Liquefaction susceptibility and deformation characteristics of saturated coral sandy soils subjected to cyclic loadings-a critical review

Coral sandy soils widely exist in coral island reefs and seashores in tropical and subtropical regions.Due to the unique marine depositional environment of coral sandy soils,the engineering characteristics and responses of these soils subjected to monotonic and cyclic loadings have been a subject of intense interest among the geotechnical and earthquake engineering communities.This paper critically reviews the progress of experimental investigations on the undrained behavior of coral sandy soils under monotonic and cyclic loadings over the last three decades.The focus of coverage includes the contractive-dilative behavior,the pattern of excess pore-water pressure(EPWP)generation and the liquefaction mechanism and liquefaction resistance,the small-strain shear modulus and strain-dependent shear modulus and damping,the cyclic softening feature,and the anisotropic characteristics of undrained responses of saturated coral sandy soils.In particular,the advances made in the past decades are reviewed from the following aspects:(1)the characterization of factors that impact the mechanism and patterns of EPWP build-up;(2)the identification of liquefaction triggering in terms of the apparent viscosity and the average flow coefficient;(3)the establishment of the invariable form of strain-based,stress-based,or energy-based EPWP ratio formulas and the unique relationship between the new proxy of liquefaction resistance and the number of cycles required to reach liquefaction;(4)the establishment of the invariable form of the predictive formulas of small strain modulus and strain-dependent shear modulus;and(5)the investigation on the effects of stress-induced anisotropy on liquefaction susceptibility and dynamic deformation characteristics.Insights gained through the critical review of these advances in the past decades offer a perspective for future research to further resolve the fundamental issues concerning the liquefaction mechanism and responses of coral sandy sites subjected to cyclic loadings associated with seismic events in marine environments.

Spatiotemporal deformation characteristics of Outang landslide and identification of triggering factors using data mining

Since the impoundment of Three Gorges Reservoir(TGR)in 2003,numerous slopes have experienced noticeable movement or destabilization owing to reservoir level changes and seasonal rainfall.One case is the Outang landslide,a large-scale and active landslide,on the south bank of the Yangtze River.The latest monitoring data and site investigations available are analyzed to establish spatial and temporal landslide deformation characteristics.Data mining technology,including the two-step clustering and Apriori algorithm,is then used to identify the dominant triggers of landslide movement.In the data mining process,the two-step clustering method clusters the candidate triggers and displacement rate into several groups,and the Apriori algorithm generates correlation criteria for the cause-and-effect.The analysis considers multiple locations of the landslide and incorporates two types of time scales:longterm deformation on a monthly basis and short-term deformation on a daily basis.This analysis shows that the deformations of the Outang landslide are driven by both rainfall and reservoir water while its deformation varies spatiotemporally mainly due to the difference in local responses to hydrological factors.The data mining results reveal different dominant triggering factors depending on the monitoring frequency:the monthly and bi-monthly cumulative rainfall control the monthly deformation,and the 10-d cumulative rainfall and the 5-d cumulative drop of water level in the reservoir dominate the daily deformation of the landslide.It is concluded that the spatiotemporal deformation pattern and data mining rules associated with precipitation and reservoir water level have the potential to be broadly implemented for improving landslide prevention and control in the dam reservoirs and other landslideprone areas.

Experimental study of the damage characteristics of rocks containing non-penetrating cracks under cyclic loading

The damage evolution process of non-penetrating cracks often causes some unexpected engineering disasters.Gypsum specimens containing non-penetrating crack(s)are used to study the damage evolution and characteristics under cyclic loading.The results show that under cyclic loading,the relationship between the number of non-penetrating crack(s)and the characteristic parameters(cyclic number,peak stress,peak strain,failure stress,and failure strain)of the pre-cracked specimens can be represented by a decreasing linear function.The damage evolution equation is fitted by calibrating the accumulative plastic strain for each cycle,and the damage constitutive equation is proposed by the concept of effective stress.Additionally,non-penetrating cracks are more likely to cause uneven stress distribution,damage accumulation,and local failure of specimen.The local failure can change the stress distribution and relieve the inhibition of non-penetrating crack extension and eventually cause a dramatic destruction of the specimen.Therefore,the evolution process caused by non-penetrating cracks can be regarded as one of the important reasons for inducing rockburst.These results are expected to improve the understanding of the process of spalling formation and rockburst and can be used to analyze the stability of rocks or rock structures.

