Investigating the performance of passageway corridor for ground reinforced embankments against rockfall

Rockfall disasters can result in damages to various structures such as highways and buildings.Ground reinforced embankments(GRE) are one of the barrier types used to prevent rockfall. GRE absorb the impact energy of the hitting rock blocks by the movement of fine soil particles triggered by the penetration of the rock in the soil. In this process,stresses in the wall are distributed in both the transverse and longitudinal directions. GREs on the valley slopes can be hundreds of meters long, so such structures cause difficulty in transition to valley slope behind the embankments. Especially, access to areas such as agricultural, pasture or forest lands behind the GRE becomes a challenge. The current paper presents the design of passageways in GRE using the finite element method to provide safe corridors at several different parts within the hundreds of meters long structures. A total of 4 different passageway designs for GRE were developed. Each finite element model was subjected to rockfall with different kinetic energies of 500, 1000 and 3000kJ. The obtained results showed that 44% increase in structure volume increased the impact capacity from 500 kJ to 3000kJ.Furthermore, the critical displacement caused by rockfall impact with an energy of 3000 kJ was reduced by 31%. It was determined that the support applied with the reinforced concrete wall did not reach the desired energy absorption value due to its rigid structure, and even collapsed at 3000 kJ.

Finite Element Modeling of Geotextile Reinforced Embankments on Soft Clay

The use of geotextiles as a reinforcement material for improving the factor of safety against slope failure in embankments built on soft clay is becoming a common practice. This work is intended to help understand the effect of the geotextile reinforcement has on such embankments and to provide a design aid for civil engineers that enables them to quickly estimate the factor of safety against slope failure. Seventy four different cases were modelled and analyzed using a finite element software, GeoStudio 2018 R2. The results showed that the optimum improvement was achieved when using a single layer of geotextile reinforcement placed at the base of the embankment, by which the factor of safety increased by up to 40%. Adding a second layer, a third layer and a fourth layer, increases the safety factor by 2.5%, 1% and 0.5% respectively. Different charts for different heights of embankments were presented to aid in finding the most suitable slope angle and number of reinforcement layers required to achieve a certain safety factor.

ANALYSIS OF GEOSYNTHETICS REINFORCED EMBANKMENT ON SOFT SOIL BY FEM

The reinforcement effects of geosynthetics in thick soft subsoil case and thin soft subsoil case are studied in this paper,and a Duncan Chang nonlinear numerical model based on the finite element method (FEM) is developed.Moreover,an important conclusion that the thickness of soft subsoil affects greatly the geotechnical behavior of geosynthetic reinforced embankments is drawn.A series of embankment built on soft subsoil is calculated using the FEM program.The results of the computer program,such as the lateral displacements,settlements,and stress level and shear stresses in the subsoil,are presented in great detail and the comparison of those results disposes clearly the huge discrepancy of reinforce benefit between the thick subsoil embankment and thin subsoil embankment.Reinforcement mechanism of geosynthetics is also discussed in this paper and several conclusions are reached.This paper also gives recommendations for design.

Comparison between responses of reinforced and unreinforced embankments due to road widening

The objective of this work is to compare the responses of geosynthetically-reinforced embankment and unreinforced embankment due to road widening by using the centrifuge model tests and a two-dimensional(2D) finite element(FE) model. The measured and calculated responses of the embankment and foundation exposed to road widening include the settlement,horizontal displacement,pore water pressure,and shear stresses. It is found that the road widening changed the transverse slope of the original pavement surface resulting from the nonuniform settlements. The maximum horizontal movement is found to be located at the shoulder of the original embankment. Although the difference is small,it is clearly seen that the geosynthetic reinforcement reduces the nonuniform settlements and horizontal movements due to road widening. Thus the reinforcement reduces the potential of pavement cracking and increases the stability of the embankment on soft ground in road widening.

Analysis of the stability and seismic behavior of the geosynthetic-reinforced embankments under earthquake

The stability and seismic behavior of geosynthetic-reinforced embankments during the earthquake is not well known.In this paper,the damage types of embankments were summarized,and the seismic stability of reinforced embankment were analyzed through an earthquake damage investigation in the Wenchuan earthquake region.Then,large-scale shaking table model tests were performed on the geosynthetic-reinforced embankment.The results show that the damage level of the reinforced embankment was almost less than that of the unreinforced embankment.The peak seismic earth pressure was nonlinear along the height of the embankment,the largest peak seismic earth pressure was roughly in the middle of the embankment slope.The peak ground accelerations(PGA)amplification factor first showed an increasing pattern and then a decreasing pattern with the increase of elevation,but there was a final increasing trend along the height of the reinforced embankment.The results can help to establish the proper design of the reinforcement embankments under earthquake conditions.

