Lateral Bearing Capacity of Modified Suction Caissons Determined by Using the Limit Equilibrium Method

The modified suction caisson(MSC) adds a short-skirted structure around the regular suction caissons to increase the lateral bearing capacity and limit the deflection. The MSC is suitable for acting as the offshore wind turbine foundation subjected to larger lateral loads compared with the imposed vertical loads. Determination of the lateral bearing capacity is a key issue for the MSC design. The formula estimating the lateral bearing capacity of the MSC was proposed in terms of the limit equilibrium method and was verified by the test results. Parametric studies on the lateral bearing capacity were also carried out. It was found that the lateral bearing capacity of the MSC increases with the increasing length and radius of the external skirt, and the lateral bearing capacity increases linearly with the increasing coefficient of subgrade reaction. The maximum lateral bearing capacity of the MSC is attained when the ratio of the radii of the internal compartment to the external skirt equals 0.82 and the ratio of the lengths of the external skirt to the internal compartment equals 0.48, provided that the steel usage of the MSC is kept constant.

Joint User Scheduling and Antenna Selection in Distributed Massive MIMO Systems with Limited Backhaul Capacity

Massive MIMO systems offer a high spatial resolution that can drastically increase the spectral and/or energy efficiency by employing a large number of antennas at the base station(BS).In a distributed massive MIMO system,the capacity of fiber backhaul that links base station and remote radio heads is usually limited,which becomes a bottleneck for realizing the potential performance gain of both downlink and uplink.To solve this problem,we propose a joint antenna selection and user scheduling which is able to achieve a large portion of the potential gain provided by the massive MIMO array with only limited backhaul capacity.Three sub-optimal iterative algorithms with the objective of sumrate maximization are proposed for the joint optimization of antenna selection and user scheduling,either based on greedy fashion or Frobenius-norm criteria.Convergence and complexity analysis are presented for the algorithms.The provided Monte Carlo simulations show that,one of our algorithms achieves a good tradeoff between complexity and performance and thus is especially fit for massive MIMO systems.

Limit analysis of ultimate uplift capacity and failure mechanism ofshallow plate anchors in multi-layered soils

Considering the fact that in some complex cases,plate anchors are buried in multi-layered geotechnical materials,the ultimate dynamic analysis was performed to investigate the uplift capacity and failure mechanism of shallow strips and circular plate anchors in multi-layered soils.The nonlinear strength criterion and non-associated flow rule of geotechnical materials were introduced to investigate the influence of nonuniformity on the pullout performance and failure mechanism of shallow plate anchors.The expressions of the detaching curves or surfaces were obtained to reflect the failure mechanism,which can be used to figure out the ultimate uplift capacity and failure range.The results are generally in agreement with the numerical simulations and previous research.The effects of various parameters on the ultimate uplift capacity and failure mechanism of plate anchors in multi-layered soils were investigated,and it is found that the ultimate uplift capacity and failure range of shallow anchors increase with the increase of initial cohesion and dilatancy coefficient,but decrease with the unit weight,axial tensile stress and nonlinear coefficient.

Evaluation of the Residual Capacity of a Submarine for Different Limit States with Various Initial Imperfection Models

The current design philosophy for submarine hulls,in the preliminary design stage,generally considers as governing limit states material yielding along with various buckling modes.It is common belief that,beyond the design pressure,material yielding of the shell plating should occur first,eventually followed by local buckling,while global buckling currently retains the highest safety factor.On the other hand,in the aeronautical field,in some cases structural components are designed in such a way that local instability may occur within the design loads,being the phenomena inside the material elastic range and not leading to a significant drop in term of stiffness.This paper is aimed at investigating the structural response beyond a set of selected limit states,using nonlinear FE method adopting different initial imperfection models,to provide the designers with new information useful for calibrating safety factors.It was found that both local and global buckling can be considered as ultimate limit states,with a significant sensitivity towards initial imperfection,while material yielding and tripping buckling of frames show a residual structural capacity.In conclusion,it was found that the occurrence of local buckling leads to similar sudden catastrophic consequences as global buckling,with the ultimate strength capacity highly affected by the initial imperfection shape and amplitude.

