Strength reduction and step-loading finite element approaches in geotechnical engineering

The finite element limit analysis method has the advantages of both numerical and traditional limit equilibrium techniques and it is particularly useful to geotechnical engineering.This method has been developed in China,following well-accepted international procedures,to enhance understanding of stability issues in a number of geotechnical settings.Great advancements have been made in basic theory,the improvement of computational precision,and the broadening of practical applications.This paper presents the results of research on（1） the efficient design of embedded anti-slide piles,（2） the stability analysis of reservoir slopes with strength reduction theory,and（3） the determination of the ultimate bearing capacity of foundations using step-loading FEM（overloading）.These three applications are evidence of the design improvements and benefits made possible in geotechnical engineering by finite element modeling.

Mesomechanics Finite-element Method for Determining the Shear Strength of Mudded Intercalation Materials

A new method regarding mesomechanics finite-element research is proposed to predict the peak shear strength of mudded intercalation materials on a mesoscopic scale. Based on geometric and mechanical parameters, along with the strain failure criteria obtained by sample＇s deformation characteristics, uniaxial compression tests on the sample were simulated through a finite-element model, which yielded values consistent with the data from the laboratory uniaxial compression tests, implying that the method is reasonable. Based on this model, a shear test was performed to calculate the peak shear strength of the mudded intercalation, consistent with values reported in the literature, thereby providing a new approach for investigating the mechanical properties of mudded intercalation materials.

New method of designing anti-slide piles——the strength reduction FEM

At present,the thrust of an anti-slide pile can be worked out with some calculation methods. However,the resistance in front of the pile,the distributions of resistance and thrust,and appropriate pile length cannot be easily obtained. In this paper,the authors applied the strength-reduction finite element method (FEM) to several design cases of anti-slide piles. Using this method,it is possible to take the pile-soil interactions into consideration,obtain reasonable resistance in front of pile and the distributions of thrust and resistance,and reasonable lengths of anti-slide piles. In particular,the thrust and resistance imposed on embedded anti-slide piles can be calculated and composite anti-slide pile structures such as anchored piles and braced piles can be optimized. It is proved through the calculation examples that this method is more reliable and economical in the design of anti-slide pile.

Finite element analyses of slope stability problems using non-associated plasticity

In recent years, finite element analyses have increasingly been utilized for slope stability problems. In comparison to limit equilibrium methods, numerical analyses do not require any definition of the failure mechanism a priori and enable the determination of the safety level more accurately. The paper compares the performances of strength reduction finite element analysis(SRFEA) with finite element limit analysis(FELA), whereby the focus is related to non-associated plasticity. Displacement-based finite element analyses using a strength reduction technique suffer from numerical instabilities when using non-associated plasticity, especially when dealing with high friction angles but moderate dilatancy angles. The FELA on the other hand provides rigorous upper and lower bounds of the factor of safety(FoS) but is restricted to associated flow rules. Suggestions to overcome this problem, proposed by Davis(1968), lead to conservative FoSs; therefore, an enhanced procedure has been investigated. When using the modified approach, both the SRFEA and the FELA provide very similar results. Further studies highlight the advantages of using an adaptive mesh refinement to determine FoSs. Additionally, it is shown that the initial stress field does not affect the FoS when using a Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion.

Finite element analysis of slope stability by expanding the mobilized principal stress Mohr's circles-Development, encoding and validation

