Rheological Properties and Incipient Motion of Cohesive Sediment in the Haihe Estuary of China

The Haihe cohesive sediment, which is typical in China, is studied systematically for its basic physical and incipientmotion properties. Following the requirements of dredging works in the Haihe Estuary, cohesive sediment samples weretaken from three locations. Laboratory experiments were conducted to determine the rheological properties of these sam-ples and to examine the incipient motion of the cohesive sediment. It is found that the cohesive sediment has an obviousyield stress τb, which increases with the mud density in a manner of an exponential function, and so does the viscosityparameter η. The cohesive sediment behaves like a Bingham fluid when its density is below 1.38 ～ 1.40 g/cm3, andwhen denser than these values, it may become a power-law fluid. The incipient motion experiment also revealed that theincipient velocity of the cohesive sediment increases with the density in an exponential manner. Therefore, the incipientmotion is primarily related to the density, which is different from the case for non-cohesive sediment in which the incipi-ent motion is correlated with the diameter of sand particles instead. The incipient motion occurs in two different ways de-pending on the concentration of mud in the bottom. For sufficiently fine particles and a concentration lower than1.20 g/cm3, the cohesive sediment appears as fluidized mud, and the incipient motion is in the form of instability of aninternal wave. For a higher concentration, the cohesive sediment appears as general quasi-solid-mud, and the incipientmotion can be described by a series of extended Shields curves each with a different porosity for newly deposited alluvial mud.     

重塑非饱和粘土抗剪强度参数与饱和度的关系研究

土的饱和度是基于水分状态和密度状态的一个衍生变量。存在因应水分状态变化和因应密度状态变化的两类饱和度变化过程。根据23组不同水分状态和密度状态的UU三轴压缩试验结果,讨论了重塑非饱和粘性土抗剪强度参数与饱和度的关系。数据分析表明:粘聚力与水分状态相关的饱和度的关系是强非线性的,与密度状态相关的饱和度的关系是准线性的。内摩擦角与水分状态相关的饱和度的关系是强非线性的,与密度状态相关的饱和度的关系是弱非线性的。     

Modélisation morphodynamique cross-shore d'un estran vaseux

Numerical experiments were performed to simulate the profile evolution of an intertidal mudflat with a 1D cross-shore morphodynamical model. First, the hydrodynamical forcing is a cross-shore tidal current due to semi-diurnal variations of the free surface elevation at the open boundary. Further, considering the conservation of the action density of surface gravity waves, a wave height (and resulting bottom shear stress) calculation is added to the morphodynamical model. Results of the numerical experiments show that the shape of the profile reaches equilibrium. The mudflat progrades continually when the forcing is tide only, whereas it can be steady under the simultaneous action of tide and waves. To cite this article: B. Waeles et al., C. R. Geoscience 336 (2004).     

Retrofit-reinforcement of cohesive soil slopes using high strength geotextiles with drainage capability

A series of geotechnical centrifuge physical modeling tests were performed to assess the potential use of a new cost-effective mechanically stabilized earth system for retrofitting marginally stable cohesive slopes. The proposed system utilizes the dual functions of reinforcement and drainage by directly inserting high strength non-woven geotextile strips into slopes, with little or no excavation required behind the slope face. The system significantly increases the factor of safety of potentially unstable cohesive slopes, and can be constructed at less expense and more rapidly than conventional mechanically stabilized earth systems.     

Computational model coupling mode II discrete fracture propagation with continuum damage zone evolution

We propose a numerical method that couples a cohesive zone model (CZM) and a finite element‐based continuum damage mechanics (CDM) model. The CZM represents a mode II macro‐fracture, and CDM finite elements (FE) represent the damage zone of the CZM. The coupled CZM/CDM model can capture the flow of energy that takes place between the bulk material that forms the matrix and the macroscopic fracture surfaces. The CDM model, which does not account for micro‐crack interaction, is calibrated against triaxial compression tests performed on Bakken shale, so as to reproduce the stress/strain curve before the failure peak. Based on a comparison with Kachanov's micro‐mechanical model, we confirm that the critical micro‐crack density value equal to 0.3 reflects the point at which crack interaction cannot be neglected. The CZM is assigned a pure mode II cohesive law that accounts for the dependence of the shear strength and energy release rate on confining pressure. The cohesive shear strength of the CZM is calibrated by calculating the shear stress necessary to reach a CDM damage of 0.3 during a direct shear test. We find that the shear cohesive strength of the CZM depends linearly on the confining pressure. Triaxial compression tests are simulated, in which the shale sample is modeled as an FE CDM continuum that contains a predefined thin cohesive zone representing the idealized shear fracture plane. The shear energy release rate of the CZM is fitted in order to match to the post‐peak stress/strain curves obtained during experimental tests performed on Bakken shale. We find that the energy release rate depends linearly on the shear cohesive strength. We then use the calibrated shale rheology to simulate the propagation of a meter‐scale mode II fracture. Under low confining pressure, the macroscopic crack (CZM) and its damaged zone (CDM) propagate simultaneously (i.e., during the same loading increments). Under high confining pressure, the fracture propagates in slip‐friction, that is, the debonding of the cohesive zone alternates with the propagation of continuum damage. The computational method is applicable to a range of geological injection problems including hydraulic fracturing and fluid storage and should be further enhanced by the addition of mode I and mixed mode (I+II+III) propagation. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A model for moisture and heat flow in fractured unsaturated porous media