Application of modified discontinuous deformation analysis to dynamic modelling of the Baige landslide in the Jinsha River

Accurate dynamic modeling of landslides could help understand the movement mechanisms and guide disaster mitigation and prevention.Discontinuous deformation analysis(DDA)is an effective approach for investigating landslides.However,DDA fails to accurately capture the degradation in shear strength of rock joints commonly observed in high-speed landslides.In this study,DDA is modified by incorporating simplified joint shear strength degradation.Based on the modified DDA,the kinematics of the Baige landslide that occurred along the Jinsha River in China on 10 October 2018 are reproduced.The violent starting velocity of the landslide is considered explicitly.Three cases with different violent starting velocities are investigated to show their effect on the landslide movement process.Subsequently,the landslide movement process and the final accumulation characteristics are analyzed from multiple perspectives.The results show that the violent starting velocity affects the landslide motion characteristics,which is found to be about 4 m/s in the Baige landslide.The movement process of the Baige landslide involves four stages:initiation,high-speed sliding,impact-climbing,low-speed motion and accumulation.The accumulation states of sliding masses in different zones are different,which essentially corresponds to reality.The research results suggest that the modified DDA is applicable to similar high-level rock landslides.

Pore structure of low‑permeability coal and its deformation characteristics during the adsorption–desorption of CH4/N2

The pore structure of coal plays a key role in controlling the storage and migration of CH4/N2.The pore structure of coal is an important indicator to measure the gas extraction capability and the gas displacement efect of N2 injection.The deformation characteristic of coal during adsorption–desorption of CH4/N2 is an important factor afecting CH4 pumpability and N2 injectability.The pore structure characteristics of low-permeability coal were obtained by fuid intrusion method and photoelectric radiation technology.The multistage and connectivity of coal pores were analyzed.Subsequently,a simultaneous test experiment of CH4/N2 adsorption–desorption and coal deformation was carried out.The deformation characteristics of coal were clarifed and a coal strain model was constructed.Finally,the applicability of low-permeability coal to N2 injection for CH4 displacement technology was investigated.The results show that the micropores and transition pores of coal samples are relatively developed.The pore morphology of coal is dominated by semi-open pores.The pore structure of coal is highly complex and heterogeneous.Transition pores,mesopores and macropores of coal have good connectivity,while micropores have poor connectivity.Under constant triaxial stress,the adsorption capacity of the coal for CH4 is greater than that for N2,and the deformation capacity of the coal for CH4 adsorption is greater than that for N2 adsorption.The axial strain,circumferential strain,and volumetric strain during the entire process of CH4 and N2 adsorption/desorption in the coal can be divided into three stages.Coal adsorption–desorption deformation has the characteristics of anisotropy and gas-diference.A strain model for the adsorption–desorption of CH4/N2 from coal was established by considering the expansion stress of adsorbed gas on the coal matrix,the compression stress of free gas on the coal matrix,and the expansion stress of free gas on micropore fractures.N2 has good injectability in low-permeability coal seams and has the dual functions of improving coal seam permeability and enhancing gas fow,which can signifcantly improve the efectiveness of low-permeability coal seam gas control and promote the efcient utilization of gas resources.

Numerical analysis of geosynthetic-reinforced embankment performance under moving loads

The performance of geosynthetic-reinforced embankments under traffic moving loads is always a hotspot in the geotechnical engineering field.A three-dimensional(3D)model of a geosynthetic-reinforced embankment without drainage consolidation was established using the finite element software ABAQUS.In this model,the traffic loads were simulated by two moving loads of rectangular pattern,and their amplitude,range,and moving speed were realized by a Fortran subroutine.The embankment fill was simulated by an equivalent linear viscoelastic model,which can reflect its viscoelasticity.The geogrid was simulated by the truss element,and the geocell was simulated by the membrane element.Infinite elements were utilized to weaken the boundary effect caused by the model geometry at the boundaries.Validation of the established numerical model was conducted by comparing the predicted deformations in the cross-section of the geosynthetic-reinforced embankment with those from the existing literature.On this basis,the dynamic stress and strain distribution in the pavement structure layer of the geosynthetic-reinforced embankment under a moving load was also analyzed.Finally,a parametric study was conducted to examine the influences of the different types of reinforcement,overload,and the moving load velocity on the geosynthetic-reinforced embankment.

