A Discussion on Dynamic Characteristics of Undisturbed Loess by Dynamic Triaxial Test

Based on the dynamic triaxial test system and using the fitted wave of the Wenchuan earthquake and 1 Hz constant amplitude sinusoid,the paper compares the results of tests on undisturbed loess samples under different loads and vibration modes but under same saturated conditions.Results of the comparative experiment show:The stress-strain curves have a similar trend under random seismic loading and constant amplitude sinusoidal loading,but the random seismic loading is more sensitive to failure strength of the undisturbed loess samples under the same stress.

Dynamic failure process of expanded polystyrene particle lightweight soil under cyclic loading using discrete element method

Expanded polystyrene(EPS)particle-based lightweight soil,which is a type of lightweight filler,is mainly used in road engineering.The stability of subgrades under dynamic loading is attracting increased research attention.The traditional method for studying the dynamic strength characteristics of soils is dynamic triaxial testing,and the discrete element simulation of lightweight soils under cyclic load has rarely been considered.To study the meso-mechanisms of the dynamic failure processes of EPS particle lightweight soils,a discrete element numerical model is established using the particle flow code(PFC)software.The contact force,displacement field,and velocity field of lightweight soil under different cumulative compressive strains are studied.The results show that the hysteresis curves of lightweight soil present characteristics of strain accumulation,which reflect the cyclic effects of the dynamic load.When the confining pressure increases,the contact force of the particles also increases.The confining pressure can restrain the motion of the particle system and increase the dynamic strength of the sample.When the confining pressure is held constant,an increase in compressive strain causes minimal change in the contact force between soil particles.However,the contact force between the EPS particles decreases,and their displacement direction points vertically toward the center of the sample.Under an increase in compressive strain,the velocity direction of the particle system changes from a random distribution and points vertically toward the center of the sample.When the compressive strain is 5%,the number of particles deflected in the particle velocity direction increases significantly,and the cumulative rate of deformation in the lightweight soil accelerates.Therefore,it is feasible to use 5%compressive strain as the dynamic strength standard for lightweight soil.Discrete element methods provide a new approach toward the dynamic performance evaluation of lightweight soil subgrades.

Test on dynamic characteristics of subgrade of heavy-haul railway in cold regions

Dynamic characteristics of heavy-haul railway subgrade under vibratory loading in cold regions are investigated via low-temperature dynamie triaxial tests with multi-stage eyelic loading process. The relationship between dynamic shear stress and dynamic shear strain of frozen soil of subgrade under train loading and the influence of freezing temperatures on dynamic constitutive relation, dynamic shear modulus and damping ratio are observed in this study. Test results show that the dynamic constitutive relations of the frozen soils with different freezing temperatures comply with the hyperbolic model, in which model parameters a and b decrease with increasing freezing temperature. The dynamic shear modulus of the frozen soils decreases with increasing dynamic shear strains initially, followed by a relatively smooth attenuation tendency, whereas increases with decreasing freezing temperatures. The damping ratios decrease with decreasing freezing temperatures. Two linear functions are defined to express the linear relationships between dynamic shear modulus （damping ratio） and freezing temperature, respectively, in which corresponding linear coefficients are obtained through multiple regression analysis of test data.

Dynamic mechanical characteristics of frozen subgrade soil subjected to freeze-thaw cycles

As a widely-applied engineering material in cold regions, the frozen subgrade soils are usually subjected to seismic loading, which are also dramatically influenced by the freeze-thaw(F-T)cycles due to the varying temperature. A series of dynamic cyclic triaxial experiments were conducted through a cryogenic triaxial apparatus for exploring the influences of F-T cycles on the dynamic mechanical properties of frozen subgrade clay.According to the experimental results of frozen clay at the temperature of-10℃, the dynamic responses and microstructure variation at different times of F-T cycles(0, 1, 5, and 20 cycles) were explored in detail.It is experimentally demonstrated that the dynamic stress-strain curves and dynamic volumetric strain curves of frozen clay are significantly sparse after 20F-T cycles. Meanwhile, the cyclic number at failure(Nf) of the frozen specimen reduces by 89% after 20freeze-thaw cycles at a low ratio of the dynamic stress amplitude. In addition, with the increasing F-T cycles,the axial accumulative strain, residual deformation,and the value of damage variable of frozen clay increase, while the dynamic resilient modulus and dynamic strength decrease. Finally, the influence of the F-T cycles on the failure mechanisms of frozen clay was discussed in terms of the microstructure variation. These studies contribute to a better understanding of the fundamental changes in the dynamic mechanical of frozen soils exposed to F-T cycles in cold and seismic regions.