In recent years,finite element analysis is increasingly being proposed in slope stability problems as a competitive method to traditional limit equilibrium methods(LEMs)which are known for their inherent deficiencies.However,the application of finite element method(FEM)to slope stability as a strength reduction method(SRM)or as finite element limit analysis(FELA)is not always a success for the drawbacks that characterize both methods.To increase the performance of finite element analysis in this problem,a new approach is proposed in this paper.It consists in gradually expanding the mobilized stress Mohr’s circles until the soil failure occurs according to a prescribed non-convergence criterion.The present approach called stress deviator increasing method(SDIM)is considered rigorous for three main reasons.Firstly,it preserves the definition of the factor of safety(FOS)as the ratio of soil shear strength to the mobilized shear stress.Secondly,it maintains the progressive development of shear stress resulting from the increase in the principal stress deviator on the same plane,on which the shear strength takes place.Thirdly,by introducing the concept of equivalent stress loading,the resulting trial stresses are checked against the violation of the actual yield criterion formed with the real strength parameters rather than those reduced by a trial factor.The new numerical procedure was encoded in a Fortran computer code called S^(4)DINA and verified by several examples.Comparisons with other numerical methods such as the SRM,gravity increasing method(GIM)or even FELA by assessing both the FOS and contours of equivalent plastic strains showed promising results.

3D FEM analysis for layered rock considering anisotropy of shear strength

An empirical expression of cohesion(C) and friction angle(φ) for layered rock was suggested.This expression was compared with a test result made by the former researchers.The constitutive relationship of a transversely isotropic medium and Mohr-Coulomb criterion in which C and φ vary with directions were employed,and a relative 3D elasto-plastic FEM code was developed,in which the important thing was to adopt a search-trial method to find the orientation angle(ρ) of shear failure plane(or weakest shear plane) with respect to the major principal stress as well as the corresponding C and φ.Taking an underground opening as the calculation object,the numerical analyses were carried out by using the FEM code for two cases of transversely isotropic rock and isotropic rock,respectively,and the computation results were compared.The results show that when the rock is a transversely isotropic one,the distributions of displacements,plastic zones and stress contours in the surrounding rock will be non-axisymmetric along the tunnel's vertical axis,which is very different from that of isotropic rock.The stability of the tunnel in transversely isotropic rock is relatively low.

Study on Single-fiber Pull-out Method for Evaluating Interfacial Strength in CFRP

Single-fiber pull-out testing(SFPOT)methods are frequently used to evaluate the inter-facial adhesion between fiber and matrix in composite materials.To make such pull-out mea-surements,however,the length of embedded fiber must be small enough so that the fiberdoes not break before it is pulled freely.This is difficult to achieve by conventional methodswith fibers of small diameter,such as the carbon fibers.In this paper,a fiber pull-out ex-periment is described.Specialized apparatus in our laboratory,as well as this technique forsample preparation are discussed in detail.The interracial shear strength of carbon fiber/resin matrix composites is analyzed quantitatively by using the finite-element method.TheSFPOT system has been proved to be an available means for the study of interracial proper-ties for carbon fiber/resin matrix composites.

降雨作用下抗滑桩与三维土工网垫植草护坡坡体的稳定分析

针对抗滑桩与三维土工网垫植草护坡在降雨作用下的稳定性问题,采用有限元强度折减法,利用ABAQUS建立抗滑桩与三维土工网垫植草护坡坡体的三维有限元模型,以坡底水平位移突变情况作为边坡失稳的判断标准,分别比较了不同工况下护坡安全系数随降雨时长的变化规律,以及降雨作用下抗滑桩桩位、桩长对抗滑桩与三维土工网垫植草护坡坡体的稳定性影响,并与未考虑降雨时的影响规律进行对比。结果表明:降雨时长对三维土工网垫植草工况的边坡稳定性影响较为明显;抗滑桩桩长对边坡稳定性影响较大,桩长宜取8 m;无降雨作用下将桩位置于坡中时边坡整体获得最大安全系数,降雨作用下将抗滑桩置于相对位置(L 0.4=4.8 m)时能够起到更好的抗滑效果;抗滑桩与三维土工网垫植草在降雨作用时加固护坡的效果比无降雨时更好,且优于原边坡。

