Force analysis of pile foundation in rock slope based on upper-bound theorem of limit

Based on the characteristic that the potential sliding surfaces of rock slope are commonly in the shape of either line or fold line,analysis thought of conventional pile foundation in the flat ground under complex load condition was applied and the upper-bound theorem of limit analysis was used to compute thrust of rock layers with all possible distribution shapes. The interaction of slope and pile was considered design load in terms of slope thrust,and the finite difference method was derived to calculate inner-force and displacement of bridge pile foundation in rock slope under complex load condition. The result of example shows that the distribution model of slope thrust has certain impact on displacement and inner-force of bridge pile foundation. The maximum displacement growth rate reaches 54% and the maximum moment and shear growth rates reach only 15% and 20%,respectively,but the trends of inner-force and displacement of bridge pile foundation are basically the same as those of the conventional pile foundation in the flat ground. When the piles bear the same level lateral thrust,the distribution shapes of slope thrust have different influence on inner-force of pile foundation,especially the rectangle distribution,and the triangle thrust has the smallest displacement and inner-force of pile foundation.

Combined influence of nonlinearity and dilation on slope stability evaluated by upper-bound limit analysis

The combined influence of nonlinearity and dilation on slope stability was evaluated using the upper-bound limit analysis theorem.The mechanism of slope collapse was analyzed by dividing it into arbitrary discrete soil blocks with the nonlinear Mohr–Coulomb failure criterion and nonassociated flow rule.The multipoint tangent(multi-tangent) technique was used to analyze the slope stability by linearizing the nonlinear failure criterion.A general expression for the slope safety factor was derived based on the virtual work principle and the strength reduction technique,and the global slope safety factor can be obtained by the optimization method of nonlinear sequential quadratic programming.The results show better agreement with previous research result when the nonlinear failure criterion reduces to a linear failure criterion or the non-associated flow rule reduces to an associated flow rule,which demonstrates the rationality of the presented method.Slope safety factors calculated by the multi-tangent inclined-slices technique were smaller than those obtained by the traditional single-tangent inclined-slices technique.The results show that the multi-tangent inclined-slices technique is a safe and effective method of slope stability limit analysis.The combined effect of nonlinearity and dilation on slope stability was analyzed,and the parameter analysis indicates that nonlinearity and dilation have significant influence on the result of slope stability analysis.

Upper-bound limit analysis based on the natural element method

The natural element method （NEM） is a newly- developed numerical method based on Voronoi diagram and Delaunay triangulation of scattered points, which adopts natural neighbour interpolation to construct trial functions in the framework of Galerkin method. Owing to its distinctive advantages, the NEM is used widely in many problems of computational mechanics. Utilizing the NEM, this paper deals with numerical limit analysis of structures made up of perfectly rigid-plastic material. According to kinematic the- orem of plastic limit analysis, a mathematical programming natural element formulation is established for determining the upper bound multiplier of plane problems, and a direct iteration algorithm is proposed accordingly to solve it. In this algorithm, the plastic incompressibility condition is handled by two different treatments, and the nonlinearity and nons- moothness of the goal function are overcome by distinguishing the rigid zones from the plastic zones at each iteration. The procedure implementation of iterative process is quite simple and effective because each iteration is equivalent to solving an associated elastic problem. The obtained limit load multiplier is proved to monotonically converge to the upper bound of true solution. Several benchmark examples are investigated to validate the significant performance of the NEM in the application field of limit analysis.

A Lower and Upper Bound Method for Complex System Reliability Evaluation

It is hard for the existing methods to obtain the expression of the system reliability for most of the practical complex systems with a large number of components and possible states.A new regression algorithm based on the lower and upper bounds is presented in this paper,which can obtain the system reliability analytically without concerning the structure of the complex system.The method has been applied to a real system and the reliability results are compared with those acquired by the classical method and the parametric method.The effectiveness and accuracy of the proposed method have been testified.

Upper Bound Solution of the Resisting Moment Bearing Capacity of A Composite Bucket Shallow Foundation of An Offshore Wind Turbine in Sand

Bearing the large moment that is generated by the wind load that acts on the upper structure of offshore wind turbines is an important feature of their foundations that is different from other offshore structures.A composite bucket shallow foundation(CBSF)has been proposed by Tianjin University to address the soft geological conditions in the offshore regions of China for wind turbines.The CBSF is a new type of foundation and is effective against large moments.The soil deformation test of a CBSF and the numerical simulation study under the same working conditions are carried out to determine the failure mechanism of a CBSF under moment loading.The resisting soil compression rateηm is defined as a new empirical parameter that indicates the ability of the soil inside the bucket to resist moment loading.The upper limit of the resisting moment bearing capacity of the bucket foundation is derived through the upper bound theorem of classical plasticity theory based on the failure mechanism.The calculation method is validated by tests of bucket models with different height-diameter ratios in sand under moment loading.

