Centrifuge model tests on pile-reinforced slopes subjected to drawdown

Piles are generally an effective way to reduce the risk of slope failure. However, previous approaches for slope stability analysis did not consider the effect of the piles coupled with the decrease of the water level (drawdown). In this study, a series of centrifuge model tests was performed to understand the deformation and failure characteristics of slopes reinforced with various pile layouts. In the centrifuge model tests, the pile-reinforced slopes exhibited two typical failure modes under drawdown conditions: across-pile failure and through-pile failure. In the through-pile slope failure, a discontinuous slip surface was observed, implying that the assumption of the slip surface in previous stability analysis methods was unreasonable. The test results showed that drawdown led to instability of the piles in cohesive soil, as the saturated cohesive soil failed to provide sufficient constraint for piles. The slope exhibited progressive failure, from top to bottom, during drawdown. The deformation of the piles was reduced by increasing the embedment depth and row number of piles. In addition, the deformation of soils outside the piles was influenced by the piles and showed a similar distribution shape as the piles, and the similarity degree weakened as the distance from the piles increased. This study also found that the failure mechanism of unreinforced and pile-reinforced slopes induced by drawdown could be described by coupling between the deformation localization and local failure, and it revealed that pile-reinforced slopes could reduce slope deformation localization during drawdown.     

Centrifuge modeling of geotextile-reinforced cohesive slopes

Geosynthetics are widely used to reinforce slopes due to their successful performance and economical efficiency. A series of centrifuge model tests was conducted in order to investigate the behavior of the geotextile-reinforced cohesive slopes and to compare their behavior to unreinforced slopes. The displacement history of the slopes was measured using an image analysis system. The failure process of an unreinforced slope can be categorized into three stages: (1) uniform deformation stage; (2) strain localization stage; and (3) post-failure stage. The geotextile has a significant effect on the deformation of the slope and increases the stability level while affecting the failure modes. On a reinforced slope, two surfaces can result from the distribution of the displacement difference between the unreinforced and the corresponding reinforced slopes; thus, the slope can be categorized into three zones. The front zone is characterized as a restricted region that is subjected to a backward tension via the geotextile while the middle zone is mainly subjected to a forward tension (like a support body). The back zone is unaffected by the geotextile. The reinforcement can take effect when its length is longer than the effective reinforcement length. The effective reinforcement length usually increases with increasing elevation and is significantly affected by the inclination of the slope.     

Centrifuge model tests of geotextile-reinforced soil embankments during an earthquake

The behavior of geotextile-reinforced embankments during an earthquake was investigated using centrifuge model tests, considering a variety of factors such as gradient of slope, water content of soil, geotextile spacing, and input shaking wave. The geotextile-reinforcement mechanism was revealed on the basis of the observations with comparison of the unreinforced embankment. The geotextile significantly decreases the deformation of the embankment and restricts sliding failure that occurs in the unreinforced embankment during an earthquake. The displacement exhibits an evidently irreversible accumulation with a fluctuation during the earthquake which is significantly dependent on the magnitude of input shaking. The peak strain of the geotextile exhibits a nearly triangular distribution in the vertical direction. The embankment can be divided into two zones, a restricting zone and restricted zone, where the soil and geotextile, respectively, play an active restriction role in the soil-geotextile interaction. The soil restricts the geotextile in the restricting zone, and this restriction is transferred to the restricted zone through the geotextile. The strain magnitude of the geotextile and the horizontal displacement of the geotextile-reinforced embankment decrease with increasing geotextile layers, with decreasing water content of the soil, with decreasing gradient of the slope, and with decreasing amplitude of the earthquake wave.     

Centrifuge model study on low permeable slope reinforced by hybrid geosynthetics

The objective of this paper is to study the performance of hybrid geosynthetic reinforced slopes, with permeable geosynthetic as one of its components, for low permeable backfill slopes subjected to seepage. Four centrifuge tests have been performed to study the behavior of hybrid geosynthetic reinforced slopes subjected to seepage, keeping the model slope height and vertical spacing of geosynthetic reinforcement layers constant. Centrifuge model tests were performed on 2V:1H slopes at 30 gravities. One unreinforced, one model geogrid reinforced and two hybrid geosynthetic reinforced slope models with varying number of hybrid geosynthetic layers were tested. The effect of raising ground water table was simulated by using a seepage flow simulator during the flight. Surface movements and pore water pressure profiles for the slope models were monitored using displacement transducers and pore pressure transducers during centrifuge tests. Markers glued on to geosynthetic layers were digitized to arrive at displacement vectors at the onset of raising ground water table. Further, strain distribution along the geosynthetic reinforcement layers and reinforcement peak strain distribution have been determined using digital image analysis technique. The discharge for the performed model tests is determined by performing seepage analysis. It was confirmed by the centrifuge tests that the hybrid geosynthetics increases the stability of low permeable slope subjected to water table rise. The hybrid geosynthetic layers in the bottom half of the slope height play a major role in the dissipation of pore water pressure.     

