Distributed Fiber Optic Monitoring and Stability Analysis of a Model Slope under Surcharge Loading

In the discipline of geotechnical engineering, fiber optic sensor based distributed monitoring has played an increasingly important role over the past few decades. Compared with conventional sensors, fiber optic sensors have a variety of exclusive advantages, such as smaller size, higher precision, and better corrosion resistance. These innovative monitoring technologies have been successfully applied for performance monitoring of geo-structures and early warning of potential geo- hazards around the world. In order to investigate their ability to monitor slope stability problems, a medium-sized model of soil nailed slope has been constructed in laboratory. The fully distributed Brillouin optical time-domain analysis （BOTDA） sensing technology was employed to measure the horizontal strain distributions inside the model slope. During model construction, a specially designed strain sensing fiber was buried in the soil mass. Afterward, the surcharge loading was applied on the slope crest in stages using hydraulic jacks and a reaction frame. During testing, an NBX-6o5o BOTDA sensing interrogator was used to collect the fiber optic sensing data. The test results have been analyzed in detail, which shows that the fiber optic sensors can capture the progressive deformation and failure pattern of the model slope. The limit equilibrium analyses were also conducted to obtain the factors ofsafety of the slope under different surface loadings. It is found that the characteristic maximum strains can reflect the stability of the model slope and an empirical relationship was obtained, This study verified the effectiveness of the distributed BOTDA sensing technology in performance monitoring of slope.

A vector sum analysis method for stability evolution of expansive soil slope considering shear zone damage softening

Slope stability analysis is a classical mechanical problem in geotechnical engineering and engineering geology.It is of great significance to study the stability evolution of expansive soil slopes for engineering construction in expansive soil areas.Most of the existing studies evaluate the slope stability by analyzing the limit equilibrium state of the slope,and the analysis method for the stability evolution considering the damage softening of the shear zone is lacking.In this study,the large deformation shear mechanical behavior of expansive soil was investigated by ring shear test.The damage softening characteristic of expansive soil in the shear zone was analyzed,and a shear damage model reflecting the damage softening behavior of expansive soil was derived based on the damage theory.Finally,by skillfully combining the vector sum method and the shear damage model,an analysis method for the stability evolution of the expansive soil slope considering the shear zone damage softening was proposed.The results show that the shear zone subjected to large displacement shear deformation exhibits an obvious damage softening phenomenon.The damage variable equation based on the logistic function can be well used to describe the shear damage characteristics of expansive soil,and the proposed shear damage model is in good agreement with the ring shear test results.The vector sum method considering the damage softening behavior of the shear zone can be well applied to analyze the stability evolution characteristics of the expansive soil slope.The stability factor of the expansive soil slope decreases with the increase of shear displacement,showing an obvious progressive failure behavior.

Stability analysis of bank slope under conditions of reservoir impounding and rapid drawdown

Stability of an ancient landslide in a reservoir area is analyzed by using centrifugal model tests, soil laboratory tests and numerical analysis. Special attention is paid to variation in water level, simulation of large-scale heterogeneous prototype slope, and strength reduction of sliding zone soils after slope sliding. The results of centrifugal model test show that reservoir impounding can reduce sliding resistance at the slope toe, followed by toe collapsing and front cracking of slope. Rapid drawdown can produce hydrodynamic pressure towards reservoir at the front of slope. Deformation is observed in the middle and upper slope, which reduces the slope stability further and forms the pull-typed landslide trend. Reinforcement of slope toe is effective for preventing the progressive failure. The results of laboratory test show that slope toe sliding will lead to the redistribution of soil density and moisture content, which will reduce the shear strength of soil in sliding zone, and the cohesion of immersed soil is reduced gradually and finally vanishes with time. The numerical results show that the strength reduction method used in finite element method (FEM) is very effective in capturing the progressive failure induced by reservoir water level fluctuations, and the evolution of failure surface derived from numerical simulation is very similar to that observed in centrifugal model test.

