Failure behavior of soil-rock mixture slopes based on centrifuge model test

The stability of soil-rock mixtures(SRMs) that widely distributed in slopes is of significant concern for slope safety evaluation and disaster prevention. The failure behavior of SRM slopes under surface loading conditions was investigated through a series of centrifuge model tests considering various volumetric gravel contents. The displacement field of the slope was determined with image-based displacement system to observe the deformation of the soil and the movement of the block during loading in the tests. The test results showed that the ultimate bearing capacity and the stiffness of SRM slopes increased evidently when the volumetric block content exceeded a threshold value. Moreover, there were more evident slips around the blocks in the SRM slope. The microscopic analysis of the block motion showed that the rotation of the blocks could aggravate the deformation localization to facilitate the development of the slip surface. The high correlation between the rotation of the key blocks and the slope failure indicated that the blocks became the dominant load-bearing medium that influenced the slope failure. The blocks in the sliding body formed a chain to bear the load and change the displacement distribution of the adjacent matrix sand through the block rotation.

Attenuation of rock blasting induced ground vibration in rock-soil interface

Blasting has been widely used in mining and construction industries for rock breaking.This paper presents the results of a series of field tests conducted to investigate the ground wave propagation through mixed geological media.The tests were conducted at a site in the northwestern part of Singapore composed of residual soil and granitic rock.The field test aims to provide measurement data to better understand the stress wave propagation in soil/rock and along their interface.Triaxial accelerometers were used for the free field vibration monitoring.The measured results are presented and discussed,and empirical formulae for predicting peak particle velocity (PPV) attenuation along the ground surface and in soil/rock were derived from the measured data.Also,the ground vibration attenuation across the soil-rock interface was carefully examined,and it was found that the PPV of ground vibration was decreased by 37.2% when it travels from rock to soil in the vertical direction.

Slope structures and formation of rock–soil aggregate landslides in deeply incised valleys

Rock–soil aggregate landslides(RSALs) are a common geological hazard in deeply incised valleys in southwestern China. Large-scale RSALs are widely distributed in the upper reaches of the Dadu River, Danba County, Sichuan Province, and are influenced by slope structure, which can be divided into open, lock, strip, and dumbbell types, as well as soil type and meso-structure, which can be classified as layered rock–soil aggregate, block-soil, and grainsoil. In this study, the evolution of four types of structures, such as layered-dumbbell, block-soil lock, banded block-soil, and block-soil open types, were analyzed by field surveys, surface and deep displacement monitoring, and Flac3 D. It was found that the Danba reach of the Dadu River showed incised valley through the evolution from wide to slow valley affected by internal and external geological processes since the Quaternary Glaciation. In the layered-dumbbell rock–soil aggregate, the main sliding pattern is multi-stage sliding at different depths. Circular sliding in the trailing edge and plane sliding along the bedrock in the front edge body occurin the block-soil-lock type aggregate. Large-scale multi-level and circular sliding over long distances occur in the banded block-soil aggregate. The blocksoil open type is stable, with only circular sliding occurring in local and shallow surfaces of the body. The monitoring and numerical simulation results further show that slope structure and regularity have diversified with RSALs. The results provide a basis for analyzing the stability mechanism of RSALs and preventing RSALs in deeply incised valleys.

Experimental study of polyurethane foam reinforced soil used as a rock-like material

In this study, p o ly u reth an e foam ty p e th e rm o se t polym erizing, d u e to chem ical reaction b e tw e e n itsliquid ingredients, w as teste d as b in d e r afte r solidifying and th e n a rock-like m aterial m ixing w ith asandy silt ty p e soil w as prep ared . The uniaxial com pressive stren g th s （UCSs） o f p o ly u reth an e foamreinforced soil specim ens w ere d e term in ed for different p o ly u reth an e ratios in th e m ixture. A dditionally,a series o f te sts o n slake durability, im pact value, freezing-th aw in g resistance, and ab rasio n resistance ofp o ly u reth an e reinforced soil （PRS） m ix tu re w as co n d u cted . The UCS values over 3 M Pa w ere m easuredfrom th e PRS specim ens. The testin g results show ed th a t tre a te d soil can econom ically b ecom e adesirable rock-like m aterial in term s o f slake d u ra b ility a n d resistances ag ain st freezing-thaw ing, im pacteffect an d abrasion. As a n o th e r ch aracteristic o f th e rock-like m aterial m ade w ith p o ly u reth an e foam,u n it volum e w eig h t w as found to be q uite low er th a n th o se o f n atu ral rock m aterials.