A new failure mechanism for deep cavity and upper bound solution of supporting pressure

The investigation of supporting pressure is of great significance to the design of underground structures.Based on the kinematical approach of limit analysis,an improved failure mechanism is proposed,and the supporting pressure is investigated for deep buried cavity.Three failure mechanisms are first introduced according to the existing failure mechanisms of geotechnical structures of limit analysis.A comparison with respect to the optimal failure mechanisms and the upper bound solutions provided among these three mechanisms are then conducted in an attempt to obtain the improved failure mechanism.The results provided by the improved failure mechanism are in good agreement with those by the existing method,the numerical solution and field monitoring,which demonstrates that the proposed failure mechanism is effective for the upper bound analysis of supporting pressure.

LOWER BOUND LIMIT ANALYSIS OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL ELASTOPLASTIC STRUCTURES BY BOUNDARY ELEMENT METHOD

Based on the lower bound theorem of limit analysis, a solution procedure for limit analysis of three_dimensional elastoplastic structures was established using conventional boundary element method (BEM). The elastic stress field for lower bound limit analysis was computed directly by three_dimensional boundary element method (3_D BEM). The self_equilibrium stress field was constructed by the linear combination of several self_equilibrium “basis vectors” which can be computed by elastic_plastic incremental iteration of 3_D BEM analysis. The lower bound limit analysis problem was finally reduced to a series of nonlinear programming sub_problems with relatively few optimal variables. The complex method was used to solve the nonlinear programming sub_problems. The numerical results show that the present solution procedure has good accuracy and high efficiency.

Upper bound limit analysis of roof collapse in shallow tunnels with arbitrary cross sections under condition of seepage force

The analytical solutions for predicting the exact shape of collapse mechanisms in shallow tunnels with arbitrary excavation profiles were obtained by virtue of the upper bound theorem of limit analysis and variation principle according to Hoek-Brown failure criterion. The seepage force was included in the upper bound limit analysis, and it was computed from the gradient of excess pore pressure distribution. The seepage was regarded as a work rate of external force. The numerical results of roof collapse in square and circular tunnels with different rock parameters were derived and discussed, which proves to be valid in comparison with the previous work. The influences of different parameters on the shape of collapsing blocks were also discussed.

Lower Bound Limit Analysis of Anisotropic Soils

Previous approaches can only tackle anisotropic problems with cohesion varying with direction.A novel linearization of the Mohr-Coulomb yield criterion associated with plane strain problem has been achieved by simulating the Mohr’s circle with orientation lines inσ-τspace,which allows for lower bound solution of soils with cohesion and friction coefficient varying with direction.The finite element lower limit analysis formulation using the modified anisotropic yield criterion is then developed.Several examples are given to illustrate the capability and effectiveness of the proposed numerical procedure for computing rigorous lower bounds for anisotropic soils.

Upper Bound Limit Analysis of Anisotropic Soils

In this paper,a novel discretization method inσ-τspace is developed to calculate the upper bound limit loads and failure modes of anisotropic Mohr-Coulomb materials.To achieve this objective,the Mohr-Coulomb yield criterion is linearized inσ-τspace,which allows for upper bound solution of soils whose cohesion and friction coefficient varying with direction.The finite element upper limit analysis formulation using the modified anisotropic yield criterion is then developed.Several examples are given to illustrate the capability and effectiveness of the proposed numerical procedure for computing rigorous upper bounds for anisotropic soils.

Gershgorin and Rayleigh Bounds on the Eigenvalues of the Finite-Element Global Matrices via Optimal Similarity Transformations

The large finite element global stiffness matrix is an algebraic, discreet, even-order, differential operator of zero row sums. Direct application of the, practically convenient, readily applied, Gershgorin’s eigenvalue bounding theorem to this matrix inherently fails to foresee its positive definiteness, predictably, and routinely failing to produce a nontrivial lower bound on the least eigenvalue of this, theoretically assured to be positive definite, matrix. Considered here are practical methods for producing an optimal similarity transformation for the finite-elements global stiffness matrix, following which non trivial, realistic, lower bounds on the least eigenvalue can be located, then further improved. The technique is restricted here to the common case of a global stiffness matrix having only non-positive off-diagonal entries. For such a matrix application of the Gershgorin bounding method may be carried out by a mere matrix vector multiplication.

Upper bound analysis of slope stability with nonlinear failure criterion based on strength reduction technique

Based on the upper bound limit analysis theorem and the shear strength reduction technique,the equation for expressing critical limit-equilibrium state was employed to define the safety factor of a given slope and its corresponding critical failure mechanism by means of the kinematical approach of limit analysis theory.The nonlinear shear strength parameters were treated as variable parameters and a kinematically admissible failure mechanism was considered for calculation schemes.The iterative optimization method was adopted to obtain the safety factors.Case study and comparative analysis show that solutions presented here agree with available predictions when nonlinear criterion reduces to linear criterion,and the validity of present method could be illuminated.From the numerical results,it can also be seen that nonlinear parameter m,slope foot gradient β,height of slope H,slope top gradient α and soil bulk density γ have significant effects on the safety factor of the slope.