The present study investigates propagation of a cohesive crack in non‐isothermal unsaturated porous medium under mode I conditions. Basic points of skeleton deformation, moisture, and heat transfer for unsaturated porous medium are presented. Boundary conditions on the crack surface that consist of mechanical interaction of the crack and the porous medium, water, and heat flows through the crack are taken into consideration. For spatial discretization, the extended finite element method is used. This method uses enriched shape functions in addition to ordinary shape functions for approximation of displacement, pressure, and temperature fields. The Heaviside step function and the distance function are exploited as enrichment functions for representing the crack surfaces displacement and the discontinuous vertical gradients of the pressure and temperature fields along the crack, respectively. For temporal discretization, backward finite difference scheme is applied. Problems solved from the literature show the validity of the model as well as the dependency of structural response on the material properties and loading. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Three-dimensional active earth pressure from cohesive backfills with tensile strength cutoff

Most of previous analyses on the active earth pressure were performed in two-dimensional cases using the Mohr-Coulomb (M-C) failure function to describe the soil strength. However, all failures of retained slopes indicate a somewhat three-dimensional (3D) feature, and the M-C function is found to overestimate the tensile strength of cohesive soil. In this work, a kinematic limit analysis–based approach is developed for computing the 3D active earth pressure resulting from cohesive backfills. The concept of tensile strength cutoff is adopted to implement the reduction or elimination of tensile strength from the strength envelope. An extended 3D horn failure mechanism that is associated with the modified strength envelope is developed to characterize the collapse of retained slopes. The resultant of active earth pressure is evaluated from the work rate balance equation and expressed as an unfactored coefficient. The obtained results indicate that less support provided by the wall is required when allowing the existence of soil cohesion and 3D effects and that eliminating the tensile strength can observably increase the active earth pressure, especially for the backfill with a great level of cohesion.     

Generalized plasticity state parameter‐based model for saturated and unsaturated soils. Part II: Unsaturated soil modeling

The aim of this paper is to extend the generalized plasticity state parameter‐based model presented in part 1 to reproduce the hydro‐mechanical behavior of unsaturated soils. The proposed model is based on two pairs of stress–strain variables and a suitable hardening law taking into account the bonding—debonding effect of suction and degree of saturation. A generalized state parameter for unsaturated state is proposed to reproduce soil behavior using a single set of material parameters. Generalized plasticity gives a suitable framework to reproduce not only monotonic stress path but also cyclic behavior. The hydraulic hysteresis during a drying—wetting cycle and the void ratio effect on the hydraulic behavior is introduced. Comparison between model simulations and a series of experimental data available, both cohesive and granular, are given to illustrate the accuracy of the enhanced generalized plasticity equation. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

植被作用下土壤抗剪强度和径流侵蚀力的耦合效应

利用野外径流小区动态监测和人工模拟降雨试验,阐明了草被和灌木的减流减沙效应,从力学层面揭示了坡面侵蚀产沙的过程机理。结果表明,与裸地相比,野外坡面草地和灌木地径流量分别减少28.1%~56.5%和85.7%~100%、产沙量分别减少84.9%~90.7%和98.5%~100%;在人工模拟降雨强度下,草地和灌木地径流量分别减少51.9%~90.9%和61.7%~80.6%、产沙量分别减少93.6%~99.2%和95.5%~99.2%;植被具有明显的增强土壤抗剪强度的作用,不同植被坡面抗剪强度与剪切面上的法向压力成正比,且符合库仑定律;不同下垫面条件下土壤黏聚力与坡面径流量和侵蚀产沙量呈显著的负相关关系,随着黏聚力的增大,径流量和侵蚀产沙量呈下降趋势;草地和灌木地坡面侵蚀临界径流切应力分别为裸地的2.64~3.16倍和2.44~3.18倍,建立了不同被覆坡面临界径流切应力与土壤抗剪强度和黏聚力的关系。研究结果对定量评价植被减蚀作用和深化土壤侵蚀力学过程有一定的参考意义。     

利用SEM照片获取土的孔隙结构参数

以土工实验和计算机图像处理技术为基础, 探讨利用SEM照片获取土的孔隙结构参数的方法, 并以重塑粘性土为例进行实证分析.为获取孔隙结构参数, 首先分3个步骤对土样的SEM照片进行图像处理: 即照片格式转换、颗粒边际线探测和颜色充填; 然后针对黑白二元图像测算孔隙结构参数.从设计制备的重塑粘性土的三轴试验样品中, 选择了12个不同水分状态和密度状态的样品, 经风干和烘干后, 进行SEM测试, 每个样品拍摄了3个尺度的SEM照片, 放大倍数依次为500倍、1000倍、2000倍.之后, 对所获得的SEM照片进行了图像处理分析, 计算了相应的平面孔隙比和平面孔隙率.数据分析表明: SEM照片测算的孔隙参数与通常三相图计算的孔隙参数有关联, 测算数据可以反映土的孔隙结构特征; 样品的不同脱水方式对SEM照片测算的孔隙参数有影响, 与三相图法计算数据相比, 风干土样测算的数据略有偏大, 烘干土样测算的数据偏小; 同一土样不同比例尺的SEM照片测算出的孔隙参数有所不同, 邻近三相图法计算结果上下波动; 利用SEM照片提取土的结构信息是可行的, 对SEM照片进行图像处理分析是获取土的孔隙结构参数的有效办法.