed for each bridge, denoted as roller, simplified, and spring abutments. The roller model contains only single-point constraints. The spring model contains discrete representations of backfill, bearing pad, shear key, and back wall behavior. The simplified model is a compromise between the efficient roller model and the comprehensive spring model. Modal, pushover, and nonlinear dynamic time history analyses are conducted for the six bridges using the three abutment models for each bridge. Comparisons of the analysis results show major differences in mode shapes and periods, ultimate base shear strength, as well as peak displacements of the column top obtained due to dynamic excitation. The adequacy of the three abutment models used in the study to realistically represent all major resistance mechanisms and components of the abutments, including an accurate estimation of their mass, stiffness, and nonlinear hysteretic behavior, is evaluated. Recommendations for abutment modeling are made.     

Analytical modeling on consolidation of stiffened deep mixed column-reinforced soft soil under embankment

Stiffened deep mixed (SDM) column is a new ground improvement technique to improve soft soil, which can be used to increase bearing capacity, reduce deformation, and enhance stability of soft soil. This technique has been successfully adopted to support the highway and railway embankments over soft soils in China and other countries. However, there have been limited investigations on its consolidation under embankment loading. This paper developed an analytical solution for the consolidation of embankment over soft soil with SDM column in which core pile is equal to or shorter than outer DM column. The consolidation problem was simplified as a consolidation of composite soil considering the load shear effect of core pile. The developed solution was verified by a comparison with the results computed by three-dimensional (3-D) finite element analysis. A parametric study based on the derived solution was conducted to investigate influence factors—length of core pile, diameter of core pile, diameter of SDM column, modulus of DM column, and permeability coefficient of DM column—on the consolidation behavior of SDM column-supported embankment over soft soil. The developed solution was applied to a case history of SDM column-supported embankment, and a good agreement was found between the predictions and the field measurements.     

Geotechnical Hybrid Simulation to Investigate the Effects of the Hydraulic Conductivity on One-Dimensional Consolidation Settlement

Difficulties in the prediction of time-distribution of consolidation settlement will be introduced by using the Murayama test embankment case of Japan. In particular, it will be discussed why the prediction of consolidation rate is difficult in multi-layered soil with complex and variable mechanical properties like organic soil or peat. It can be inferred that uncertainties, which are embedded intricately in the consolidation problem as well as given ground condition, would be major causes for consolidation settlement. After that, the author focused on the movement of pore water under the various conditions of hydraulic conductivity in the soils, and how it can affect the time-distribution of the consolidation settlement. For the applied key methodology on the consolidation settlement problem, we propose the hybrid consolidation simulation controlling the movement of pore water with high accuracy and, finally, the aim of this article is to discuss the methodological approaches obtained by the study, including the basic concept and accurate movement of pore water under various conditions of soil layers and hydraulic conductivity.     

高海拔多年冻土区路基工程行为对低温多年冻土长期影响的监测研究

青藏铁路路基创造性采用了主动冷却路基的设计理念修建而成,目前铁路已经安全运营超过10年。青藏铁路路基修筑在多年冻土之上,路基下部冻土温度变化是衡量路基是否稳定的关键因素。基于长期（2008—2019年）地温观测资料,对昆仑山垭口南坡青藏铁路K980+000低温多年冻土区块石路基坡脚至坡脚外30 m范围内的冻土上限变化、年际地温变化、季节性地温变化进行分析,研究了路基工程行为对低温多年冻土的长期影响机制。结果表明：冻土地温不断升高,冻土上限逐年下移;与天然孔比较,路基坡脚处地温增温幅度反而较小,主要可能受块石路基冷却效应的影响;冷季与暖季呈现出不对称的增温趋势。冻土路基普遍增温的趋势仍然存在,出于对多年冻土的保护与保证工程稳定性的考虑,应尽量采用冷却路基的思想修建路基。同时,应加强对路基的监测,分析长期增温过程后路基稳定性变化,并对路基下部冻土的变化做出定量研究。