Experiment and constitutive modelling of creep deformation in the frozen silt-concrete interface

To ensure the long-term safety and stability of bridge pile foundations in permafrost regions,it is necessary to investigate the rheological effects on the pile tip and pile side bearing capacities.The creep characteristics of the pile-frozen soil interface are critical for determining the long-term stability of permafrost pile foundations.This study utilized a self-developed large stress-controlled shear apparatus to investigate the shear creep characteristics of the frozen silt-concrete interface,and examined the influence of freezing temperatures(−1,−2,and−5°C),contact surface roughness(0,0.60,0.75,and 1.15 mm),normal stress(50,100,and 150 kPa),and shear stress on the creep characteristics of the contact surface.By incorporating the contact surface’s creep behavior and development trends,we established a creep constitutive model for the frozen silt-concrete interface based on the Nishihara model,introducing nonlinear elements and a damage factor.The results revealed significant creep effects on the frozen silt-concrete interface under constant load,with creep displacement at approximately 2-15 times the instantaneous displacement and a failure creep displacement ranging from 6 to 8 mm.Under different experimental conditions,the creep characteristics of the frozen silt-concrete interface varied.A larger roughness,lower freezing temperatures,and higher normal stresses resulted in a longer sample attenuation creep time,a lower steady-state creep rate,higher long-term creep strength,and stronger creep stability.Building upon the Nishihara model,we considered the influence of shear stress and time on the viscoelastic viscosity coefficient and introduced a damage factor to the viscoplasticity.The improved model effectively described the entire creep process of the frozen silt-concrete interface.The results provide theoretical support for the interaction between pile and soil in permafrost regions.

Microstructure Features and the Macroscopic Acoustic Behavior of Gassy Silt in the Yellow River Delta

The morphological changes in isolated bubbles in gassy silt play a critical role in the microscopic structures between soil particles and bubbles and macroscopic physical properties.Based on X-ray CT scanning experiments under various vertical loads(four levels),self-designed acoustic macro experiments,and a series of formula revisions to the macro-air-bearing silt sound-velocity prediction model,this paper discusses the macro-and micro-scale features of gassy silts from the Yellow River Delta.The samples consisted of different proportions of silt from the Yellow River Delta and porous media,and they were used to form two types of aerosol silts with initial gas contents of 4.23%and 7.67%.The results show that the air bubble content and external load considerably affect the microstructural parameters and acoustic behavior of gassy silt in the Yellow River Delta.The macroscopic sound velocity showed a linear positive correlation with vertical load and relation to microstructural parameters in varying manners and degrees.Based on the traditional Biot-Stoll acoustic model,the gas-phase medium coefficient was introduced for the proper calculation and prediction of the sound velocity of air-bearing silt.The errors of the overall prediction varied between 5.6%and 9.6%.

Influence of the boundary effect on the mechanical response test of pavement cushion under the wetting effect of silt

Through a self-developed model test system,the mechanical properties of silt and the deformation characteristics of airport runways were investigated during the period of subgrade wetting.Based on the test results,the reliability of the numerical simulation results was verified.Numerical models with different sizes were established.Under the same cushion parameter and loading width ranges,the effects of the cushion parameters and loading conditions on the mechanical responses of the cushion before and after subgrade wetting were analyzed.The results show that the internal friction angles of silt with different wetting degrees are approximately 34°.The cohesion is from 8 to 44 kPa,and the elastic modulus is from 15 to 34 MPa.Before and after subgrade wetting,the variation rates of the cushion horizontal tensile stresses with the same cushion parameters and loading width ranges are different under the influence of boundary effects.After subgrade wetting,the difference in the variation rates of the cushion horizontal tensile stresses under the same cushion parameter range decreases compared with that before subgrade wetting;however,this difference increases under the same loading width range.Before and after subgrade wetting,the influence of the boundary effect on the mechanical response evaluation of the cushion is not beneficial for optimizing the pavement design parameters.When the cushion thickness is more than 0.25 m,the influence of the boundary effect can be disregarded.