基于强度折减法的河漫滩软土浅埋偏压连拱隧道洞口边坡稳定性研究

以南京市乌龙山大跨浅埋偏压连拱隧道为背景,基于有限元强度折减法分析了隧道施工过程中洞口边坡的安全系数和塑性区分布特征,探明了不同坡角和隧道埋深下边坡稳定性情况与破坏模式发展规律,并提出相应施工建议。结果表明:边坡角度越大、隧道埋深越小时,隧道开挖过程中上覆边坡的安全系数越低。及时施作隧道衬砌能大幅度提高坡体稳定性,但当隧洞顶部埋深超过洞高的1.5倍后,衬砌加固效果相对有限;当边坡角度为60°时,坡体潜在滑动面将沿隧道浅埋侧拱顶附近产生,当隧道洞顶埋深达1.5倍洞高时,边坡破坏面不再经过隧道,而是分布于拱顶上方;针对隧道洞口段安全性较差问题,建议根据不同隧道埋深和边坡角度采用不同范围的坡表注浆加固方案。当隧道埋深>1.5倍洞高时,无须坡表注浆;当隧道埋深<1.5倍洞高且边坡角度<60°时,应在隧道浅埋侧施工前对坡脚至中隔墙区域进行注浆,且加固深度不应小于隧道拱腰埋深;当边坡角度达60°时,深埋和浅埋侧隧道施工前均需进行坡表注浆。

基于残余位移增量判据的土石围堰边坡稳定性分析

针对有限元强度折减法在复杂水文地质环境下土石围堰边坡稳定性评价中效果欠佳的问题,引入残余位移增量判据,基于有限元强度折减法,考虑深厚覆盖层土石围堰不同水位下的渗流特征,通过计算坡面节点平均残余位移增量,获取边坡稳定系数,进一步通过位移增量分布图,探讨了围堰边坡潜在滑面位置及其形成机制。结果表明,在复杂水文地质环境下的土石围堰边坡稳定性评价中,残余位移增量判据相较经典失稳判据适用性更强。研究结果能够为工程实践提供指导。

某高速公路高陡危岩体失稳对拟建桥梁的影响分析

以西南山区某高速公路高陡崖边坡对坡脚拟建桥梁影响分析为例,采用工程地质调查分析结合有限元强度折减法分析可知,该陡崖边坡整体处于欠稳定状态,变形模式为错落式滑坡变形。采取有限元-离散元耦合分析技术动态模拟研究边坡失稳对桥梁安全的影响。由模拟分析结果可知,陡崖边坡产生错落变形后,错落岩体最终与桥梁墩台底部发生撞击,桥墩从根部断裂,桥梁整体倒塌。基于分析结果,提出预应力锚索加固陡崖边坡、坡脚设置拦截挡墙、边坡失稳范围内避免设置桥墩3种方案应对高陡边坡对拟建桥梁的破坏性影响。

基于强度折减黄土路基高边坡稳定性分析与设计优化

为开展黄土路基高边坡的治理工作,保障交通安全,文章基于有限元强度折减法,开展边坡稳定性分析研究。首先,基于数值模拟,构建路基高边坡有限元模型,标定力学参数。其次,利用有限元强度折减法,从等效塑性应变贯通、收敛计算、边坡位移突变等方面开展边坡稳定性计算分析。最后,依托荣乌高速黄土路基高边坡工程治理实例,开展路基边坡合理断面和边坡防护研究。结果表明:采用简化Bishop计算的安全系数相对偏于安全,提出的稳定性计算方法更加准确且符合实际。

Cohesive Strength and Seismogenic Stress Pattern along the Active Basement Faults of the Precordillera-Sierras Pampeanas Ranges,Western Argentina:An Experimental Analysis by Means of Numerical Model