Reinforcement Efficiency Analysis of Geosynthetic-Reinforced Embankment with Different Soil Properties

Based on finite element （FE） method, an analysis program of geosynthetic-reinforcement embankments （GRE） is propesed. The improvement of stress field of surface layer of GRE after reinforcement can be indicated by this program. The comparison of failure area ratio of foundation soil before and after reinforcement is made, so that the efficiency of geosynthetic reinforcement under different soft soil properties can be shown. The embankment soil is simulated with Duncan-Chang model in this program, while reinforcement is modeled with linear elastic model and interface of reinforcement-soil by Goodman elements. Parameters about foundation soil, such as cohesion, inner friction angle and unit weight are considered, as well as three Duncan-Chang model parameters： modulus coefficient, bulk modulus coefficient and break ratio. The relationship between those soil parameters and failure area ratio indicate the reinforcement efficiency of GRE. The results show the cohesion and inner friction angle are the most important parameters for reducing the failure area, while modulus coefficient and bulk modulus coefficient, have little effect on the calculation results; the reinforcement efficiency is low if the cohesion and inner friction angle of foundation soil are too small or too big; different foundation soil will get different conclusions. The selection of model parameter is an important procedure for accurate modeling of GRE by numerical method.

Erective Sea Embankment with PCC Piles

The sea embankment is a critical civil works in marine and coastal engineering. In this study, an innovative technique is proposed for constructing erective sea embankments. In the construction of sea embankments, this technique integrates PCC pile installation, PVDs drainage systems, and geotextile reinforcements, resulting in sea embankments with PCC piles. In the application of a sea embankment with PCC piles, PCC piles are employed as the retaining structures; the soft sea ground inside PCC piles is drained and improved by PVDs and vacuum-surcharge combined preloading; geotextile-reinforced backfills lying over the improved soft ground form the embankment body. Brief descriptions of the fundamentals, design and construction of the sea embankment with PCC piles are presented. A case study on the stability of sea embankment with PCC piles is presented as well.

Stress and deformation due to embankment widening with different treatment techniques

A two-dimensional(2-D) finite element(FE) model was developed to analyze the deformation and stress of embankment on soft ground due to widening with different treatment techniques.It is found that the embankment widening induces transverse gradient change due to differential settlements and horizontal outward movements at the shoulder of the existing embankment.Embankment widening also increases the shear stress along the slope of the existing embankment,especially at the foot of slope.The failure potential due to embankment widening may increase with the increase of widening width when the widening width is smaller than 8.5 m,but may decrease with the increase of widening width as the widening width is greater than 8.5 m.The effectiveness of four ground and embankment treatment techniques,including geosynthetic reinforcement,light-weight embankment,deep mixed columns,and separating wall were compared.The results indicate that these treatments reduce the differential settlements and improve the stability.The light-weight embankment has the most effectiveness among four treatments.By using the fly-ash backfill material in widening,the transverse gradient change decreases from 0.5%-1.3% to 0.26%-0.8% and the maximum horizontal displacement decreases from 2.76 cm to 1.44 cm.

Seismic response analysis of GRPS embankment under oblique incident P wave

In order to investigate the seismic performance of geosynthetic reinforced and pile supported(GRPS) embankment under seismic loads, an input method for three-dimensional oblique incidence of P wave was proposed. This method is based on the explicit finite element method while considering the viscous-spring artificial boundary(VSAB) condition. Using the proposed method, a numerical study was conducted, and the influence of oblique incidence on the seismic response of GRPS embankment under the oblique incident P waves was analyzed. The results indicate that in comparison with vertical incidence, the oblique incidence can significantly increase the displacement, velocity and acceleration of key locations in the GRPS embankment. The existence of geosynthetics can alleviate the impact of seismic load on the response of the embankment to a certain degree. Moreover, the number of reinforcement layers and modulus of geogrid also greatly influence the seismic performance of GRPS embankment.

Dynamic compaction treatment technology research of red clay soil embankment in southern mountains

High liquid limit soil generally adopted in expressway embankment construction of southern mountains, which often expresses some characteristics including high moisture content, high porosity ratio, low permeability, high compressibility, certain disintegration, and so on. Spring soil phenomenon and inhomogeneous compaction have effects on the quality of embankment construction, just because the water in soil is difficult to evaporate. Based on the study of reinforcement mechanism for high liquid limit soil, in situ tests for dynamic compaction treatment in Yizhang-Fengtouling expressway embankment were developed. The reliable and economical dynamic compaction treatment methods and the construction technology for large range high liquid limit soil embankment in southern mountains expressway were discussed. In the process, convenient measurement methods were adopted to evaluate the treatment effects. The test results show that the dynamic compaction method has good treatment effects on the local red clay embankment. The embankment compaction degree is improved with compactness coming to 90% around tamping pits and compactness over 95% in tamping pits interior after tamping. The bearing capacity, the physical mechanic-property and the shear strength for soil are obviously improved, which are enhanced with cohesive strength increasing over 10 kPa and compression modulus increasing over 3 MPa.