Experimental Study on Clogging Characteristics of Silt Soft Soil in Nansha District of Guangzhou

The silt soft soil in Nansha District of Guangzhou was the softest soft soil in China. It had the characteristics of high natural water content, high compressibility, long consolidation time, and complex layered distribution of soil layers. These characteristics formed the clogging characteristics of silt soft soil, which greatly increased the construction difficulty and hindered the construction progress. Therefore, based on the basic physical and mechanical properties of silt soft soil in Nansha District of Guangzhou, this paper evaluated the clogging characteristics of three silt soft soil areas in Nansha District of Guangzhou through long-term permeability test, and carried out scanning electron microscope test to explore the influence of different parameters and microstructure on the clogging difficulty of silt soft soil. The results showed that the silt soft soil Zone I and Zone II (shallow layer) in Nansha District of Guangzhou were divided into slight siltation levels, and the silt soft soil Zone III (deep layer) was mild siltation level. Large pores were widely distributed in shallow silt soft soil, while the continuity of large pores in deep silt soft soil was poor. The migration of fine particles that failed to establish contact with surrounding particles in the soil blocks the small pores of seepage and thus produces siltation.

Silting模的一个推广

基于Angeleri Hügel等人提出的silting模的概念,以及Breaz等人对silting模生成的torsion类的研究,给出了n-silting模的定义.称左R模T是n-silting模,如果存在正合列Pn+1→Pn→…→P2→P1→T→0,其中Pi(1≤i≤n+1)为投射模,且Presn(T)=Dσ.n-silting模是silting模的一个推广,1-silting模与silting模是一致的.利用环模理论和同调代数的方法,研究了n-silting模的若干性质和等价刻画,得出当T是n-silting模时,Presn(T)=Gen(T)=Dσ■T^⊥i≥n成立,其中Dσ={X∈R-Mod| HomR(σ,X)是满同态}.并讨论了n-silting模与n-tilting模之间的关系,结果表明,如果存在左R模正合列0→Pn+1^σ→Pn→…→P2→P1→T→0且Dσ■T^⊥i≥n,其中Pi(1≤i≤n+1)为投射模,那么以下说法等价:(1)T是n-silting模;(2)T是n-tilting模.

Holocene Yellow Silt Layers and the Paleoclimate Event of 8200 a B.P.in Lop Nur,Xinjiang,NW China

Many yellow silt layers have been identified in the Holocene sediments in the last lake of Lop Nur (playa), Xinjiang, northwestern China. Statistics of drill-hole cores have revealed more than one hundred layers, which exhibit regularity in time sequence. Study has further verified that these yellow silt layers were deposited through eolian processes. The time-frequency distribution diagram shows an obvious peak occurring at about 8200 a B.P., which is consistent with the dry, windy and cold climate event occurring at 8200 a in other places around the world. Therefore, this event is regarded as a response to the global climate change.

Development of Cementitious Materials Utilizing Alkali-activated Yellow River Silt

The possibility of preparing cementitious materials by the alkali-activated method using Yellow River sediment(The second largest river in China)as raw material and the modification effect on different slag addition were investigated.Sodium silicate and calcium hydroxide were used as the activator,and the specimens were prepared by the press molding method.The hydration process,hydration products,pore characteristics,and mechanical properties were investigated using SEM/EDS,FTIR,TG/DTG,XRD,MIP,and uniaxial compressive strength experiments,respectively.The results showed that the compressive strength of the modified yellow river silt-based cementitious material was significantly increased when the water glass dosage was 12 wt%(Ms=1.8)and the slag dosage was 40%,and its 90-day maximum compressive strength could reach 53 MPa.