A two-dimensional finite element method (FEM) model that incorporates faults,elastic rock physical properties,topographical load due to gravity and far-field plate velocity boundary conditions was used to recognize the seismogenic stress state along the fold-and-thrust belt of the Precordillera-Sierras Pampeanas ranges of western Argentina. A plane strain model with nine experiments was presented here to examine the fault strength with two major rock phyical properties:cohesion and angle of internal friction. Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion with bulk rock properties were applied to analyse faults. The stress field at any point of the model was assumed to be comprised of gravitational and tectonic components. The analysis was focused to recognize the seismogenic shear strain concentrated in the internal-cristaline domain of the orogene shown by the modeling. Modeling results are presented in terms of four parameters,i. e.,(i) distributions,orientations,and magnitudes of principal stresses (σ1 and σ3),(ii) displacement vector,(iii) strain distribution,and (iv) maximum shear stress (τmax) contour line within the model. The simulation results show that the compressive stress is distributed in and around the fault systems. The overall orientation of σ1 is in horizontal directions,although some stress reorientations do occur within weaker parts,especially subsequent to the faults. A large-scale shear stress is accumulating along the active faults of Tapias-Villicum Fault (TVF),Salinas-Berros Fault (SBF),Ampacama-Niquizanga Fault (ANF) and Las Charas Fault (CF),which could act as local stress and strain modulators to localize the earthquakes occurrence.

基于有限元强度折减法加固边坡稳定性分析

本文围绕某街道的加固边坡在实地考察结果的基础上,采用重力式挡墙的加固方式进行加固,利用有限元软件MIDAS/GTS NX建立三维模型,根据强度折减法理论对其进行稳定性分析,检验支护方案对边坡的滑面强度储备是否满足要求,利用其结果对加固支护方案进行深入研究.结果表明,采用重力式挡墙方案进行加固后,边坡安全系数由1.15提高到1.41,边坡的稳定性有了大幅度提高,边坡加固挡墙后改变了坡脚的应力应变状态,能够有效防止坡脚的局部破坏,提升边坡的稳定性.

层间弯剪偏心结构精准模型快速建立方法及多维减震应用

传统层间剪切模型与建筑结构真实受力状态不符,不能精准反映实际多维偏心结构的动力响应,工程可行性较低。目前的弯剪型简化模型建立方法计算效率偏低且无法直接指导三维偏心结构的建模。针对上述不足,根据结构力学中柔度法的基本原理提出一种精准的快速建立层间弯剪模型的方法。在此基础上,考虑结构的偏心对结构动力响应的影响,建立三维弯剪偏心模型,并通过多维时程分析对比验证在双向及扭转地震波下该简化模型的动力响应相较于有限元模型的差异性。结果表明,基于柔度法建立的三维弯剪偏心简化模型具有建模精度高和计算效率高的优点,并可以准确反映真实结构在多维地震作用下的动力响应。在考虑实际偏心后优化布置调谐阻尼器可充分发挥减震性能。

块体单元法安全系数取值标准研究

边坡稳定性问题涉及矿山工程、水利工程等诸多工程领域,对边坡稳定性进行分析的方法主要有极限平衡法(LEM)、有限单元法(FEM)、块体单元法(BEM)、离散单元法(DEM)、边界单元法(BEM)、界面元法(ISEM)、不连续变形分析方法(DDA)等等。选取刚体极限平衡法、有限单元法和块体单元法,对单面滑动、双面滑动的算例进行了安全系数计算和对比分析,进而建议在滑动破坏模式一致的情况下,块体单元法的安全系数取值可参照刚体极限平衡法或有限单元法的标准选取,结果偏于安全。