Deformation Characteristics of Hydrate-Bearing Sediments

The safe and efficient development of natural gas hydrate requires a deep understanding of the deformation behaviors of reservoirs.In this study,a series of triaxial shearing tests are carried out to investigate the deformation properties of hydrate-bearing sediments.Variations of volumetric and lateral strains versus hydrate saturation are analyzed comprehensively.Results indicate that the sediments with high hydrate saturation show dilative behaviors,which lead to strain-softening characteristics during shearing.The volumetric strain curves have a tendency to transform gradually from dilatation to compression with the increase in effective confining pressure.An easy prediction model is proposed to describe the relationship between volumetric and axial strains.The model coefficientβis the key dominating factor for the shape of volumetric strain curves and can be determined by the hydrate saturation and stress state.Moreover,a modified model is established for the calculation of lateral strain.The corresponding determination method is provided for the easy estimation of model coefficients for medium sand sediments containing hydrate.This study provides a theoretical and experimental reference for deformation estimation in natural gas hydrate development.

Mechanical behavior and response mechanism of porous metal structures manufactured by laser powder bed fusion under compressive loading

Al Si10Mg porous protective structure often produces different damage forms under compressive loading,and these damage modes affect its protective function.In order to well meet the service requirements,there is an urgent need to comprehensively understand the mechanical behavior and response mechanism of AlSi10Mg porous structures under compressive loading.In this paper,Al Si10Mg porous structures with three kinds of volume fractions are designed and optimized to meet the requirements of high-impact,strong-energy absorption,and lightweight characteristics.The mechanical behaviors of AlSi10Mg porous structures,including the stress-strain relationship,structural bearing state,deformation and damage modes,and energy absorption characteristics,were obtained through experimental studies at different loading rates.The damage pattern of the damage section indicates that AlSi10Mg porous structures have both ductile and brittle mechanical properties.Numerical simulation studies show that the AlSi10Mg porous structure undergoes shear damage due to relative misalignment along the diagonal cross-section,and the damage location is almost at 45°to the load direction,which is the most direct cause of its structural damage,revealing the damage mechanism of AlSi10Mg porous structures under the compressive load.The normalized energy absorption model constructed in the paper well interprets the energy absorption state of Al Si10Mg porous structures and gives the sensitive location of the structures,and the results of this paper provide important references for peers in structural design and optimization.

Evolution of mechanical parameters of Shuangjiangkou granite under different loading cycles and stress paths

Surrounding rocks at different locations are generally subjected to different stress paths during the process of deep hard rock excavation.In this study,to reveal the mechanical parameters of deep surrounding rock under different stress paths,a new cyclic loading and unloading test method for controlled true triaxial loading and unloading and principal stress direction interchange was proposed,and the evolution of mechanical parameters of Shuangjiangkou granite under different stress paths was studied,including the deformation modulus,elastic deformation increment ratios,fracture degree,cohesion and internal friction angle.Additionally,stress path coefficient was defined to characterize different stress paths,and the functional relationships among the stress path coefficient,rock fracture degree difference coefficient,cohesion and internal friction angle were obtained.The results show that during the true triaxial cyclic loading and unloading process,the deformation modulus and cohesion gradually decrease,while the internal friction angle gradually increases with increasing equivalent crack strain.The stress path coefficient is exponentially related to the rock fracture degree difference coefficient.As the stress path coefficient increases,the degrees of cohesion weakening and internal friction angle strengthening decrease linearly.During cyclic loading and unloading under true triaxial principal stress direction interchange,the direction of crack development changes,and the deformation modulus increases,while the cohesion and internal friction angle decrease slightly,indicating that the principal stress direction interchange has a strengthening effect on the surrounding rocks.Finally,the influences of the principal stress interchange direction on the stabilities of deep engineering excavation projects are discussed.