Evaluation of dynamic characteristics of silt in Yellow River Flood Field after freeze-thaw cycles

Frothing is a main disease of highways in Yellow River Flood Field, due to the loss of dynamic strength of roadbed soils under the couple effects of temperature, salt, and vehicle traffic load. This is strongly linked to the dynamic characteristics of silt in this region. To analyze these couple effects on the dynamic characteristics of silt, a series of tests(i.e., freeze-thaw cycling tests, vibration triaxial tests and ultrasonic wave velocity tests) were conducted and two kinds of silt(i.e., salt-free and 3%-salt silt) were designed. The results indicate that the dynamic shear strength and dynamic modulus decrease with increasing freeze-thaw cycles, while the damping ratio simultaneously increases. Furthermore, compared to salt-free silt, the decrement of dynamic shear strength and dynamic modulus of silt with 3% salt is more significant, but the damping ratio of 3%-salt silt is larger. In ultrasonic wave velocity tests, ultrasonic wave velocity of frozen soil specimens decreases as the number of freeze-thaw cycles increases. Based on the results of ultrasonic wave velocity tests, a preliminary model is proposed to evaluate damage of silt through field measurement ultrasonic data. The study could provide a theoretical basis for the treatment of silty soil highway.

Large borehole with multi-lateral branches: A novel solution for exploitation of clayey silt hydrate

Raising the in situ decomposition rate of natural gas hydrate and increasing the decomposition contact area are two main ways to raise the productivity of hydrate. An exploitation technique based on large borehole with multi-lateral branches (LB & MB) was proposed in this paper. This technique is mainly intended for the clayey silt hydrate reservoir in the South China Sea, and its main purpose is to alleviate the sand output from formation for maintaining the stability of the reservoir and to greatly increase the gas productivity of the reservoir. In this paper, the following aspects were mainly expounded: definition of the basic geometric parameters for layout of multi-lateral branches in clayey silt hydrate reservoir, simulation of the stimulation effect of a typical well profile with two branches, and prediction and simulation of the reservoir failure risk in a well profile with eight branches. The results show that the LB & MB effectively improves the flow field in the formation, raises the productivity of the reservoir and may also help to decrease the produced water-gas ratio (WGR). When the lateral branches spacing is too small, the failure zones around adjacent lateral branches overlap each other, possibly causing reservoir failure in a larger range. Therefore, the geometric parameters of multi-lateral branches depend on the dual control of the productivity and geotechnical risk factor of reservoir. Further study is being carried out, so as to obtain the optimal combination of parameters of multi-lateral branches.

Mechanical performances and microstructural characteristics of reactive MgO-carbonated silt subjected to freezing-thawing cycles

The characteristics of reactive magnesia(MgO)-carbonated silt in respect to long-term stability have not been well understood in severely cold climate despite the usage of reactive MgO in enhancing the engineering performances.Under the binder content of 15%and initial water content of 25%,MgO-admixed silt specimens were carbonized for 3 h and 6 h and then subjected to different numbers of freezingthawing(F-T)cycles.After different F-T cycles,the physico-mechanical properties of MgO-carbonated silt were analyzed in comparison with Portland cement(PC)-stabilized silt through physical and unconfined compression tests.Besides,a series of micro tests on MgO-carbonated specimens was performed including X-ray diffraction(XRD),scanning electron microscopy(SEM)and mercury intrusion porosimetry(MIP)tests.The results demonstrate that both mass change ratio and moisture content of carbonated/stabilized silt decrease,and these values of MgO-carbonated silt are significantly lower while the density is higher compared to PC-stabilized silt.The strengths and moduli of MgO-carbonated silt are still two times higher than those of PC-stabilized specimens and the strength change ratio of keeps above0.8 after F-T cycles.There is no visible transformation between nesquehonite and dypingite/hydromagnesite,although the XRD peaks of nesquehonite decrease and the bonding and filling effects weaken slightly.After 6 and 10 F-T cycles,the pore-size characteristics changed from a unimodal distribution to a three-peak and bimodal distribution,respectively.The total,macro and large pore volumes increase obviously while the medium and small pore volumes decrease except for intra-aggregate pore.The findings show better F-T durability of MgO-carbonated silt,which would be helpful for facilitating the application of MgO carbonation in the soil treatment.