边坡工程与堤坝工程研究进展

边坡稳定性问题是土力学的三大经典问题之一,由于其受地质、环境等复杂因素影响始终无法完全解决。近年来,随着我国交通强国、一带一路及西部大开发等国家战略的相继实施和推进,土木、交通、水利等领域中的边坡工程与堤坝工程又面临许多新的难题和挑战。该文简要评述边坡工程与堤坝工程的国内外研究现状,主要包括三个方面:边坡稳定性理论与方法、堤坝灾害机理与分析方法以及边坡和堤坝工程加固技术,重点探讨土坡与堤坝的破坏机理、灾变数值模拟方法、稳定性分析理论与安全评价等研究的最新进展,并展望未来研究方向。随着地质学、地震学、土壤学、生物学、计算力学、人工智能等学科发展,交叉学科的互融共通将有力促进土坡工程与堤坝工程的科技进步。

桩承式加筋垫层路堤荷载分担改进计算模型

桩承式加筋垫层路堤中的关键荷载传递机制是多种现象的组合,包括路堤填土中的土拱效应、加筋垫层的张拉膜效应和地基土的支撑作用,然而,目前针对此方面的研究尚不完善。本文首先以考虑土体被动土压力发挥程度及桩间土应力非均匀分布改进的Hewlett土拱模型为改进载体;其次,假定加筋垫层为上、下部受均布荷载作用的简支梁,截面拉应力完全由加筋体承担,压应力完全由垫层材料承担,同时考虑地基土反力与梁最大挠度相关,引入地基反应系数,从而建立改进的桩承式加筋垫层路堤荷载分担计算模型;最后,通过工程实例与模型参数分析,验证本文计算模型的可靠性与准确性。研究结果表明:在路堤填筑过程中,土拱效应逐渐完全发挥,促进路堤荷载向桩体转移;随着地基土固结,桩体承担的路堤荷载也在逐渐增大;路堤填土高度、填土内摩擦角、桩间距对桩体荷载分担影响较大,加筋体抗拉模量对其影响较小。

不同垫层下煤矸石桩网复合路基承载特性

为综合利用固体废弃物煤矸石,将其取代部分传统细骨料制备煤矸石混凝土桩。开展了土工格栅和土工格室加筋垫层下煤矸石桩网复合路基室内模型试验,分析路堤顶面荷载-沉降关系、加筋垫层传荷能力和桩身应力的差异性。同时,建立有限元计算模型,研究不同加筋材料应力和变形规律,揭示土工格室应用于加筋垫层作用机制。结果表明:在本次试验中,同土工格栅相比,土工格室加筋垫层显著减小路堤顶面沉降约29.71%。土工格室加筋垫层下桩顶和桩间处土压力衰减量分别约61.51%、56.35%,充分发挥了筏板效应和应力扩散效应。采用土工格室加筋垫层,路堤荷载能够被有效传递至煤矸石桩体,在路基中心处和沿路基横断方向桩身应力极值分别采用土工格栅加筋垫层的1.78、1.80倍。土工格室和土工格栅应力分布规律分别呈“V”型和“U”型变化特征,且土工格室的应力最大值大于土工格栅。土工格室特有的蜂窝状结构对路堤填料产生侧向环箍和肋条摩阻力作用,通过自身张拉变形有效地扩散路堤荷载。

服役条件下高铁路基桩网结构土工格栅张拉试验研究

桩网结构路基已经在软土地区的高速铁路建设中取得了广泛的应用,服役期地基过大沉降、地下水淹没桩顶等引起桩网结构不合理受力,甚至导致格栅张拉破坏,目前仍缺乏深入的针对性观测和分析。建立一个全比尺的桩网结构路基模型试验,开展正常路基、桩间土过大沉降、路基浸水和路基水位下降4组典型工况的试验。同时采用前期研发的高速铁路路基动力效应试验装置施加车速达360 km/h、轴重为17 t和25 t的列车移动荷载,利用沉降板加位移传感器测量桩土的沉降变形量,利用光纤传感器测定了每组工况下的格栅拉力变化和空间分布规律,研究不同工况下相同的列车长期荷载对土工格栅拉力的影响。试验结果表明:在列车荷载作用下正常路基的桩网结构格栅最大拉力为5.9 kN/m,位于桩帽边缘处,为格栅抗拉强度的11.8%;桩间土发生过大沉降后格栅拉力最大值仍位于同一位置即桩帽边缘处,为11.85 kN/m,为格栅抗拉强度的23.7%。水位上升后桩网结构格栅拉力下降,但在列车荷载作用下格栅拉力又迅速增长,最大拉力为12 kN/m,水位下降后在列车荷载作用下格栅最大拉力为10.5 kN/m。桩网结构路基的规范设计中对格栅拉力的计算偏于保守,模型试验结果对实际工程中桩网结构路基的设计以及理论方法的验证有一定的指导和借鉴意义。

