Numerical modeling of centrifuge cyclic lateral pile load experiments

To gain insight into the inelastic behavior of piles, the response of a vertical pile embedded in dry sand and subjected to cyclic lateral loading was studied experimentally in centrifuge tests conducted in Laboratoire Central des Ponts et Chaussees. Three types of cyclic loading were applied, two asymmetric and one symmetric with respect to the unloaded pile. An approximately square-root variation of soil stiffness with depth was obtained from indirect in-flight density measurements, laboratory tests on reconstituted samples, and well-established empirical correlations. The tests were simulated using a cyclic nonlinear Winkler spring model, which describes the full range of inelastic phenomena, including separation and re-attachment of the pile from and to the soil. The model consists of three mathematical expressions capable of reproducing a wide variety of monotonic and cyclic experimentalp-y curves. The physical meaning of key model parameters is graphically explained and related to soil behavior. Comparisons with the centrifuge test results demonstrate the general validity of the model and its ability to capture several features of pile-soil interaction, including： soil plastification at an early stage of loading, ＂pinching＂ behavior due to the formation of a relaxation zone around the upper part of the pile, and stiffness and strength changes due to cyclic loading. A comparison of the p-y curves derived from the test results and the proposed model, as well as those from the classical curves of Reese et al. （1974） for sand, is also presented.

Bending the Foundation Beam on Elastic Base by Two Reaction Coefficient of Winkler’s Subgrade

A new method for analysis of counter beams is presented in the paper. The analysis has taken into account their stiffness EI, Winkler’s space with modulus of subgrade reaction k and equality deformities of the foundation beam with the ground. The solution is found by using the numerical analysis of the Winkler’s model, with variation of different moduli of the subgrade reaction k2 outside the force zone r, while under the force P exists the modulus of the subgrade reaction k, up to the definition of minimum bending moments. The exponential function k2(r), as the geometric position of the minimum moments is approximately assumed. From the potential energy conditions of the reciprocity of displacement and reaction, the width of the zone r and the modulus of the subgrade reaction k2 are explicitly determined, introducing in the calculation initial and calculation soil displacement wsi successively. At the end of the paper, it presented numerical example in which the influence of k and k2 values on bending moments of the counter beam is analyzed. The essential idea of this paper is to decrease the quantity of the reinforcement in the foundations, beams, i.e. to obtain a cost-efficient foundation construction.

Effect of nonlinear soil-structure interaction on seismic response of low-rise SMRF buildings

The nonlinear behavior of a soil-foundation system may alter the seismic response of a structure by providing additional flexibility to the system and dissipating hysteretic energy at the soil-foundation interface. However, the current design practice is still reluctant to consider the nonlinearity of the soil-foundation system, primarily due to lack of reliable modeling techniques. This study is motivated towards evaluating the effect of nonlinear soil-structure interaction （SSI） on the seismic responses of low-rise steel moment resisting frame （SMRF） structures. In order to achieve this, a Winkler- based approach is adopted, where the soil beneath the foundation is assumed to be a system of closely-spaced, independent, nonlinear spring elements. Static pushover analysis and nonlinear dynamic analyses are performed on a 3-story SMRF building and the performance of the structure is evaluated through a variety of force and displacement demand parameters. It is observed that incorporation of nonlinear SSI leads to an increase in story displacement demand and a significant reduction in base moment, base shear and inter-story drift demands, indicating the importance of its consideration towards achieving an economic, yet safe seismic design.

Seismic response of bridge pier on rigid caisson foundation in soil stratum

An analytical method to study the seismic response of a bridge pier supported on a rigid caisson foundation embedded in a deep soil stratum underlain by a homogeneous half space is developed. The method reproduces the kinematic and inertial responses, using translational and rotational distributed Winkler springs and dashpots to simulate the soil-caisson interaction. Closed-form solutions are given in the frequency domain for vertical harmonic S-wave excitation. Comparison with results from finite element （FE） analysis and other available solutions demonstrates the reliability of the model. Results from parametric studies are given for the kinematic and inertial responses. The modification of the fundamental period and damping ratio of the bridge due to soil-structure interaction is graphically illustrated.

Winkler Support Model and Nonlinear Boundary Conditions Applied to 3D Elastic Contact Problem Using the Boundary Element Method

This work presents a numerical methodology for modeling the Winkler supports and nonlinear conditions by proposing new boundary conditions. For the boundary conditions of Winkler support model, the surface tractions and the displacements normal to the surface of the solid are unknown, but their relationship is known by means of the ballast coefficient, whereas for nonlinear boundary conditions, the displacements normal to the boundary of the solid are zero in the positive direction but are allowed in the negative direction. In those zones, detachments of nodes might appear, leading to a nonlinearity, because the number of nodes that remain fixed or of the detached ones (under tensile tractions) is unknown. The proposed methodology is applied to the 3D elastic receding contact problem using the boundary element method. The surface t r actions and the displacements of the common int erface bet ween the two solids in contac t under the influence of different supports are calculated as well as the boundary zone of the solid where the new boundary conditions are applied. The problem is solved by a double-iterative met hod, so in the final solut ion, t here are no t r act ions or pene trations between the two solids or at the boundary of the solid where the nonlinear boundary conditions are Simula ted. The effectiveness of the proposed method is verified by examples.

A Vibration-Based Method for the Measurement of Subgrade Soil Scaling Factor

The subgrade soil scaling factor （SSSF） shows the basic properties of soil such as stiffness, gravimetry, density, and particle distribution, which are essential for disaster prediction and geotechnical engineering activities. In this paper, methods used for soil properties analysis are firstly summarized, and then a fiber Bragg grating （FBG） sensing technology is introduced. In order to acquire the properties and mechanical characteristics of soil accurately, a vibration-based method is presented, and an experiment for judging the properties of soil is conducted. As for the experiment, an FBG sensor is adhered to the upside of the vibration rod to measure its fundamental frequency. The rod vibrates freely at different-depth level of soil, and the changed data of wavelength from the FBG sensor are carefully collected. The Winkler spring model is used to analyze the relationship between the fundamental frequency and stiffness of soil. The results of this experiment suggest that data collected from FBG sensor can reflect vibration situation clearly and quantitatively. Thus the SSSF value can be calculated from the frequency-stiffness equation. The experimental results are almost identical with the theoretical derivation results. This confirms that the method presented in the paper can determine the SSSF effectively.