Analysis of Wave-Induced Liquefaction in Seabed Deposits of Silt

The dynamic stress introduced in half elastic space by wave loading is characterized by the equation between the magnitude of half cyclic axial stress and cyclic torsion shear stress and the principal stress, whose direction rotates continuously and compression stress on seabed can be calculated by the use of small amplitude wave theory. With relationship curves of saturated silt of liquefaction cycles and cyclic stress ratios obtained by cyclic triaxial-torsional coupling shear tests and curve fitting method to different data points of relative density, it is suggested that the cyclic stress ratio corresponding to constant liquefaction impedance be taken as the critical cyclic stress ratio which implies liquefaction. There exists a linear relationship between critical cyclic stress ratio and relative density under different relative densities. Empirical formula for critical cyclic stress ratios of seabed liquefaction induced by wave loading under different relative densities is established. The possibility of seabed silt liquefaction and its influence factors are analyzed based on the small-amplitude wave theory and the data acquired in laboratory tests.

Salinity effect on the compaction behaviour,matric suction,stiffness and microstructure of a silty soil

To better understand the salinity effect on the compaction behaviour of soil,standard Proctor compaction test was conducted on soil samples with different salinities.Matric suction and small-strain shear modulus,G_(max),were determined and pore size distribution was also investigated on samples statically compacted at different water contents.Results showed that with the decrease of soil salinity from initial value of 2.1‰(g of salt/kg of dry soil)to zero,the maximum dry density increased and the optimum water content decreased,whereas there was no significant change with the increase of soil salinity from 2.1‰ to 6.76‰.Interestingly,it was observed that G_(max) also decreased when the soil salinity decreased from initial value of 2.1‰ to zero and kept almost constant when the soil salinity increased from 2.1‰ to 6.76‰,for dry samples with similar matric suction and also for samples compacted at optimum state and on wet side whose matric suctions were slightly different due to the difference in remoulded water content.Furthermore,the effect of salinity on compaction behaviour and G_(max) decreased for samples compacted from dry side to wet side.The pore size distribution exhibited bi-modal characteristics with two populations of micro-and macro-pores not only for samples compacted on dry side and at optimum state,but also for those compacted on wet side.Further examination showed that the modal size of micro-pores shifted to lower values and that of macro-pores shifted to higher values for saline soil compared to the soil without salt.

Effect of dry density on the liquefaction behaviour of Quaternary silt

Quaternary silt is widely distributed in China and easily liquefies during earthquakes. To identify the influence of the dry density on the liquefaction behaviour of Quaternary silt, 40 cyclic triaxial liquefaction tests were performed on loose silt(dry density rd=1.460 g/cm^3) and dense silt(rd=1.586 g/cm^3) under different cyclic stress ratios(CSRs) to obtain liquefaction assessment criteria, determine the liquefaction resistance, improve the excess pore water pressure(EPWP) growth model and clarify the relationship between the shear modulus and damping ratio. The results indicate that the initial liquefaction assessment criteria for the loose and dense silts are a double-amplitude axial strain of 5% and an EPWP ratio of 1. The increase in the anti-liquefaction ability for the dense silt is more significant under lower confining pressures. The CSR of loose silt falls well within the results of the sandy silt and Fraser River silt, and the dense silt exhibits a higher liquefaction resistance than the sand-silt mixture. The relationships between the CSR and loading cycles were obtained at a failure strain of 1%. The EPWP development in the dense and loose silts complies with the "fast-stable" and "fast-gentle-sharp" growth modes, respectively. The power function model can effectively describe the EPWP growth characteristics of the dense silt. Finally, based on the liquefaction behaviour of silt, a suggestion for reinforcing silt slopes or foundations is proposed.