Research on damage failure mechanism and dynamic mechanical behavior of layered shale with different angles under confining pressure

The hydrostatic or confining pressure of deep rocks has a significant impact on the mechanical behavior of brittle materials.Especially when confining pressure is applied,the mechanical properties of rock materials will undergo significant changes.Considering that the process of shale sample subjected to impact load is in a closed container in the dynamic triaxial SHPB test,the failure process of the sample cannot be observed.Meanwhile,the activation volume of the shale sample would be large and local failure would occur in the test under the high strain rate loading.Therefore,thefinite element model of shale considering the bedding effect under confining pressure was established in this study.Taking shale materials with different bedding dip angles as simulation objects,the dynamic failure characteristics of shale were studied using the dynamic analysis software ANSYS/LS‐DYNA from three aspects:stress‐strain curve,failure growth process,and failure morphology.The research results obtained can serve as the key technical parameters for deep resource extraction.

Experimental study of dynamic resilient modulus of subgrade soils under coupling of freeze–thaw cycles and dynamic load

Although the dynamic properties of subgrade soils in seasonally frozen areas have already been studied, few researchers have considered the influence of shallow groundwater during the freeze–thaw(F–T) cycles. So a multifunctional F–T cycle system was developed to imitate the groundwater recharge in the subgrade during the freezing process and a large number of dynamic triaxial experiments were conducted after the F–T cycles. Some significant factors including the F–T cycle number, compaction degree, confining pressure, cyclic deviator stress, loading frequency, and water content were investigated for the resilient modulus of soils. The experimental results indicated that the dynamic resilient modulus of the subgrade was negatively correlated with the cyclic deviator stress, F–T cycle number, and initial water content, whereas the degree of compaction, confining pressure, and loading frequency could enhance the resilient modulus. Furthermore, a modified model considering the F–T cycle number and stress state was established to predict the dynamic resilient modulus. The calculated results of this modified model were very close to the experimental results. Consequently, calculation of the resilient modulus for F–T cycles considering the dynamic load was appropriate. This study provides reference for research focusing on F–T cycles with groundwater supply and the dynamic resilient moduli of subgrade soils in seasonally frozen areas.

Dynamic Elastic Modulus and Damping Ratio of Lignin-Modified Loess

To effectively improve the poor engineering properties of loess and enhance its seismic performance,the industrial by-product lignin is used as a modified material.Based on lots of dynamic triaxial tests,the dynamic elastic modulus and damping ratio of lignin-modified loess were tested.The effects of lignin content on the dynamic elastic modulus and damping ratio of lignin-modified loess were analyzed.Combined with scanning electron microscopy(SEM)and X-ray diffraction(XRD),the microscopic mechanism of lignin to improve the dynamic properties of loess was studied.The results show that lignin can effectively modify the dynamic deformation of loess under dynamic load.Under the same dynamic stress condition,the dynamic strain of lignin-modified loess is smaller than compacted loess.The dynamic elastic modulus of modified loess with different lignin content are quite different,but both decrease with the increase of dynamic strain.And the dynamic elastic modulus of modified loess is greater than compacted loess.The maximum dynamic elastic modulus of modified loess with a lignin content of 1%are significantly greater than others.Under the same dynamic strain condition,the damping ratio of lignin-modified loess is smaller than compacted loess.Lignin can effectively fill loess pores and cement loess particles.Compared with compacted loess,no new mineral components are generated in the lignin-modified loess.The optimum lignin content of dynamics characteristic of modified loess is present,and the optimum lignin content is 1%.

Influence of artificial freezing onliquefaction characteristics of Nanjing sand

Purpose–This study purposes to study the influence of artificial freezing on the liquefaction characteristics of Nanjing sand,as well as its mechanism.Design/methodology/approach–was studied through dynamic triaxial tests by means of the GDS dynamic triaxial system on Nanjing sand extensively discovered in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River under seismic load and metro train vibration load,respectively,and potential hazards of the two loads to the freezing construction of Nanjing sand were also identified in the tests.Findings–The results show that under both seismic load and metro train vibration load,freeze-thaw cycles will significantly reduce the stiffness and liquefaction resistance of Nanjing sand,especially in the first freezethaw cycle;the more freeze-thaw cycles,the worse structural behaviors of silty-fine sand,and the easier to liquefy;freeze-thaw cycles will increase the sensitivity of Nanjing sand’s dynamic pore pressure to dynamic load response;the lower the freezing temperature and the effective confining pressure,the worse the liquefaction resistance of Nanjing sand after freeze-thaw cycles;compared to the metro train vibration load,the seismic load in Nanjing is potentially less dangerous to freezing construction of Nanjing sand.Originality/value–The research results are helpful to the construction of the artificial ground freezing of the subway crossing passage in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River and to ensure the construction safety of the subway tunnel and its crossing passage.