Trans-scale study on the thermal response and initiation of ternary fluoropolymer-matrix reactive materials under shock loading

To investigate the thermal response and initiation behavior of ternary fluoropolymer-matrix PTFE/Al/W reactive materials,a research combining shock loading tests and trans-scale modelling is conducted.On the basis of a good agreement of the numerically simulated and tested shock wave propagation,the significant impact of component ratios and particle sizes on the evolution of mesoscopic temperature,hot-spots and initiation is well characterized and analyzed.Results demonstrate that as the content of W increases,the range of mesoscopic high-temperature area increases and tends to distribute more uniform,while material with smaller W particles causes more intense particle deformation and larger temperature rise.The time to reach the critical temperature shows positive correlation to the content of W,while the critical temperature of hot-spots shows negative correlation to the particle size of W.For PTFE/Al/W of high density,with the increase of W particle size,the reaction rate decrease,however the time to reach the peak reaction rate shortens.

Deformation and failure mechanism of Yanjiao rock slope influenced by rainfall and water level fluctuation of the Xiluodu hydropower station reservoir

With the construction of the Xiluodu hydropower station on the Jinsha River,the reservoir impoundment began in 2013 and the water level fluctuates annually between 540 m and 600 m above sea level.The Yanjiao rock slope which is located on the left bank of the Jinsha River 75 km upstream of the Xiluodu dam site,began to deform in 2014.The potential failure of the slope not only threatens Yanjiao town but also affects the safe operation of the Xiluodu reservoir.This paper is to find the factors influencing the Yanjiao slope deformation through field investigation,geotechnical reconnaissance,and monitoring.Results show that the Yanjiao slope can be divided into a bank collapse area(BCA)and a strong deformation area(SDA)based on the crack distribution characteristics of the slope.The rear area of the slope has been experiencing persistent deformation with a maximum cumulative displacement(GPS monitoring point G4)of 505 mm and 399 mm in the horizontal and vertical directions,respectively.The potential failure surface of the slope is formed 36 m below the surface based on the borehole inclinometer.The bank collapses of the Yanjiao slope are directly caused by the reservoir impoundment while the deformation area of the slope is affected by the combination of the rainfall and reservoir water level fluctuation.Based on mechanism of the Yanjiao slope,prestressed anchor combined with the surface drainage and slope unloading are recommended to prevent potential deformation.

Failure characteristics and the damage evolution of a composite bearing structure in pillar-side cemented paste backfilling

A backfilling body-coal pillar-backfilling body(BPB)structure formed by pillar-side cemented paste backfilling can bear overburden stress and ensure safe mining.However,the failure response of BPB composite samples must be investigated.This paper examines the deformation characteristics and damage evolution of six types of BPB composite samples using a digital speckle correlation method under uniaxial compression conditions.A new damage evolution equation was established on the basis of the input strain energy and dissipated strain energy at the peak stress.The prevention and control mechanisms of the backfilling body on the coal pillar instability were discussed.The results show that the deformation localization and macroscopic cracks of the BPB composite samples first appeared at the coal-backfilling interface,and then expanded to the backfilling elements,ultimately appearing in the coal elements.The elastic strain energy in the BPB composite samples reached a maximum at the peak stress,whereas the dissipated energy continued to accumulate and increase.The damage evolution curve and equation agree well with the test results,providing further understanding of instability prevention and the control mechanisms of the BPB composite samples.The restraining effect on the coal pillar was gradually reduced with decreasing backfilling body element's volume ratio,and the BPB composite structure became more vulnerable to failure.This research is expected to guide the design,stability monitoring,instability prevention,and control of BPB structures in pillar-side cemented paste backfilling mining.

Experimental study on the deformation behaviour,energy evolution law and failure mechanism of tectonic coal subjected to cyclic loads

Compared to intact coal,tectonic coal exhibits unique characteristics.The deformation behaviours under cyclic loading with different confining pressures and loading rates are monitored by MTS815 test system,and the mechanical and energy properties are analysed using experimental data.The results show that the stress-strain curve could be divided into four stages in a single cycle.The elastic strain and elastic energy density increase linearly with deviatoric stress and are proportional to the confining pressure and loading rate;irreversible strain and dissipated energy density increase exponentially with deviatoric stress,inversely proportional to the confining pressure and loading rate.The internal structure of tectonic coal is divided into three types,all of which are damaged under different deviatoric stress levels,thereby explaining the segmentation phenomenon of stress-strain curve of tectonic coal in the cyclic loading process.Tectonic coal exhibits nonlinear energy storage characteristics,which verifies why the tectonic coal is prone to coal and gas outburst from the principle of energy dissipation.In addition,the damage mechanism of tectonic coal is described from the point of energy distribution by introducing the concepts of crushing energy and friction energy.

