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.

APPLICATION OF STOCHASTIC FINITE ELEMENT METHOD TO STRENGTH AND STABILITY ANALYSIS OF EARTH DAMS

This paper applies the stochastic finite element method to analyse the statistics of stresses in earth dams and assess the safety and reliability of the dams. Formulations of the stochastic finite element method are briefly reviewed and the procedure for assessing dam's strength and stability is described. As an example, a detailed analysis for an actual dam Nululin dam is performed. A practical method for studying built-dams based on the prototype observation data is described.

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.

Analysis of Biomechanical Behaviour of Anterior Teeth Using Two Different Methods: Finite Element Method and Experimental Tests

The main objective of this study was to compare the results obtained with both virtual and experimental research methods, when the biomechanical behavior of teeth restored with esthetic posts was investigated. The finite element method was used to develop models of healthy maxillary canines and maxillary canines restored with definitive crowns and glass-fiber posts, quartzfiber posts, and titanium posts. Stress distribution was observed when external loads were applied. Load was applied in-vitro to analyse the fracture resistance of 48 maxillary canines restored in the same way as it was considered in the virtual method. The analysis of results using the finite element method led to the conclusion that restored teeth, in which the elastic modulus of the post was similar to that of the dentine and the material of the core had the best biomechanical performance. The experimental study validated the virtual analysis.

A Finite Element Analysis on Static Strength of a Complex Section

A static finite element analysis (FEA) of an impulsive controller section is presented. The boundary condition and a part of the loads are applied. Considering the grades of the stress around the holes being large, the dense grids are adjusted accordingly. Four cases with different loads are compared, thus the influences of different loads on the section are analyzed. Numerical results show that the maximum stress of the section is lower than the strength limit of the material, and the section will not be broken with the static loads.

Finite Element Analysis of the Influence of Artificial Cementation on the Strength Parameters and Bearing Capacity of Sandy Soil under a Strip Footing

Artificial cementation is a method commonly used to enhance and improve soil properties. This paper investigates the effect of using different amounts of cement on soil strength parameters and soil bearing capacity, using the finite element method. Experimental tests are conducted on soil samples with different amounts of Portland cement. A 2-D numerical model is created and validated using the numerical modelling software, COMSOL Multiphysics 5.6 software. The study finds that the cohesion, and the angle of the internal friction of the soil samples increase significantly as a result of adding 1%, 2%, and 4% of Portland cement. The results demonstrate that the stresses and strain under the strip footing proposed decrease by 3.24% and 7.42%. Moreover, the maximum displacement also decreases by 1.47% and 2.97%, as a result of adding cements of 2% and 4%. The bearing capacity values obtained are therefore excellent, especially when using the 2% and 4% cement. The increase identified is due to the increased values of the bearing capacity factors. It is concluded that from an economic viewpoint, using 2% cement is the best option.

Modeling Technology in Finite Element Analysis of Electrostatic Proximity Fuze Problem

In order to analyze the electrostatic field concerned with electrostatic proximity fuze problem using the available finite analysis software package, the technology to model the problem with a scale reduction object and boundary was presented. The boundary is determined by the maximum distance the sensor can detect. The object model is obtained by multiplying the terms in Poisson's equation with a scale reduction factor and the real value can be reconstructed with the same reverse process after software calculation. Using the finite element analysis program, the simulation value is close to the theoretical value with a little error. The boundary determination and scale reduction method is suitable to modeling the irregular electrostatic field around air targets, such as airplane, missile and so on, which is based on commonly used personal computer (PC). The technology reduces the calculation and storage cost greatly.

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.

An Integrated Structural Strength Analysis Method for Spar Type Floating Wind Turbine

An integrated structural strength analysis method for a Spar type floating wind turbine is proposed in this paper,and technical issues related to turbine structure modeling and stress combination are also addressed.The NREL-5MW ＂Hywind＂ Spar type wind turbine is adopted as study object.Time-domain dynamic coupled simulations are performed by a fully-coupled aero-hydro-servo-elastic tool,FAST,on the purpose of obtaining the dynamic characteristics of the floating wind turbine,and determining parameters for design load cases of finite element calculation.Then design load cases are identified,and finite element analyses are performed for these design load cases.The structural stresses due to wave-induced loads and wind-induced loads are calculated,and then combined to assess the structural strength of the floating wind turbine.The feasibility of the proposed structural strength analysis method for floating wind turbines is then validated.

高强钢筋增强UHPC-CFST组合桥墩抗震性能研究

采用有限元软件ABAQUS,开展了高强钢筋增强UHPC-CFST组合桥墩的抗震数值建模分析,通过与已有试验结果的对比,验证了建模方法的准确性。在此基础上,分析了轴压比、UHPC强度、UHPC厚度和钢管屈服强度等参数对组合桥墩受力性能的影响规律,并给出了各参数的建议取值范围。研究结果表明:增大轴压比和纵筋配筋率可提升组合桥墩的水平承载力和耗能能力,然而会限制试件的变形;提高UHPC强度和UHPC厚度,组合桥墩的水平承载力和位移延性系数均呈现出先增大后减小的趋势;提升钢管屈服强度可稳步增强组合桥墩的水平承载力;增加钢管厚度可明显提升组合桥墩的抗震性能,而体积配箍率和混凝土强度对组合桥墩的抗震性能影响较小。基于分析数据样本,采用多元非线性回归分析得到水平峰值荷载和位移延性系数的计算方法,公式计算值与有限元分析值吻合良好。