路基堤防加固施工技术研究

为了解决作为路基的新老堤防的接缝不均匀沉降和开裂问题,结合西支河水环境综合治理工程介绍了新老堤防接缝沉降和开裂的措施,分析了各加固方案的选择,并提出了新老堤防结合部位的施工方法,研究结果表明:应用该施工方法完成的路基堤防加固,达到了限制新老路基堤防的不均匀沉降和开裂效果,能够满足修建堤顶路的标准要求,可以为今后水环境路基堤防加固工程施工提供借鉴作用。

填方路堤水毁滑坡机理及加固措施比选研究

路堤水毁病害严重影响公路正常运行,确保路堤的稳定极其重要,故开展填方路堤水毁滑坡机理分析及安全控制措施研究非常必要。该文以某高速公路路基填方路段为例,通过现场变形监测及稳定性计算,定性分析滑坡原因及形成机理,计算不同加固方案的稳定性系数,并考虑工程造价、施工工艺及施工周期等因素,推荐适宜的加固方案。结果表明:受持续强降雨影响,路堤地层不均匀沉降是造成滑塌的根本原因;因路堤左侧现存洼地,降雨汇集并渗入土层,使黏土层膨胀软化及排水通道堵塞,进一步加快滑坡的形成;采用钢管桩与回填反压的复合加固方案,其稳定性满足要求,现场监测表明加固效果良好。

桩网结构路基动静承载性状分析

为研究桩网结构路基在静动荷载作用下的承载性状,采用有限元分析方法对桩网结构路基在静动两种荷载下的承载特性、荷载传递机理、土拱形成及发展规律进行了数值计算。通过分析静动两种工况下桩土应力、桩周土压力分布、桩土应力比及土拱效应,并与试验结果进行了对比分析。结果表明:静载作用下基桩轴向应力约为400 kPa,最大土压力出现在路基中部,且沿路基横向向外逐渐减小;动载作用下沿路基横向布置的桩体的动应力在埋深方向呈先增大后减小趋势,其竖向应力最大值约为静载下的160%;动载下路基内部土拱效应较静载有大幅削弱,其中削弱最大的为四桩中心处的空间土拱效应,其桩土应力比约为静载的29.3%。

水利工程项目堤坝复合混凝土防渗与加固施工技术

为了提高水利工程项目堤坝防渗与加固施工水平,确保水利工程长期稳定运行,提出了堤坝复合混凝土防渗与加固施工技术研究。首先,设计复合混凝土防渗墙,在堤坝地基中形成一道稳固性较高的防渗墙体;其次,采用双排布孔的布置形式,在堤坝两岸坡段上布设灌浆孔;在此基础上,利用劈裂灌浆加固技术,对水利工程项目堤坝复合混凝土进行加固施工。实验结果表明,该施工技术应用后,堤坝段落的渗透系数始终小于1×10^(-6)cm/s,满足水利工程项目堤坝防渗要求,能够提高防水性能与加固效果。

水利工程堤坝施工中的防渗漏加固施工技术研究

防渗漏加固是水利工程堤坝施工中不可忽视的重要环节,对于提高堤坝的稳定性和防渗性能具有至关重要的作用。基于此,文章针对水利工程堤坝施工中的防渗漏加固施工技术展开研究。结合需求,采用高压填充注浆+水平防渗+钢围堰导流管相结合的防渗漏加固形式,经过施工前准备、水平防渗、安装钢围堰导流管以及高压填充注浆加固,完成了堤坝施工中的防渗漏加固工程。实际应用结果表明,加固施工后,堤坝6个月内未出现渗漏现象,且堤坝高程真空度大于最小限值,符合施工技术规范,采取的防渗漏加固技术具有良好的效果。

锥探灌浆技术在堤防加固工程中的应用

为探索进一步提升堤防工程加固施工效率与质量的具体方法,文章围绕锥探灌浆技术,认真梳理了施工准备、布置锥探孔、造孔、泥浆制备、压水试验、灌浆等锥探灌浆的关键工序。针对常见的串孔、冒浆、堤表土塌陷隆起、裂缝等锥探灌浆现场施工期间面临的特殊情况,分析问题成因,提出行之有效的处理方法,旨在推动锥探灌浆施工水准稳步提升,为现场施工活动提供专业技术指导,保证堤防加固效果。