Geomechanical model test for analysis of surrounding rock behaviours in composite strata

Due to the large differences in physico-mechanical pro perties of composite strata,jamming,head sinking and other serious consequences occur frequently during tunnel boring machine(TBM)excavation.To analyse the stability of surrounding rocks in composite strata under the disturbance of TBM excavation,a geomechanical model test was carried out based on the Lanzhou water supply project.The evolution patterns and distribution characteristics of the strain,stress,and tunnel deformation and fracturing were analysed.The results showed that during TBM excavation in the horizontal composite formations(with upper soft and lower hard layers and with upper hard and lower soft layers),a significant difference in response to the surrounding rocks can be observed.As the strength ratio of the surrounding rocks decreases,the ratio of the maximum strain of the hard rock mass to that of the relatively soft rock mass gradually decreases.The radial stress of the relatively soft rock mass is smaller than that of the hard rock mass in both types of composite strata,indicating that the weak rock mass in the composite formation results in the difference in the mechanical behaviours of the surrounding rocks.The displacement field of the surrounding rocks obtained by the digital speckle correlation method(DSCM)and the macro-fracture morphology after tunnel excavation visually reflected the deformation difference of the composite rock mass.Finally,some suggestions and measures were provided for TBM excavation in composite strata,such as advance geological forecasting and effective monitoring of weak rock masses.

Numerical Analysis and Centrifuge Modeling of Shallow Foundations

The influence of non-coaxial constitutive model on predictions of dense sand behavior is investigated in this paper. The non-coaxial model with strain softening plasticity is applied into finite-element program ABAQUS, which is first used to predict the stress-strain behavior and the non-coaxial characteristic between the orientations of the principal stress and principal plastic strain rate in simple shear tests. The model is also used to predict load settlement responses and bearing capacity factors of shallow foundations. A series of centrifuge tests for shallow foundations on saturated dense sand are performed under drained conditions and the test results are compared with the corresponding numerical results. Various footing dimensions, depths of embedment, and footing shapes are considered in these tests. In view of the load settlement relationships, the stiffness of the load-displacement curves is significantly affected by the non-coaxial model compared with those predicted by the coaxial model, and a lower value of non-coaxial modulus gives a softer response. Considering the soil behavior at failure, the coaxial model predictions of bearing capacity factors are more advanced than those of centrifuge test results and the non-coaxial model results;besides, the non-coaxial model gives better predictions. The non-coaxial model predictions are closer to those of the centrifuge results when a proper non-coaxial plastic modulus is chosen.

A new method for the stability analysis of geosynthetic-reinforced slopes

This paper is concerned with the stability analysis of reinforced slopes.A new approach based on the limit equilibrium principle is proposed to evaluate the stability of the reinforced slopes.The effect of reinforcement is modeled as an equivalent restoring force acting the bottom of the slice and added into the general limit equilibrium(GLE) method.The equations of force and moment equilibrium of the slice are derived and corresponding iterative solution methods are provided.The new method can satisfy both the force and the moment equilibrium and be applicable to the critical failure surface of arbitrary form.Furthermore,the results predicted by the proposed method are compared with the calculation examples of other researchers and the centrifuge model test results to validate its correctness and effectiveness.

Experimental study and numerical analysis on bearing behaviors of super-long rock-socketed bored pile groups

A centrifuge modeling test and a three-dimensional finite element analysis（FEA）of super-long rock-socketed bored pile groups of the Tianxingzhou Bridge are proposed.Based on the similarity theory,different prototypical materials are simulated using different indicators in the centrifuge model.The silver sand,the shaft and the pile cap are simulated according to the natural density,the compressive stiffness and the bending stiffness,respectively.The finite element method（FEM）is implemented and analyzed in ANSYS,in which the stress field during the undisturbed soil stage,the boring stage,the concrete-casting stage and the curing stage are discussed in detail.Comparisons in terms of load-settlement,shaft axial force distribution and lateral friction between the numerical results and the test data are carried out to investigate the bearing behaviors of super-long rock-socketed bored pile groups under loading and unloading conditions.Results show that there is a good agreement between the centrifuge modeling tests and the FEM.In addition,the load distribution at the pile top is complicated,which is related to the stiffness of the cap,the corresponding assumptions and the analysis method.The shaft axial force first increases slightly with depth then decreases sharply,and the rate of decrease in rock is greater than that in sand and soil.