基于连续强度法的不锈钢梁抗剪切性能研究

不锈钢结构因具有良好的耐腐蚀性、容易维护等优点,逐渐成为工程建设领域中广泛使用的高性能绿色建筑材料。但不锈钢具有应变强化特性,现有设计规范计算工字形截面梁的抗剪切承载力结果较为保守,基于连续强度法,对不锈钢工字形截面梁的剪切屈曲承载性能进行研究,考虑了不锈钢材料几何非线性和几何初始缺陷的影响。基于试验验证的有限元数值模型,开展不锈钢梁抗剪切承载力影响的参数分析,探究各关键参数对其的影响规律,并与现行规范(中国、美国、欧洲)的计算结果进行对比。结果表明,在腹板厚度等参数不变的情况下,不锈钢工字形梁腹板的极限承载力会随着腹板宽高比的增加而降低。中国规范计算结果较为保守,低于构件的实际抗剪切承载力。连续强度法可以对不锈钢工字形截面的抗剪切承载力进行较为准确的计算。

基于有限元方法的双强度折减技术在边坡稳定性评估中的应用研究

评估边坡稳定性,以尽量减少失稳引起的地质风险,对减少人员伤亡和财产损失具有重要意义。本文提出了非均质边坡稳定性评价的强度折减法,并构建了相应数值方法。最后,结合传统方法验证了本方法的可行性,并结合实例对该方法进行了应用。

Midas-GTS(SRM)在边坡二维稳定性分析中的运用

Midas-GTS(SRM)是基于有限元强度折减原理对边坡进行稳定性分析的,它考虑了岩土体的非线性本构关系,其计算结果不仅能以云图的形式直观反映失稳边坡滑动面的位置,还能以动画的形式反映滑动面的形成、发展、贯通情况;并且还能得到边坡岩土体加固处理后结构的内力和变形。主要结合某边坡实例,运用Midas-GTS(SRM)对边坡进行二维数值模拟分析。通过对比边坡在无支护和有支护情况下的整体位移及最大剪切应变云图,对边坡整体稳定及支护效果做出了较为准确的分析及评价,在一定程度上,可以为今后类似工程提供理论参考和工程措施,具有一定的实用意义。

Formation of internal cracks during soft reduction in rectangular bloom continuous casting

To investigate the formation of internal cracks in GCrl 5 bearing steels during the soft reduction process in rectangular bloom con- tinuous casting, fully coupled thermomechanieal finite element models were developed using the commercial software MSC.MARC, and microstructures and fractographs were also observed. With the finite element models, the contours of temperature, equivalent plastic strain, and equivalent vun Mises stress were simulated. It is observed that the fracture surfaces of internal cracks are covered by cleavage or quasi-cleavage facets. The region of internal cracks in the intergranular brittle fracture mode is in the mushy zone between the zero ductility temperature （ZDT） and the zero strength temperature （ZST）. The simulated equivalent plastic strain in the crack region is 2.34%-2.45%, which is larger than the critical strain （0.4%-1.5%）, and the equivalent von Mises stress is 1.84-5.05 MPa, which is within the range of criti- cal stress （3.9-7.2 MPa）, thus resulting in the occurrence of internal cracks. Reducing the soft reduction amount from 3 to 2 mm can lower the stress under the critical value.

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

An empirical expression of cohesion （C） and friction angle （Ф） 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 Ф 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 （p） of shear failure plane （or weakest shear plane） with respect to the major principal stress as well as the corresponding C and Ф 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.

Structural Strength Analysis of a Tri-Floater Floating Foundation for Offshore VAWT

Vertical axis wind turbines(VAWTs) are advantageous for the development of large-scale offshore wind power because the drive system is located at the bottom of the turbine. This study investigates the structural strength of a tri-floater floating foundation supporting a 2.6 MW Darrieus VAWT. Finite element models of the floating foundation were developed using space plate-beam elements. The environmental loads, such as the aerodynamic loads, static wind loads, and wave-current loads, were considered. The general strengths of the floating foundation were calculated for the normal operating case(a cut-out wind speed of 25 m s^(-1) and blade rotation of 12 r min^(-1) were used to analyze the most unfavorable loads) and an extreme case(wind speed of 40 m s^(-1) and parked blades), and the weak components of the structure were analyzed. The results show that the floating foundation meets the strength requirements and the structural stress is highest when the wave, wind, and current are in a collinear direction. The main and secondary supporting bars transmit the loads between the stand columns and the tower foundation, and their stresses are higher than those in the other components. In the actual design, these supporting bars should be strengthened. The aerodynamic loads are very important and should be considered in the structural strength analysis of the floating foundation and the floating wind turbine system.

Characteristics of Deformation and Strength of Concrete in Plane Strain State

The characteristics of deformation and strength of concrete under the plane strain condition are studied experimentally with the triaxial apparatus designed by the authors and are compared with those under the plane stress condition. A formula of stress transformation between plane stress and plane strain conditions is proposed for the elasto-plastic state, and it provides a theoretical basis for simplifying nonlinear analysis and fully using the strength of concrete.

Influences of Randomly Distributed Wall Thickness of Beverage Can on Its Strength and Stiffness

This paper describes the research undertaken on the strength and stiffness of fluctuation on the wall thickness of steel beverage cans using the Monte Carlo stochastic finite element method. Sample distributions were firstly assumed and then proven using the data observations of the wall thickness, the APDL language was then applied, and the stresses and displacements of the can were calculated by using the ANSYS software. It is concluded that the structural reliability of a steel making beverage can be estimated accurately.