THEORETICAL MODEL OF EFFECTIVE STRESS COEFFICIENT FOR ROCK/SOIL-LIKE POROUS MATERIALS

Physical mechanisms and influencing factors on the effective stress coefficient for rock/soil-like porous materials are investigated, based on which equivalent connectivity index is proposed. The equivalent connectivity index, relying on the meso-scale structure of porous material and the property of liquid, denotes the connectivity of pores in Representative Element Area （REA）. If the conductivity of the porous material is anisotropic, the equivalent connectivity index is a second order tensor. Based on the basic theories of continuous mechanics and tensor analysis, relationship between area porosity and volumetric porosity of porous materials is deduced. Then a generalized expression, describing the relation between effective stress coefficient tensor and equivalent connectivity tensor of pores, is proposed, and the expression can be applied to isotropic media and also to anisotropic materials. Furthermore, evolution of porosity and equivalent connectivity index of the pore are studied in the strain space, and the method to determine the corresponding functions in expressions above is proposed using genetic algorithm and genetic programming. Two applications show that the results obtained by the method in this paper perfectly agree with the test data. This paper provides an important theoretical support to the coupled hydro-mechanical research.

Some Rock and Soil Mechanical Issues inTGP Construction

The Yangtze Three Gorges Project (TGP) is the key backbone project to develop and harness the Yangtze river in China. As the largest water conservancy project in the world with the earth and rock excavation amounting up to 102.83×10 6 m 3, it is, therefore, the largest project on a scale of geomechanical engineering. The involvement of numerous domestic and foreign research institutes in the scientific research has promoted the development of geomechanics. Some rock and soil mechanical issues arising during construction of the Three Gorges Project are discussed in this article.

Contamination of Water, Dust, Soil, Rock and Urine with Fluoride in Central India

At least 15% of 0.1 million people residing in 117 villages of Tamnar block (Chhattisgarh, central India) are suffering from fluorosis diseases. In this work, the contamination of F- in the environment (i.e. water, soil, rock and urine) of the Tamnar block is described. The concentration variations of F-, Cl-, NO3-, SO42-, Na+, K+, Mg2+, Ca2+, Al, Mn, Fe and Zn in the groundwater are reported. The F- content in the water was ranged from 1.7 - 17 mg/L with mean value of 9.0 ± 3.7 mg/L. Fluoride was enriched up to 3-, 54-, 69- and 244-folds in the urine, soil, dust and rock, respectively. The cluster and factor analysis models were used to apportion sources of F- and other elements in the water.

Accounting for mineralogical composition and origin of soils and sedimentary rocks in thermal property predictions

A methodology for calculating the thermal conductivity of soils and rocks is developed which takes into account their origin and mineralogical composition.This method utilizes three approaches.One is founded on the structural modeling of contact heat interaction between particles and fills and estimates the statistical probability distribution of the particles in the volume of the medium.The second approach analyses perturbation to the temperature field of the matrix medium by ellipsoidal inclusions.The third approach is to find the mean thermal conductivity of the solid skeleton in the universal model at different composition of rock-forming minerals.

Acid Sulfate Soil Induced Acidification of Estuarine Areas Used for the Production of Sydney Rock Oysters, <i>Saccostrea glomerata</i>

This study investigated estuarine acidification, associated with drainage and excavation of acid sulfate soils, in areas used for commercial cultivation of Sydneyrock oysters (Saccostrea glomerata). Regular measurements of pH and electrical conductivity were collected in oyster cultivation areas and acidified reaches of the Hastings River estuary and Port Stephens estuary located on the mid north coast of New South Wales, Australia. Water quality information from acidified floodplain drains was also collected in theHastingsRiverfollowing heavy rainfall. Both estuaries experienced acidification of tributaries following periods of heavy rainfall. Drain outflow waters were acidic

Determining CO_2 consumption from elemental change in soil profiles developed on carbonate and silicate rocks

To further understand the roles of carbonate and silicate rocks in regulating the atmosphere/soil CO_2level,the flux of CO_2 consumed by the chemical weathering of silicate and carbonate rocks was determined from the elemental change in soil profiles.Results showed that the chemical weathering of carbonate rocks mainly occurred at the rock-regolith interface,and that the further weathering of the residua soil on the carbonate rocks was similar to that of the granite profile.Chemical weathering of the silicate rocks occurred through the whole profiles.Therefore,CO_2 consumed per volume by the silicate profiles[M_(sr)(CO_2)]and the residues on carbonate rocks[M_(cr)(CO2)]were calculated based on the elemental weathering gradients.CO_2 consumed by carbonate protolith[M_(cp)(CO_2)]was calculated from the elemental change at the rock-regolith interface.The M_(sr)(CO_2) were about tens to thousands orders of magnitude greater than M_(cr)(CO_2).Even so,this demonstrated that the residues on carbonate rocks could be a sink of CO2_ on long-term scales.The M_(cp)(CO_2) was about four times larger than M_(sr)(CO_2),which demonstrated that carbonate rocks played a more important role in regulating the CO_2 level than the silicate rocks did during the pedogenic process of the profiles.