Study on Floating Properties and Stability of Air Floated Structures

In this paper, the buoyancy, kinetic properties and stability of air floated structures have been studied by theoretical and experimental methods. The equations for calculation of the buoyancy of the air floated buoy are derived according to the Boyler law and the equilibrium equations of the air floated structure are established. Through simplification of the air floated structure as a single freedom rigid body and spring system, the natural period of heaving and some kinetic properties are discussed. In the stability analysis, the formulas for calculation of the meta centric height are presented. The theoretical results are in good agreement with the data observed from the model test and prototype test. The air buoyancy decrease coefficient presented in this paper has a large influence on the floating state, stability and dynamic properties of the air floated structure. The stability of the air floated structure can also be judged by the parameter of meta centric height, and calculations show that the air floated structure is less stable than the conventional float.

Accuracy of three-dimensional seismic ground response analysis in time domain using nonlinear numerical simulations

To provide appropriate uses of nonlinear ground response analysis for engineering practice, a three-dimensional soil column with a distributed mass system and a time domain numerical analysis were implemented on the Open Sees simulation platform. The standard mesh of a three-dimensional soil column was suggested to be satisfied with the specified maximum frequency. The layered soil column was divided into multiple sub-soils with a different viscous damping matrix according to the shear velocities as the soil properties were significantly different. It was necessary to use a combination of other one-dimensional or three-dimensional nonlinear seismic ground analysis programs to confirm the applicability of nonlinear seismic ground motion response analysis procedures in soft soil or for strong earthquakes. The accuracy of the three-dimensional soil column finite element method was verified by dynamic centrifuge model testing under different peak accelerations of the earthquake. As a result, nonlinear seismic ground motion response analysis procedures were improved in this study. The accuracy and efficiency of the three-dimensional seismic ground response analysis can be adapted to the requirements of engineering practice.

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.

Stability of long trench in soft soils by bentonite-water slurry

A series of centrifuge model tests exploring the effects of different types of slurry on long-trench stability in soft clay were conducted. The influence of groundwater conditions relative to trench stability was examined by constructing long trenches using different slurries. The soil deformation and surface settlement induced by the excavation of the trench are found to be closely related to slurry type and excavation depth of the long trench. Increasing the bentonite concentration of the slurry has beneficial effects on stability: 1) larger particles can improve local and global stability in cases where filter cakes do not form, and 2) larger viscosity can promote filter cake formation on the walls of long trenches excavated in soft clay and enhance their stability.

Characterizing model uncertainty of upper-bound limit analysis on slopes using 3D rotational failure mechanism

The slope stability assessment is a classical problem in geotechnical engineering.This topic have attracted many researcher’s attention and various theoretical models for predicting critical slope heights or safety factors in the light of the limit equilibrium(LE)method and the kinematical approach of limit analysis(LA)method.Meanwhile,a large number of experimental studies have been conducted to check the slope stability.Using centrifuge testing results,this paper aims to employ Bayesian method to characterize the model uncertainties of the classical three-dimensional rotational failure mechanism proposed by Michalowski and Drescher(2009)to predict critical slope heights in frictional soils,by incorporating the test uncertainties and parameter uncertainties.The obtained results show that the LA three-dimensional rotational failure mechanism overestimates the critical slope height compared with the LE method,and the experimental observational uncertainty has negligible influences on the posterior statistics of model uncertainty.

水位差法模拟波浪荷载作用下大直径圆筒稳定性离心模型试验研究

某人工岛护岸工程采用大直径圆筒结构,结构直径和高度尺寸较大,工程所处位置波浪条件恶劣。采用水位差法等效模拟波浪荷载,开展波浪荷载作用下大圆筒施工期稳定特性离心模型试验研究,结果表明,在25 a一遇波吸力荷载作用下,筒体位移模式近似平移,侧向位移量约353 mm,筒顶沉降约为187 mm,施工阶段钢圆筒整体稳定;筒壁环向拉应力均值约为90 MPa,处于钢圆筒材料允许应力范围内;筒壁海侧土压力值随水位差增大至峰值后趋于稳定,表明筒体与周围邻近土体之间没有新的相对位移趋势,大直径钢圆筒护岸结构在波浪荷载作用下是稳定安全的。