Upper bound solution for supporting pressure acting on shallow tunnel based on modified tangential technique

Based on the nonlinear failure criterion and the upper bound theorem, the modified tangential technique method was proposed to derive the expression of supporting pressure acting on shallow tunnel. Instead of the same stress state, different normal stresses on element boundaries were used. In order to investigate the influence of different factors on supporting pressures, the failure mechanism was established. The solution of supporting pressure, with different parameters, was obtained by optimization theory. The corresponding failure mechanism and numerical results were presented. In comparison with the results using the single tangential technique method, it is found that the proposed method is effective, and the good agreement shows that the present solution of supporting pressure is reliable.

UPPER-BOUND APPROACH ANALYSIS OF DRIVING POWER OF WHEEL FOR CASTEX

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Upper bound solutions of stability factor of shallow tunnels in saturated soil based on strength reduction technique

Based on the upper bound theorem of limit analysis,the factor of safety for shallow tunnel in saturated soil is calculated in conjunction with the strength reduction technique.To analyze the influence of the pore pressure on the factor of safety for shallow tunnel,the power of pore pressure is regarded as a power of external force in the energy calculation.Using the rigid multiple-block failure mechanism,the objective function for the factor of safety is constructed and the optimal solutions are derived by employing the sequential quadratic programming.According to the results of optimization calculation,the factor of safety of shallow tunnel for different pore pressure coefficients and variational groundwater tables are obtained.The parameter analysis shows that the pore pressure coefficient and the location of the groundwater table have significant influence on the factor of safety for shallow tunnel.

Bounds on the overall properties of composites with ellipsoidal inclusions

A new model is put forward to bound the effective elastic moduli of composites with ellipsoidal inclusions. In the present paper, transition layer for each ellipsoidal inclusion is introduced to make the trial displacement field for the upper bound and the trial stress field for the lower bound satisfy the continuous interface conditions which are absolutely necessary for the application of variational principles. According to the principles of minimum potential energy and minimum complementary energy, the upper and lower bounds on the effective elastic moduli of composites with ellipsoidal inclusions are rigorously derived. The effects of the distribution and geometric parameters of ellipsoidal in- clusions on the bounds of the effective elastic moduli are an- alyzed in details. The present upper and lower bounds are still finite when the bulk and shear moduli of ellipsoidal inclusions tend to infinity and zero, respectively. It should be mentioned that the present method is simple and needs not calculate the complex integrals of multi-point correlation functions. Meanwhile, the present paper provides an entirely different way to bound the effective elastic moduli of composites with ellipsoidal inclusions, which can be developed to obtain a series of bounds by taking different trial displacement and stress fields.

ON THE RATES OF CONVERGENCE IN THE CENTRAL LIMIT THEOREM FOR TWO－PARAMETER MARTINGALE DIFFERENCES

In this paper we obtain the uniform bounds on the rate of convergence in the central limit theorem (CLT) for a class of two-parameter martingale difference sequences under certain conditions.

STUDY OF UPPER BOUND PROBLEM OF HEILBRONN TYPE

A set of n points in the plane determines a total C 2 n distances (some of them may be the same).Let r n be the ratio of the maximum distance to the minimum distance, and R n be the greatest lower bound for r n. By using the mathematical software Mathematica,the author gets the following results in this paper.R 12 ≤2.99496..., R 13 ≤cscπ10.

Modal parameter identification and damping ratio estimation from the full-scale measurements of a typical Tibetan wooden structure

Tibetan heritage buildings have a high historical and cultural value. They have endured adverse environmental loadings over hundreds of years without significant damage. However, there are few reports on their structural characteristics under normal environmental loadings and their behavior under dynamic loadings. In this research, a typical Tibetan wooden wall-frame building is selected to study its dynamic characteristics. Field measurements of the structure were conducted under environmental excitation to collect acceleration responses. The stochastic subspace identification （SSI） method was adopted to calculate the structural modal parameters and obtain the out-of-plane vibration characteristics of the slab and frames. The results indicated that the wall-frame structure had a lower out-of-plane stiffness and greater in-plane stiffness due to the presence of stone walls. Due to poor identified damping ratio estimates from the SSI method, a method based on the variance upper bound was proposed to complement the existing variance lower bound method for estimating the modal damping ratio to address the significant damping variability obtained from different points and measurements. The feasibility of the proposed method was illustrated with the measured data from the floor slab of the structure. The variance lower and upper bound methods both provided consistent results compared to those from the traditional SSI method.

Computing the lower and upper bounds of Laplace eigenvalue problem:by combining conforming and nonconforming finite element methods

We introduce some ways to compute the lower and upper bounds of the Laplace eigenvalue problem.By using the special nonconforming finite elements,i.e.,enriched Crouzeix-Raviart element and extended Q1ro t,we get the lower bound of the eigenvalue.Additionally,we use conforming finite elements to do the postprocessing to get the upper bound of the eigenvalue,which only needs to solve the corresponding source problems and a small eigenvalue problem if higher order postprocessing method is implemented.Thus,we can obtain the lower and upper bounds of the eigenvalues simultaneously by solving eigenvalue problem only once.Some numerical results are also presented to demonstrate our theoretical analysis.