土与强风化岩双元边坡圆弧-平面破坏模式与支护设计方法

为了探究土与强风化岩边坡中强风化岩不破坏的临界坡率及稳定性判断方法,基于济南地层,得出适用于数值模拟的土层参数,并利用强度折减法求出边坡的临界坡率,为施工提供参考。针对强风化岩不破坏的边坡,运用改进的瑞典条分法求出边坡安全系数解析解,并利用滑移线场法求出滑移线,为安全系数解析解的应用提供依据。结果表明,岩层厚度超过边坡高度1/2或坡率大于1:0.5时,强风化岩一定破坏;解析解得出的安全系数偏小,有利于工程安全;针对土与强风化岩边坡,文中结果可确定边坡破坏区域,设计支护方案。

Effect of Rock Fragments on Tracer Transport in Broadleaved and Coniferous Forest Soils: Column Study

This study investigated the effect of rock fragments on tracer transport in broadleaved and coniferous forest soils from the 0 - 100 cm depth of Gongga Mountain in eastern margin of Qinghai Tibetan Plateau. Using repacked soil columns (20 cm in height and 10 cm in diameter) with different rock fragments contents (0%, 5%, and 15% in v/v), breakthrough curves of bromide (as non-reactive tracer) were obtained under saturated condition. A two-region model was applied and the parameters were estimated by inverse modeling. Results show that with increasing rock fragment content the dispersivity (λ) generally increased while the mobile-immobile partition coefficient (β) and the mass transfer coefficient (ω) decreased. The presence of rock fragments led to an increase in the fraction of immobile domain as well as soil tortuosity. A plausible explanation is that the soil beneath the rock fragments behaved as immobile domain and soil-rock interfaces could serve as preferential flow paths.

Using Poultry Litter Biochar and Rock Dust MB-4 on Release Available Phosphorus to Soils

Highly weathered soils in areas from Brazil are acidic soils, typically characterized by poor fertility, particularly with low soil phosphorus level. This laboratory experiment was carried out to evaluate the influences of biochar, made from the poultry litter and MB-4, rock dust from grinding of silicate rocks in increasing the available soil phosphorus on Ultisol, Oxisol and Entisol. Thus, one experiment involving soils incubation was conducted in laboratory, during 100 days. The treatments consisted of rock powder, MB-4 and poultry litter, biochar, evaluated by the base saturation method, with correction levels from 40% to 80% for Ultisol and Entisol and from 20% to 80% for Oxisol and three replicates. After the incubation period, the soil samples were analyzed in relation to available phosphorus in the soil. The results of this study confirmed that the biochar prepared from the poultry litter through slow pyrolysis was a potential source of phosphorus, particularly to weathered soils. Biochar released phosphorus into the soils. The biochar could be used in the improvement of available phosphorus for the three soils analyzed. During the incubation period, 100 days, the application of increasing doses of MB-4 in soils there was no improvement in the available soil phosphorus. MB-4 was not a source of phosphorus to the soil in a short term.

Assessment Slope Stability Based on Deformation of Rock Joints and Soil with Simulation Method

The first area is rock instability in conglomerates walls, and the second area is soil instability in a slope composed of sand gravel and shale in the south of the study area. In the first area, rock slopes were studied by fractures condition, slope morphology, measured engineering features of rocks, and then interpreted by Dips software to define the fracture types for analysis of block toppling. The rock slope of the area was modeled by Rock plan by adding water penetration and earthquake. The results showed that in dry condition these slopes were stable, but by penetrating water and saturation of the open spaces of the fractures, the block toppling will occur. Also, seismic activities in the area caused the instability of the slopes, and landslide will happen. In the second area, landslides were spoon-shaped type. To investigate the soil slope stability, the condition of slope was modeled by using soil engineering properties and measuring the morphological condition of the slope such as slope dip, layers thickness, layers dip and slope elevation. It was shown instability of the soil slopes. To stabilize the sliding areas, the dip changing method and formation of stepped-style slope were done. However, the new condition changed the formation of sliding areas in the upper most part of the stairs. The retaining walls formed from the local materials were applied to the slope to provide the desire stability.