A statistical reappraisal of the relationship between liquid limit and specific surface area, cation exchange capacity and activity of clays

More than 500 datasets from the literature have been used to evaluate the relationships of specific surface area (SSA),cation exchange capacity (CEC) and activity versus the liquid limit (LL).The correlations gave R^2 values ranging between 0.71 and 0.92.Independent data were also used to validate the correlations.Estimated SSA values slightly overestimate the measured SSA up to 100 m^2/g.Regarding the estimated CEC values,they overestimated the measured CEC values up to 20 meq/(100 g).A probabilistic approach was performed for the correlations of SSA,CEC and activity versus LL.The analysis shows that the relations of SSA,CEC and activity with LL are robust.Using the LL values,it is possible to assess other basic engineering properties of clays.

Limit load and failure mechanisms of a vertical Hoek-Brown rock slope

The problem considered in this short note is the limit load determination of a vertical rock slope.The classical limit theorem is employed with the use of adaptive finite elements and nonlinear programming to determine upper and lower bound limit loads of a Hoek-Brown vertical rock slope.The objective function of the mathematical programming problem is such as to optimize a boundary load,which is known as the limit load,resembling the ultimate bearing capacity of a strip footing.While focusing on the vertical slope,parametric studies are carried out for several dimensionless ratios such as the dimensionless footing distance ratio,the dimensionless height ratio,and the dimensionless rock strength ratio.A comprehensive set of design charts is presented,and failure envelopes shown with the results explained in terms of three identified failure mechanisms,i.e.the face,the toe,and the Prandtl-type failures.These novel results can be used with great confidence in design practice,in particularly noting that the current industry-based design procedures for the presented problem are rarely found.

A Discusion on Limited Load-Carrying Capacity of Rectangular Plates

The elastic-plastic method is often used in designing the inner flat bulkhead plates of submarines, and the upper structure of ships and drilling platforms. Such bulkhead plates can bear the load only once. For the improvement of the load-carrying capacity or the reduction of the weight of plates, the yield line analytical method is employed in this paper to design the bulkhead plate to improve economy and increase the effiective load. Besides, a further sutdy of this method has been made theoretically and experimentally, and the data of the limited load-carrying capacity of the plate have been obtained. Furthermore, the safety coefficients for such a method are presented, which can be used as reference for related departments and staffs.

A new calculation method for axial load capacity of separated concrete-filled steel tubes based on limit equilibrium theory

A new calculation method for axial load capacity of separated concrete-filled steel tubes based on limit equilibrium theory was proposed,which took into account the decrease of confinement effect by steel tube and the non-uniform distribution of ultimate stress in cored concrete.The accuracy of the analytical result is validated through running the numerical result by finite element method (FEM) and experimental data as well.The influences of the key parameters on the load capacity of the concrete-filled steel tube (CFST) was studied,including the separation ratio,concrete compressive strength,and steel strength.The results indicate that the load capacity of the tube increases with concrete strength and steel strength under the separation ratio less than 4%,while decreases with a higher separation ratio improved.

Non-Euclidean Geometry and Regulated Characteristics of Limited Capacity Power Supply

The restriction of load power, two-valued regulation characteristic, and interference of several loads are observed in power supply systems with a limited capacity of voltage sources. In this paper, the definition of regime in an invariant form through different parameters, of changes of transformation ratio and voltage load is grounded for these circuits with two loads. The approach for interpretation of changes or ＂kinematics＂ of load regime is presented by using the conformal and hyperbolic plane. To simplify the task and reveal the basic moments of influence of the limited source power, the static regulation characteristics and idealized models of voltage converters are considered. Geometrical interpretation of a simplified model of multichannel power supply system allows basing the definition of operating regime parameters. Results can be useful for electric circuit theory education and for voltage coordinated control of given loads. Non-Euclidean geometry is a new mathematical apparatus in the electric circuit theory, adequately interprets ＂kinematics＂ of circuit, and provides a validation for the introduction and definition of the proposed concepts. From the methodological point, the presented approach is applied for a long time in other scientific domains, as mechanics and biology.