对冲式冲击试验机的设计及其动力特性的研究

为了对舰船内部电子设备进行高加速度冲击检测,提高冲击试验机的检测能力,对传统的冲击试验机进行了结构上的改进,提出了一种新型的对冲式冲击试验机,并对设计参数及其动力特性进行了研究。首先,介绍了对冲式冲击试验机的机械结构和控制原理,建立了设备的运动学模型,将试验动作划分成了四个过程(分别为蓄能、释放、碰撞与刹车阶段),并对各阶段进行了数学建模分析,确定了最大能量碰撞点;然后,建立了实体模型,使用ANSYS软件对其进行了计算机仿真,评估了结构稳定性,预测了其冲击加速度;最后,通过多次试验检测了动力特性,在不同位置下重复测试了该设备碰撞点位置与产生的冲击加速度大小,采集了加速度与位移信号,对信号进行了降噪滤波处理与微分计算,验证了设备性能的可靠性。研究结果表明:该试验机结构简单、操作容易,可重复试验;每次试验中碰撞点距理想位置分布数据散度在30 mm以内,数据稳定可靠,符合设计需求,控制方法合理;通过调节试验台与冲击台的释放位置可以改变冲击产生的加速度大小,在极限位置释放时最高能产生2 000 g左右的冲击加速度,满足各种元器件对耐冲击测试的试验要求。

大倾角断层不良地质下TBM隧道稳定性分析

依托滇中引水大理Ⅰ段香炉山隧洞工程,利用自主研制的微型TBM掘进综合试验系统,开展了TBM穿越断层不良地质工况室内模型试验及数值模拟,研究高地应力下断层对TBM隧道稳定性的影响,分析总结隧道围岩应力应变变化规律及隧道破坏现象,揭示断层不良地质卡机致灾机理。研究结果表明:利用微型TBM掘进综合试验平台成功实现了高地应力条件下TBM开挖大倾角断层工况相似模拟试验,隧道成型质量好。TBM掘进过程中隧道上部围岩首先产生裂缝,当TBM掘进至两种材料交接处时拱顶产生少许掉落,在TBM刀盘整体进入断层带后,拱顶产生大范围塌方,最终形成筒仓式塌落腔,隧道结构被破坏;受断层界面上方围岩滑动影响,原岩内(交界面下方)围岩压力整体呈现先增大后减小的趋势。TBM掘进时对掌子面前方围岩压力影响范围主要在0.43D~0.50D(D为洞径),围岩压力最大增大1.19倍。隧道拱顶上方内部围岩位移随TBM掘进具有4个明显的变化阶段。上部围岩越靠近隧道轮廓线变形越大,TBM穿越断层交界面时围岩变形速率最大,对围岩内部位移影响范围主要在掌子面前方1.21D和上方1.50D以内,断层影响范围约在1.73H(H为断层交界面水平投影长度)以内。这主要是由于断层交界面上方松散围岩滑移松动,同时它极易导致TBM卡机,因此施工宜先对断层交界面处进行超前处理,降低TBM施工风险。

基于离心模型试验的水下保护沉箱沉降规律研究

水下保护沉箱可以有效防护水下生产系统免受船锚和渔网拖曳、海底滑坡冲击以及冰山撞击等风险,但沉箱一旦发生超出允许变形量的沉降,将会引起沉箱内采油树失稳,管汇及沉箱跨接管、海管、脐带缆等发生断裂,进而酿成油气泄露等重大工程事故。通过开展离心模型试验研究了水下保护沉箱基础在基坑开挖安装就位和自重固结过程中的沉降规律,并采用Weibull曲线模型拟合出最终沉降量的预测公式。离心模型试验预测的最终沉降量与数值模拟、规范理论计算结果的对比,发现三种方法的预测沉降量较为接近。通过分析离心模型试验结果可知:基坑开挖完成后,基坑底部出现较为明显的回弹变形;在沉箱基础安装后的固结过程中,基础底部土体的回弹量有所减小,但回弹变形依旧存在。

Evaluation of seismic behavior of box culvert buried in the ground through centrifuge model tests and numerical analysis