Stability of the Guiding Dike in Yangtze Estuary Under the Wave Load

During the construction of the guiding dike in the Yangtze Estuary, some of the caisson structures sank into the soil for 1 -5 m or slid about 20 m away from the original place when a strong storm attacked this area. Dynamic triaxial tests were carried out to simulate the behavior of foundation soils under wave loading. The test results show that the excessive settlement and lateral movement of the caissons are due to the weakening of the soft clay strength during the strong storm. The test results also show that the ability of the soft clay to resist the wave force will be greatly increased when the soft soil samples are suitably improved. Based on the test results, an improvement method combining vertical drains with surcharge loading was proposed to strengthen the foundation soil. On the improved soil foundation, the dike has been reconstructed and undergone several strong storms without any damage. A finite element approach has been developed for analyzing the settlement and stability of the dike under the action of strong storm.

Experimental research on the development of residual strain in seasonal frozen soil under freezing-thawing and impact type traffic loads

Vehicle load is among the main factors affecting the deformation of subgrade soil.In this research study,the concept of impact type traffic load is introduced to investigate the effects of vehicle load based on the dynamic stress and displacement time histories acquired from seasonal frozen subgrade soils.Using freezing-thawing and dynamic triaxial tests and considering the amplitude and loading sequence of impact type traffic load,the residual deformation characteristics of subgrade soil under impact type traffic loads and freezing-thawing cycles is studied.It was found that under impact type traffic load,the residual deformation of soils increased sharply as the amplitude of impact type traffic load increased.It was also found that the increase in the amplitude of impact type traffic load led to the increase of residual deformation in a scale of power and exponential function.The amplitudes of impact type traffic load affect the development stress-strain path of the residual strain.After the soil experienced the proper amount of pre-vibration of the light load,residual deformation decreased by 15%.After freezing-thawing,the residual strain of soil increased as the amplitude of the impact type traffic loads increased.Also,when the amplification effect of freezing-thawing on the residual strain was basically stable,the residual deformation increased by about 10%.The peak impact type traffic load had a large effect on soil deformation after the freezing-thawing process,leading to the observation that of the earlier the peaks,the stronger the effect of freezing-thawing.After the soil was subjected to preloading with a small load,the influence of the freezing-thawing cycles gradually stabilized.The results may be useful in preventing and controlling the risk of subgrade soil failure when construction takes place spring thaw periods.

Evaluation for Earthquake Liquefaction of Loess Sites

Through the sinusoid loading dynamic triaxial test, the liquefaction property of saturated loess and sand selected from a civil airport of Lanzhou, Gansu is examined. Based on the laboratory results, a comprehensive assessment on the earthquake liquefaction potential of the loess and sand is given, using the liquefaction resistance shear stress method and the results of seismic hazard assessment. It is found that under the effect of ground motion with exceedance probability of 10% within 50 years, the loess in the study is more susceptible to liquefaction than sand.

Deduction and experimental investigation of constitutive relation of liquefaction of saturated sand

According to the existing problems of liquefaction models of saturated sand that were put forward under dynamic action,on the basis of Handin-Drnevich model,a new calculating model of the dynamic constitutive relation of saturated sand was put forward.The model was based on the basic hypothesis of instantaneous limit balance according to the basic principle that the stress estate is the destroyed condition was not overstepped.The calculated method of increment nonlinear was referenced and combined with the excellence of the model of distributed particles.The process of vibrating liquefaction of saturated sand was divided into some areas.And the phenomena of shearing dilatation and unloading shrink of saturated sand were considered.On above basic a new calculating constitutive relation model was proposed.There are a few parameters in the model.The physical means of the parameters are very evident and quantized.They could be obtained from the dynamic triaxial test in door.The model was contrasted and validated with the results of the dynamic triaxial test in door.The comparison of the results of the dynamic triaxial test in door and the calculating results of the model indicates that all sorts of phenomenon appearing in the process of liquefaction of saturated sand could be more perfectly reflected by the model.Especially at the initial stage of development of pore water pressure and strain of saturated sand,the results of the dynamic triaxial test in door are consistent with the calculated results of the model very much.But there is some difference between the results at the anaphase of development of pore water pressure and strain.On the path of stress,the calculating and experimenting ultimate state surfaces are almost identical.