Quantitative evaluation of Tibet’s resource and environmental carrying capacity

This study identifies the carrying state and value of Tibet’s resource and environmental carrying capacity.A new theoretical framework is proposed for exploring the resource and environmental carrying capacity based on two perspectives of“growth limit”and“stability of Human-Earth relationship system”.On this basis,an ideal growth model that accords with the“short board”effect is established to predict the population limitation.Analytical results show that the holistic state of resource and environmental carrying capacity in Tibet is in jeopardy.From 2010 to 2016,Tibet’s carrying state continued to decline,moreover,the negative forces still overwhelm the positive forces.Although the resource reserves still have room for more population,the environmental capacity and ecological capacity have been overloaded.Meanwhile,the Human-Earth relationship system is in an unstable stage.Three scenarios that respond to different socioeconomic developments are implemented to predict the population limitation of resource and environmental carrying capacity in Tibet;thus,authors argue that Tibet should keep its population size within 4 million around 2025.This research will provide reference for sustainable development and resources and environmental conservation in Tibet.

Lateral Bearing Capacity of Multi-Bucket Foundation in Soft Ground

The bucket foundation is a new type of foundation for offshore application to intermediate-depth waters. It has advantages over conventional ones. However, there is no consensus in the analysis and design of this type of foundation. In this paper, the lateral bearing capacity and the failure mechanism of multi-bucket foundations are studied with different connection stiffness and bucket spacing by use of a three-dimensional finite element method. Based on the numerical analysis results, a limit analysis method of plasticity for evaluating the lateral bearing capacity of large-spacing multi- bucket foundation with rigid connection in soft ground is proposed. This method provides a simple procedure that gives results comparable to those from the finite element analyses.

Upper bound analysis of ultimate pullout capacity of shallow 3-D circular plate anchors based on nonlinear Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion

Based on the nonlinear Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion and the associated flow rules,the three-dimensional(3-D)axisymmetric failure mechanism of shallow horizontal circular plate anchors that are subjected to the ultimate pullout capacity(UPC)is determined.A derivative function of the projection function for projecting the 3-D axisymmetric failure surface on plane is deduced using the variation theory.By using difference principle,the primitive function of failure surface satisfying boundary condition and numerical solution to its corresponding ultimate pullout capacity function are obtained.The influences of nonlinear Mohr-Coulomb parameters on UPC and failure mechanism are studied.The result shows that UPC decreases with dimensionless parameter m and uniaxial tensile strength increases but increases when depth and radius of plate anchor,surface overload,initial cohesion,geomaterial density and friction angle increase.The failure surface is similar to a symmetrical spatial funnel,and its shape is mainly determined by dimensionless parameter m;the surface damage range expands with the increase of radius and depth of the plate anchor as well as initial cohesion but decreases with the increase of dimensionless parameter m and uniaxial tensile strength as well as geomaterial density.As the dimensionless parameter m=2.0,the numerical solution of UPC based on the difference principle is proved to be feasible and effective through the comparison with the exact solution.In addition,the comparison between solutions of UPC computed by variation method and those computed by upper bound method indicate that variation method outperforms upper bound method.

Construction of improved rigid blocks failure mechanism for ultimate bearing capacity calculation based on slip-line field theory

Based on the slip-line field theory, a two-dimensional slip failure mechanism with mesh-like rigid block system was constructed to analyze the ultimate bearing capacity problems of rough foundation within the framework of the upper bound limit analysis theorem. In the velocity discontinuities in transition area, the velocity changes in radial and tangent directions are allowed. The objective functions of the stability problems of geotechnical structures are obtained by equating the work rate of external force to internal dissipation along the velocity discontinuities, and then the objective functions are transformed as an upper-bound mathematic optimization model. The upper bound solutions for the objective functions are obtained by use of the nonlinear sequential quadratic programming and interior point method. From the numerical results and comparative analysis, it can be seen that the method presented in this work gives better calculation results than existing upper bound methods and can be used to establish the more accurate plastic collapse load for the ultimate bearing capacity of rough foundation.