内部裂隙对节理岩质边坡失稳影响的数值分析

边坡变形及稳定问题一直是学者们极为关心的课题,过去大量文献采用极限平衡法(LEM)或强度折减法(SRM)分析了该问题。但无论对于土质边坡还是对于含裂隙岩质边坡,传统的LEM需要先期假定滑裂面的形式,单独采用SRM也一般仅能推算出呈圆弧状的临界滑面,因而为摸清考虑裂隙发育的岩质边坡在外载胁迫下失稳时实际的滑移形状及位置,亟需寻求新的分析方法或另辟蹊径的研究工具,动力扩展有限元法(XFEM)刚好就是其中一种分析工具。尝试将有限元的SRM与XFEM相结合,在事先构思好的若干岩质边坡算例中定义1个场变量(将其取为岩体温度),在自重应力作用维持不变的情况下,分别对内部含不同条预制裂隙的岩质边坡二维平面模型做降强计算,得出了各算例岩质边坡的失稳过程、变形破坏模式与稳定系数(FoS)。结果表明:裂隙结构的空间分布特征对岩质边坡的失稳滑移轨迹、最终失效形态和位移场等均具有较大的影响;含裂隙岩质边坡的FoS比匀质边坡的FoS明显更小;岩质边坡在发生滑动变形的过程中,主控节理裂隙有所延展乃至贯穿,形成破坏通道。用XFEM得到的计算机图形反映了原有裂缝组将构成复杂岩质高大边坡非规则滑裂面一部分的规律(与业内常识及预期皆吻合),表明该方法是可靠的,对深化认识坡体内断续弱面的孕灾机制较为有利。

考虑土体强度参数深度依赖性的非平稳随机场边坡滑动深度和体积分析

基于随机有限元方法(RFEM)和Monte-Carlo模拟,建立了能够模拟具有深度依赖性的土体强度参数边坡或具有软弱夹层边坡的非平稳随机场模型。通过辐射扫描方法获取最危险滑动面,得到非平稳随机场边坡滑动深度和滑动体积。将该方法与均质边坡和平稳随机场边坡获得的滑动深度和滑动体积进行对比,研究土体强度参数深度依赖性的非平稳随机场边坡的不同坡度和各向异性对滑动深度和滑动体积的影响。结果表明:基于RFEM的非平稳随机场滑动深度和滑动体积结果为地质灾害风险及后果评估提供了一个参考分析的新角度;参数的深度依赖性程度越高(变化率b越大),则边坡平均滑动深度和滑动体积越小;在大坡度滑坡风险后果评估中,可以基于均质边坡分析结果进行初步预估;在非平稳随机场中,随着各向异性的增大,所有坡度边坡的滑动体积变异系数增大;不同坡度下,水平方向的相关程度越大,则土坡内软弱夹层的不确定性越强,滑动体积的变异系数也不断增大。

双排抗滑桩布设方式对推力分配的影响

双排抗滑桩的推力分配问题在规范中没有明确说明。实际工程中,前后排抗滑桩的推力分配往往只能依靠工程师的经验判断。为研究双排桩布桩方式对桩受力的影响,寻找推力在双排桩中的分配规律,文中依托四川省丹巴地区某公路滑坡治理项目,通过建立有限元模型,分析不同布桩条件下,边坡的安全系数及滑坡推力在前后排抗滑桩上的分配情况。结果表明,桩的布设方式对边坡的安全性有重要影响,存在1个合理桩排距,使滑坡的安全系数达到最大;前后排桩的推力分配比例,会随着不同的布桩条件而变化,是一个动态的过程,当排距为30 m时,前后两排桩承担的推力最为接近。

同时考虑张拉-剪切破坏的边坡稳定性分析

针对目前边坡稳定性分析的强度折减法中广泛采用的Mohr-Coulomb准则仅考虑剪切破坏会过高估计边坡土体的抗拉强度,与实际工程中常见的位于坡体后缘的拉裂缝不符的问题,引入土体的张拉-剪切复合屈服准则,分别采用Mohr-Coulomb准则、Rankine准则考虑剪切、张拉作用的影响;根据张拉-剪切复合屈服准则的非光滑性,通过将非光滑屈服面的塑性本构积分简化为混合互补问题,提出用于弹塑性本构积分的投影收缩算法。结果表明:在分析边坡的稳定性时,不考虑张拉破坏会过高估计边坡的安全性并且安全系数的差值随着坡角的增大而逐渐增大,最大差值达到20%;对于含软弱夹层的分层边坡,即使边坡的坡角较小,是否考虑张拉破坏的边坡后缘的破坏特征仍存在显著区别。