Numerical investigation on the fatigue failure characteristics of waterbearing sandstone under cyclic loading

The strength of sandstone decreases significantly with higher water content attributing to softening effects.This scenario can pose a severe threat to the stability of reservoirs of pumped storage power stations developed from abandoned mines,especially when subjected to the cyclic loading condition caused by the repeated drainage and storage of water(fatigue damage).Based on this,it is essential to focus on the fatigue failure characteristics.In this study,the mineral composition of the used sandstone of Ruineng coal mine in Shanxi Province,China,was first tested to elucidate the rock softening mechanism after absorbing water.Next,a numerical model for replicating the mechanical behavior of water-bearing sandstone was established using twodimensional particle flow code(PFC2D)with a novel contact model.Then,16 uniaxial cyclic loading simulations with distinct loading parameters related to reservoir conditions(loading frequency,amplitude level,and maximum stress level)and different water contents were conducted.The numerical results show that all these three loading parameters affect the failure characteristics of sandstone,including irreversible strain,damage evolution,strain behavior,and fatigue life.The influence degree of these three parameters on failure behavior increases in the order of maximum stress level,loading frequency,and amplitude level.However,for the samples with different water contents,their failure characteristics are similar under the same loading conditions.Furthermore,the failure mode is almost unaffected by the loading parameters,while the water content plays a significant role and causing the transformation from the tensile splitting with low water content to the shear failure with higher water content.

The deformation and permeability of Yanji mudstone under cyclic loading and unloading

During the constructions of motorways and high-speed railway lines in the Yanji Basin,large amounts of excess mudstones due to the enormous tunnel excavations and slope cuts would be deposited as landfills.Assessing the deformation and permeability of Yanji mudstone became important for the design,construction and operation of the landfills.This paper presents an experimental study on the deformation and permeability of Yanji mudstone by carrying out a series of oedometer tests with loading/unloading cycles.The results show that the sample with a lower initial water content exhibited greater swelling deformation after inundation,a lower yield stress,greater deformation and a higher hydraulic conductivity during the loading/unloading cycles.As the number of loading/unloading cycles increased,the yield stress and accumulated plastic deformation increased,while the compression index,rebound index and hydraulic conductivity decreased.The samples became stiffer and their hydromechanical behaviour tended to be stable after three cycles.The compression curves could be divided into pre-yield and post-yield zones.The post-yield zones of compression curves and the rebound curves could be normalized into a unique line,and the pre-yield zones of the compression curves could be described as lines.Basic equations were developed to predict mudstone deformation under cyclic loading and unloading.Additionally,an empirical relationship between the hydraulic conductivity and void ratio was also proposed.The ability of the proposed methods was verified by the overall good agreement between the experimental results and predicted values.

Deformation and Failure Mechanism of Phyllite under the Effects of THM Coupling and Unloading

Although the study of TM(Thermo Mechanics),HM(Hydraulic-Mechanics) and THM(Thermo-Hydraulic-Mechanics) coupling under a loading test have been under development,rock failure analysis under THM coupling and unloading is an emerging topic.Based on a high temperature triaxial unloading seep test for phyllite,this paper discusses the deformation and failure mechanism of phyllites under the "H M,T→H,T→M" incomplete coupling model with unloading conditions.The results indicate that the elastic modulus and initial permeability decrease and the Poisson's ratio increases with increasing temperature;the elastic modulus decreases and the Poisson's ratio and initial permeability increase with increasing water pressure.During the unloading process,rock penetrability is small at the initial elastic deformation phase,but the penetrability increases near the end of the elastic deformation phase;mechanisms involving temperature and water pressure affect penetrability differently.Phyllite failure occurs from the initial thermal damage of the rock materials,splitting and softening(which is caused by pore water pressure),and the pressure difference which is formed from the loading axial pressure and unloading confining pressure.The phyllite failure mechanism is a transtensional(tension-shearing) failure.