Sedimentary Changes of a Sand Layer in Liquefied Silts

A flume experiment was conducted to investigate the restratification of liquefied sediment strata under a wave load with the focus on the interbedded strata of coarse and fine sediments formed in estuarine and coastal areas.The aim of this research was to study the characteristics and processes of liquefied sediment strata in terms of wave-induced liquefaction.In the experiment,the bottom bed liquefied under the wave action and the liquefied soil moved in the same period with the overlying waves,and the track of the soil particles in the liquefied soil was an ellipse.The sand layer consisting of coarse particles in the upper part,settled into the lower silt layer.The sinking of coarse particles and upward migration of the fine particles of the lower layer induced by liquefied sediment fluctuations are the likely reasons for sedimentation of the sand layer in liquefied silt.

Dynamic strength characteristics and failure criteria of anisotropically consolidated silt under principal stress rotation

In order to identify the critical properties and failure criteria of in-situ silt under vehicle or wave loading, anisotropically consolidated silt under undrained cyclic principal stress rotation was studied with hollow cylinder dynamic tests. The results show that for the slightly anisotropically consolidated samples with consolidation ratios no larger than 1.5, the structure collapses and the deviator strain and pore pressure increase sharply to fail after collapse. For the highly anisotropically consolidated samples with consolidation ratios larger than 1.5, the strain increases steadily to high values, which shows characteristics of ductile failure. 4% is suggested to be the threshold value of deviator stain to determine the occurrence of collapse. The normalized relationship between pore pressure and deviator strain can be correlated by a power fimction for all the anisotropically consolidated samples. Based on it, for the highly anisotropically consolidated samples, the appearance of inflection point on the power function curve is suggested to sign the failure. It can be predicted through the convex pore pressure at this point, whose ratio to the ultimate pore pressure is around linear with the consolidation ratio in spite of the dynamic shear stress level. And the corresponding deviator strain is between 3% and 6%. The strain failure criterion can also be adopted, but the limited value of stain should be determined according to engineering practice. As for the slightly anisotropically consolidated samples, the turning points appear after collapse. So, the failure is suggested to be defined with the occurrence of collapse and the collapse pore pressure can be predicted with the ultimate pore pressure and consolidation ratio.

Sensitivity Analysis of Multi-phase Seepage Parameters Affecting the Clayey Silt Hydrate Reservoir Productivity in the Shenhu Area,South China Sea

Natural gas hydrate(NGH)is an important future resource for the 21st century and a strategic resource with potential for commercial development in the third energy transition.It is of great significance to accurately predict the productivity of hydrate-bearing sediments(HBS).The multi-phase seepage parameters of HBS include permeability,porosity,which is closely related to permeability,and hydrate saturation,which has a direct impact on hydrate content.Existing research has shown that these multi-phase seepage parameters have a great impact on HBS productivity.Permeability directly affects the transmission of pressure-drop and discharge of methane gas,porosity and initial hydrate saturation affect the amount of hydrate decomposition and transmission process of pressure-drop,and also indirectly affect temperature variation of the reservoir.Considering the spatial heterogeneity of multi-phase seepage parameters,a depressurization production model with layered heterogeneity is established based on the clayey silt hydrate reservoir at W11 station in the Shenhu Sea area of the South China Sea.Tough+Hydrate software was used to calculate the production model;the process of gas production and seepage parameter evolution under different multi-phase seepage conditions were obtained.A sensitivity analysis of the parameters affecting the reservoir productivity was conducted so that:(a)a HBS model with layered heterogeneity can better describe the transmission process of pressure and thermal compensation mechanism of hydrate reservoir;(b)considering the multi-phase seepage parameter heterogeneity,the influence degrees of the parameters on HBS productivity were permeability,porosity and initial hydrate saturation,in order from large to small,and the influence of permeability was significantly greater than that of other parameters;(c)the production potential of the clayey silt reservoir should not only be determined by hydrate content or seepage capacity,but also by the comprehensive effect of the two;and(d)time scales need to be considered when studying the effects of changes in multi-phase seepage parameters on HBS productivity.