球状风化花岗岩类土质边坡土-岩界面优势流潜蚀特性研究

受降雨作用,球状风化花岗岩类土质边坡的土-岩差异风化界面极易演化为优势渗流通道而发生渗流潜蚀,进而加速该类边坡的变形失稳,然而当前有关其渗流潜蚀作用特征、细颗粒迁移规律等的研究仍鲜见开展。基于多孔介质非饱和渗流理论,综合考虑细颗粒运移、潜蚀启动响应与非饱和渗流的耦合关系,提出一种可准确描述土-岩界面渗流潜蚀过程的数值计算框架。采用有限元方法,构建优势流作用下非饱和花岗岩残积土的渗流潜蚀模型,并以均质土柱的渗流潜蚀过程为参考,系统研究3种典型土-岩界面埋藏状态下的优势流潜蚀特性。结果表明:球状风化花岗岩类土质边坡的土-岩界面与基质渗透性存在高度差异性,湿润锋形成向下凹陷的渗透漏斗,且随着降雨的持续,湿润锋的凹陷程度愈发明显;细颗粒流失程度与土-岩界面的埋藏状态相关,其中下填土体工况的优势流潜蚀最为显著,其界面处甚至出现超孔隙水压力,最不利于该类边坡的稳定性。研究成果可为降雨条件下球状风化花岗岩类土质边坡稳定性的准确评价提供科学依据。

粒度分布对红层土石混合体强度及颗粒破碎的影响

红层土石混合体已广泛应用于川渝地区公路、铁路的路基填筑,研究其强度及颗粒破碎特征可为该地区路基快速安全施工提供理论支撑。针对现有粒度分布评价方法对土石混合体适用性的不足,提出中间粒径块石相对含量C_(m)指标并拟定4个水平,选择四川盆地红层土石混合体为材料,比选叠环剪和大型直剪试验后,结合筛分试验探讨粒度分布对红层土石混合体强度及颗粒破碎的影响规律。试验结果表明:叠环剪试验中剪切面非人为固定,剪切带影响域明显大于大型直剪试验,相同试验条件下土石混合体强度低于大型直剪试验,且法向应力越大,强度差值越大。C_(m)对红层土石混合体的强度及颗粒破碎特征影响显著。随C_(m)的增大,黏聚力先减小后增大,内摩擦角先增大后减小,抗剪强度先增大后减小,均在C_(m)=0.543时有最值,此时,颗粒间的摩擦和重定向排列对强度的增强效应明显大于咬合减弱的负面效应,剪应力有二次攀升。叠环剪试验后,大粒径、中间粒径块石含量降低,土体含量增高,小粒径块石含量在C_(m)≤0.343时降低,C_(m)≥0.343时增高;颗粒相对破碎率随法向应力和C_(m)的增大,均呈先降低后升高的规律,C_(m)=0.343时颗粒相对破碎率最低。

土石混合体边坡力学特性及稳定性分析方法研究进展

土石混合体边坡在我国分布比较广泛,在降雨、地震等外力作用下会产生滑坡等变形破坏现象。归类和分析了土石混合体力学特性物理模型试验和数值模拟试验以及边坡稳定性分析方法研究成果,得出块石尺寸和含石量是影响土石混合体剪切特性主要因素,块石排列可以忽略不计;雨水和冻胀等能够显著改变土石胶结介质力学参数,降低率约为20%;通过对比多种稳定性分析方法,认为离散单元法或数值流形法、连续—非连续耦合方法能够更有效分析具有强烈非均质体的土石混合体边坡。在总结已有研究成果和考虑土石混合体介质特点的基础上,提出了土石混合体力学特性和此类边坡稳定性分析方法研究上存在的不足之处,即:①在获取土—石胶结接触面力学参数相关特性指标上,缺少精密的试验设备或仪器,无法准确地测得接触面参数;②在土—石胶结接触面力学模型构建上,忽略了土体与块石间存在嵌入等情况,无法充分反映土—石胶结接触面在外力作用下的力学行为;③目前土石混合体边坡稳定性研究主要关注坡体力学特性以及降雨等作用下的相关参数变化,很少涉及多应力场(如降雨、地震、低温等组合作用)下的土石混合体边坡数值模拟,无法满足实际工程问题的相关需求;④现阶段构建三维土石混合体边坡数值模型上,仅有少数考虑结合数字图像等计算机技术还原真实块体下的三维数值模型,尚需进一步研究分析块石接触面差异分布、超大粒径块石模拟等相关问题。