Deformation characteristics and thresholds of the Tanjiawan landslide in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area,China

Since the first impoundment of the Three Gorges Reservoir(TGR)in China in 2003,more than 5000 landslides including potential landslides were identified.In this paper,a deep-seated active landslide in TGR area was analyzed.Fourteen years’monitoring data and field investigations from 2006 to 2020 were used to analyze the deformation characteristics,influencing factors,and meteohydrological thresholds.The landslide showed a none-overall periodic movement pattern featuring acceleration during long-duration rainfall and rapid transition to constant creep after rainfall events.Two secondary sliding masses,No.1 and No.2,were defined via field investigation.The reservoir has no impact on the deformation whereas long-duration-low-intensity rainfall is the main factor.At present,the cumulative displacements of the main sliding mass range from 0.9 to 3.2 m,and the deformation during the rainy season is gradually increasing.The boundary of this landslide was formed,and the boundary of No.2 sliding mass became obvious.The probability of the failure of sliding mass No.2 is very high under the conditions of continuous rainfall.The 15-day antecedent rainfall combined with 4-day cumulative rainfall could be the rainfall threshold which could be associated with the groundwater level S1 of 294 m above sea level for forecasting large deformation of Tanjiawan landslide.

Current tectonic deformation and seismogenic characteristics along the northeast margin of Qinghai -Xizang block

Based on the data from repeated precise leveling and across-fault deformation measurements carried out in recent 30 years and the analyzed results from GPS observations made in recent years along the northeastern margin of Qinghai-Xizang block, and combined with the geological structures and seismic activities, some characteristics in regional tectonic deformation and strong earthquake development are studied and approached preliminarily. The results show that: a) The space-time distribution of current tectonic deformation in this area is inhomogeneous with relatively intensive tectonic deformation in the vicinity of main boundary faults and weak deformation in the farther areas. The intensity of vertical differential movement and the deformation status vary with time, and the horizontal movement and deformation are characterized by apparent compression and strike-slip. b) The tectonic stress field generated by the NE-trending continuous compressive movement of Qinghai-Xizang block due to the northward press and collision of India plate is the principal stress for the tectonic deformation and earthquake development in this area. The evolution of space-time distribution of tectonic deformation and seismicity is closely related to the block activity and dynamic evolution of regional tectonic stress field. c) The vertical deformation uplift and high-gradient deformation zones and the obvious fault deformation anomaly appeared along the boundaries of tectonic blocks can be considered as the indicators of hindered block motion and intensified tectonic stress field for strong earthquake development. Usually, the above-mentioned phenomena would be followed by the seismicity of M6.0, but the earthquake might not occur in the place with the maximum movement. The zones with the fault deformation anomaly characterized by tendencious accumulation acceleration turning and the surrounding areas might be the positions for accumulation of strain energy and development and occurrence of strong earthquakes.

BRIEF REVIEW OF THE STRENGTH AND DEFORMATION CHARACTERISTICS OF SEDIMENTARY SOFT ROCK

The strength and deformation characteristics of sedimentary soft rock evaluated in relation to several large-scale researc and construction projects in Japan are reviewed.The elastic stiffiness at small non-linearity due to strain and pressure level,and viscous properties are described.The elastic stiffness from triaxial tests using high-quality core samples while measuring stresses and strains accurately is basically the same as the corresponding value from field shear wave velocity.It is necessary to take into account the dependency or stiffness on shear and pressure level,which could be evaluated by relevant laboratory stress-strain tests while referring to results trom relevant field loading tests.Loading rate effects due to the material viscous properties could be simulated by a non-linear three-component model.

Analysis of deformation characteristic in multi-way loading forming process of aluminum alloy cross valve based on finite element model

The deformation characteristic in the forming process of aluminum alloy 7075 cross valve under multi-way loading was investigated by numerical simulation method. The results indicate that there exist 4 deformation patterns in the multi-way loading forming process of cross valve, such as forward extrusion, backward extrusion, forward-lateral extrusion and backward-lateral extrusion; one or several patterns occur at different forming stages depending on loading path. In general, the main deformation pattern is forward extrusion or backward extrusion at the initial stage; the main deformation pattern is backward extrusion at the intermediate stage, and the backward extrusion and forward-lateral extrusion occur at the final stage. In order to improve the cavity fill and reduce the forming defects, the lateral extrusion deformation should be increased at the initial and intermediate stages, and the forward extrusion deformation at the final forging stage should be reduced or avoided.