Gross nitrogen transformations and N2O emission sources in sandy loam and silt loam soils

The soil type is a key factor influencing N(nitrogen)cycling in soil;however,gross N transformations and N_(2)O emission sources are still poorly understood.In this study,a laboratory 15N tracing experiment was carried out at 60%WHC(water holding capacity)and 25℃to evaluate the gross N transformation rates and N_(2)O emission pathways in sandy loam and silt loam soils in a semi-arid region of Heilongjiang Province,China.The results showed that the gross rates of N mineralization,immobilization,and nitrification were 3.60,1.90,and 5.63 mg N/(kg·d)in silt loam soil,respectively,which were 3.62,4.26,and 3.13 times those in sandy loam soil,respectively.The ratios of the gross nitrification rate to the ammonium immobilization rate(n/ia)in sandy loam soil and silt loam soil were all higher than 1.00,whereas the n/ia in sandy loam soil(4.36)was significantly higher than that in silt loam soil(3.08).This result indicated that the ability of sandy loam soil to release and conserve the available N was relatively poor in comparison with silt loam soil,and the relatively strong nitrification rate compared to the immobilization rate may lead to N loss through NO_(3)–leaching.Under aerobic conditions,both nitrification and denitrification made contributions to N_(2)O emissions.Nitrification was the dominant pathway leading to N_(2)O production in soils and was responsible for 82.0%of the total emitted N_(2)O in sandy loam soil,which was significantly higher than that in silt loam soil(71.7%).However,the average contribution of denitrification to total N_(2)O production in sandy loam soil was 17.9%,which was significantly lower than that in silt loam soil(28.3%).These results are valuable for developing reasonable fertilization management and proposing effective greenhouse gas mitigation strategies in different soil types in semiarid regions.

Simulation and Analysis of Back Siltation in a Navigation Channel Using MIKE 21

The channel back-siltation problem has been restricting the development of channels,and its monitoring is limited by funds and natural conditions.Moreover,predicting the channel back-siltation situation in a timely and accurate manner is difficult.Hence,a numerical simulation of the back-siltation problem in the sea area near the channel is of great significance to the maintenance of a channel.In this study,the back siltation of a deep-water channel in the Lanshan Port area of the Port of Rizhao after dredging is predicted.This paper relies on the MIKE 21 software to establish the wave,tidal current,and sediment numerical models and uses measured data from two observation stations in the study area for verification.On this basis,taking one month as an example,the entire project channel was divided into five sections,and three observation points were set on each section.The results show that the area with offshore siltation is located in the northerly direction of the artificial anti-wave building.Siltation occurred on the northern seabed in the sea a little farther from the shore.Siltation occurred on the seabed surface far away from the shoreline,and with the increase in the distance from the shoreline,the amount of siltation in the south,center,and north became gradually closed,and the results can be used to guide actual engineering practices.This study will play a positive role in promoting the dredging project of Rizhao Lanshan Port.

Undrained Behaviour of Silt under Static and Cyclic Loading

In this study, the undrained behaviour of silt under low stress level is studied. An effective preparation method for built-in silt samples in the triaxial test was firstly developed. By triaxial testing of samples at low confining pressures it was found that silt easily loses stability and liquefies. Loose silt may show temporary liquefaction under static loading, and develop full liquefaction under cyclic loading. The most important factors influencing the silt behaviour are porosity, confining pressure, consolidation state, cyclic loading level and number of cycles. The maximum obtainable shear stress is primarily a function of the confining pressure and the internal frictional angle. The actual structure of the silt material is the key factor in controlling its behaviour.

CALCULATION AND PREDICTION FOR MUDDY BEACH PROTECTION AND SILTATION ACCELERATION

This paper firstly deals with the two different siltation patterns with siltation accelerating project on sandy beach and muddy beach, and then puts forward the calculation method for siltation of the project on muddy beach based on the behavior of suspension and settlement of fine sediment particles. This method not only can qualitatively explain quite a number of natural phenomena, but also is examined by practical projects. Therefore, this method is of important practical significance in the practice of foreshore reclamation and beach protection as well as siltation acceleration.