Seismic ultimate bearing capacity of strip footings on slope

The influence of earthquake forces on ultimate bearing capacity of foundations on sloping ground was studied. A solution to seismic ultimate bearing capacity of strip footings on slope was obtained by utilizing pseudo-static analysis method and taking the effect of intermediate principal stress into consideration. Based on limit equilibrium theory, the formulae for computing static bearing capacity factors, Nq, Nc, Nγ, and dynamic bearing capacity factors, Nqd, Ned, Nγd, which are associated with surcharge, cohesion and self-weight of soils respectively, were presented. A great number of analysis calculations were carried out to obtain the relationship curves of the static and dynamic bearing capacity factors versus various calculation parameters. The curves can serve as the practical engineering design. The calculation results also show that when the values of horizontal and vertical seismic coefficients are 0.2, the dynamic bearing capacity factors Nqd, Ned and Nγd, in which the effects of intermediate principal stress are taken into consideration, increase by 4%-42%, 3%-27% and 34%-57%, respectively.

Influence of the Spudcan Angle on the Ultimate Bearing Capacity of Jack-up Platform

Jack-up platforms of the Ocean engineering structures always withstand the vertical gravity loads which are applied to the seabed by spudcan, so it is important to determine the bearing capacity and the penetration depth of the spudcan for its geometry. In fact, it is up to the deformation law and the failure modes of soil surrounding the spudcan which can calculate the ultimate bearing capacity of the spudcan foundation on the soil seabed. By using the finite element analysis software Abaqus, the deformation law of soil around the spudcan is analyzed in detail, and the failure modes of soil surrounding the spudcan foundation are achieved. At the same time, based on the limit equilibrium theory, by use of static permissible slip-line field, the ultimate bearing capacity of the spudcan foundation is analyzed and the lower limit solution is derived theoretically, and the effect of the spudcan angle on the ultimate bearing capacity is investigated. The numerical results are compared with those obtained by the theoretical formulas deduced in this paper. On the basis of the lower limit solutions in this paper, the effect of the spudcan angle on the ultimate bearing capacity is revealed, and a practical bearing capacity formula is given to take the effect of the spudcan angle into consideration.

Properties and calculation of normal section bearing capacity of RC flexural beam with skin textile reinforcement

In order to overcome the wide crack of ordinary reinforced concrete (RC) at service stage which affects the service performance and durability of structures,a kind of concrete structure with skin textile reinforcement is proposed,namely a part of concrete cover of RC members is replaced by textile reinforced concrete (TRC).The flexural experimental results indicate that when the reinforcement ratios of steel bars are constant,compared with control beams,the average value of crack loads of the beams,whose reinforcement ratios of textile are 0.018%,0.036% and 0.055%,increases by 15.5%,20.4% and 31.1%,respectively,the average value of yield loads respectively increases by 12.5%,19.9% and 21.1% and the average value of ultimate loads respectively increases by 8.5%,26.0% and 44.0%,respectively.Considerable reduction in cracks width and spacing is observed for specimens with a TRC layer,and when the beams yield,the maximum crack width of the beam with textile stuck no sand and the beam with textile stuck sand is reduced by around 60% and 70%,respectively.Surface treatment of textile and mixing polypropylene fiber into fine grained concrete contribute to enhance the service performance of the flexural element.Embedding U-shaped hoop has almost no effect on the control of the crack width.Finally,the calculation method of ultimate bearing capacity of this flexural component with TRC layer was presented.Comparison between the calculated and the experimental values reveals satisfactory agreement,and the maximum error is no more than 6%.

Pile end bearing capacity in rock mass using cavity expansion theory

Much empiricism is involved in design of rock-socketed piles in rock masses.In light of this,an analytical solution based on the cavity expansion theory is proposed for calculating the ultimate bearing capacity at the tip of a pile embedded in rock masses obeying the Hoek-Brown failure criterion.The ultimate end bearing capacity is evaluated by assuming that the pressure exerted at the boundaries of a pressure bulb immediately beneath the pile tip is equal to the limit pressure required to expand a spherical cavity.In addition,a relationship is derived to predict the pile load-settlement response.To demonstrate the applicability of the presented solution,the results of this study were compared to those of 91 field tests from technical literature.Despite the limitations,it is found that the end bearing resistance computed by the present work is in good agreement with the field test results.

Ultimate Bearing Capacity of Subsoils to Marine Pipelines

Based on the theory of limit analysis, the Finite Difference Method (FDM) is established for evaluating the ultimate bearing capacity of subsoils to bear the unburied pipelines. The analytical results of bearing capacity of the ideal clay is given. The approach to bearing capacity evaluation of cohesionless subsoils without surcharge is suggested. The results from this method are consistent with those obtained from model tests.