Japan has yet to establish a seismic design for road box culverts(RBCs)because past major earthquakes did not damage them.In recent years,structures with enlarged sectional dimensions(the purpose of which is to optimize the internal space in RBCs)have become common.However,the unknown seismic strength of such large RBCs makes RBC seismic designs increasingly necessary.Several seismic design methods have been developed for and applied to rectangular underground structures,e.g.,cut-and-cover tunnels,which are structurally similar to RBCs.Although these methods are applicable to RBCs,it is uncertain whether they can be applied directly because there are currently no evaluation results from model tests on RBCs,which have unique structural features,e.g.,no haunch at the bottom of the sidewalls.Therefore,we verify a seismic behavior of an RBC and develop a method for evaluating it in order to establish a seismic design for RBCs.We conducted centrifuge model tests subjected to seismic force and a numerical analysis using an elastoplastic finite analysis method,in addition,we validated this analysis by comparing the test and analytical results.The test results show RBCs will most likely develop rocking rotation when the ground strain exceeds approximately 0.08%.A comparison of the numerical and experimental results shows that this analysis can estimate the shear deformation behavior with approximately 90%accuracy in square cross-section cases.Meanwhile,this analysis has tendency to underestimate the axial forces in each case and to overestimate the bending moments of some members in the case of wide cross-sections.

浅海重力式海洋平台稳定性数值模拟与离心机试验研究

重力式海洋平台是集钻、采、贮、运等设施于一体的采油平台,广泛应用于近海边际油田中。在多重海洋荷载作用下,海洋平台处于复杂应力状态中,为满足结构安全运行的要求,需要分析确定平台结构和地基受力变形。依托旅大29-1边际油田开发项目,结合“863”项目“浅海重力式平台水下储油技术”所建议的平台设计方案,开展了数值模拟计算和离心模型试验,明确了浅海重力式平台结构变形规律、地基土体位移规律和破坏模式。研究表明:在环境荷载作用下平台整体结构产生较明显的侧向变形,甲板结构产生翘曲变形,地基表层土体竖向沉降量较大;平台没有设置裙板时,平台与地基之间以发生滑移变形为主,平台增加5 m长裙板时,平台与地基之间以绕底板的转动变形为主,同时上部平台结构均发生了倾斜。此结果可为重力式海洋平台的建造和结构优化提拱技术参考依据。

大直径钢圆筒结构稳定性离心模型试验研究

大直径钢圆筒结构是近年来兴起的一种新型水工结构形式,具有结构简单、施工速度快、结构受力条件好、造价低等优点,能够适应水深浪大的恶劣环境,在软土地区具有广阔的应用前景。在钢圆筒施工过程中,其在风浪荷载下的稳定性是工程关注的主要问题。以东海某码头工程钢圆筒护岸为研究对象,通过土工离心模型试验,研究钢圆筒结构的破坏模式和稳定性,并对位移、筒壁土压力、筒身应变等进行分析。结果表明:软土地基上钢圆筒结构在水平荷载作用下的失稳破坏模式主要表现为倾斜失稳,而不是整体平移;钢圆筒失稳破坏时的极限荷载约为其所受水平荷载的2倍;在水平荷载作用下,陆侧筒壁土压力逐渐升高,海侧筒壁土压力逐渐降低,陆侧筒壁土压力明显大于海侧;筒身应变随深度的增加而增大,钢圆筒底部的筒身应力明显大于上部。

微地震荷载作用下含断层破碎带边坡的稳定性分析

次数多、震级小的微地震作用对岩质边坡稳定性的影响是地质灾害防治中必须面对的问题,而断层破碎带又具有特殊的物理力学性质,直接影响着边坡的动力稳定。因此,研究微地震荷载作用下含断层破碎带的顺层岩质边坡的动力响应规律及稳定性具有重要意义。以某含断层破碎带的顺层岩质边坡为研究对象,开展振动台模型试验和离散元数值模拟,对微地震作用下边坡的动力响应规律,变形破坏特征和动力失稳特征进行了研究。研究结果表明:该边坡在微地震作用下的动力响应具有高程放大效应和趋表效应;GPA放大系数随振幅的增大而减小,随频率的增大而增大,同时高程越高,PGA放大系数随幅值和频率变化的幅度越大;微地震强度越大,边坡发生失稳破坏对应的微地震次数越少;边坡的稳定性系数随着微地震强度和微地震次数的增加逐渐减小;不同振动次数下,边坡稳定性系数与微地震强度之间符合线性衰减的关系;当微地震次数为4500次时,微地震强度对于边坡稳定性的影响最大。