The efficacy and use of small centrifuge for evaluating geotextile tube dewatering performance

Geotextile tube dewatering technology has been widely used over the past two decades for dewatering high water content slurries. The dewatering process in geotextile tubes aims to decrease the volume of the dewatered slurry, which helps in the transportation, disposal, and reuse of the dewatered material. Several researchers have emphasized the effect of the retained sediment (filter cake) properties, in particular final solids content and volume (height) change, on the feasibility of geotextile tube dewatering projects. Retained sediment properties are often evaluated using small scale tests such as rapid dewatering test, falling head test, pressure filtration test (PFT), and field scale tests such as hanging bag test (HBT) and geotextile tube demonstrations test (GDT). In this study, centrifuge test is introduced as an alternative for the widely used pressure filtration and falling head tests to evaluate retained sediments properties. Centrifuge test provides a mechanism for understanding the response of slurries to externally applied pressure in geotextile tube environment. Centrifuge test was used to evaluate maximal solids content of the retained sediments and change in slurry volume of four soils that represent typical dredged soils. Tully sand, Tully fines, Elliott silt loam, and kaolin slurries were used at varying solids concentrations. Slurries were subjected to external stresses between 0.1 and 40 kPa by applying centrifugal speeds between 300 rotation per minute (rpm) and 1800 rpm. Both centrifuge test and PFT were conducted with unconditioned and cationic polyacrylamide conditioned slurries. Centrifuge tests results were compared with PFT results with respect to retained sediments final solids content and volume change. Tests results indicated that the maximal solids concentration of the retained sediments in saturated conditions is unique for each soil and is independent of the initial slurry solids concentration. Tests results also indicated that there is linear relationship between the initial concentration of the slurry and the final volume change at any externally applied stress. Finally, a relationship between the total pumped slurry volume and the final height of the dewatered sediments in a geotextile tube is presented.     

CFD-DEM modeling of geotextile clogging in tunnel drainage systems

In this study, a coupled Computational Fluid Dynamics-Discrete Element Method (CFD-DEM) method we used to investigate the hydraulic deterioration of a geotextile due to clogging in tunnel drainage systems. Initially, a framework was developed to generate and test a numerical representation of a typical non-woven geotextile. Following model validation, we carried out parametric analysis to examine the effect of fine content, crack angle, and groundwater inflow. The results showed a general trend of pressure increase associated with increasing both the crack angle and fine content. This increase was found to decay at larger crack angles and high content of fines. Interestingly, increasing groundwater inflow was found to had minimal effect on the final deposition of the clogging particles. Finally, an approximate semi-analytical model was developed to describe the pressure increase due to clogging. The model was able to provide a good match with the data obtained from the numerical analysis.     

Centrifuge modeling of geotextile-reinforced slopes subjected to differential settlements

Today, geosynthetic-reinforced soil structures are widely used to support bridge abutments and approach roads in place of traditional pile supports and techniques. In such situations, foundation conditions have been shown to adversely affect the stability and deformation behaviour of overlying geosynthetic-reinforced slopes and walls. This paper addresses the response of geotextile-reinforced slopes subjected to differential settlements in a geotechnical centrifuge. Centrifuge model tests were carried out on model geotextile-reinforced sand slopes with two different types of reinforcement. A wrap-around technique was used to represent a flexible facing. In order to initiate failure in the reinforcement layers, the ratio of length of reinforcement to height of the slope was maintained as 0.85. One of the objectives of this paper is to present about a special device developed for inducing differential settlements during centrifuge test at 40g for a reinforced soil structure. A digital image analysis technique was employed to arrive at displacement vectors of markers glued to the reinforcement layers. The displacements were used to compute and analyze the strain distribution along the reinforcement layers during different settlement stages. Results of the centrifuge test indicate that even after inducing a differential settlement equivalent to 1.0 m in prototype dimensions, the geotextile-reinforced soil structure with a flexible facing was not found to experience a collapse failure. Analysis of geotextile strain results shows that the location of the maximum peak reinforcement strain occurs along the bottom-most reinforcement layer at the onset of differential settlements, at the point directly below the crest of the slope.     

Centrifuge model studies on the performance of soil walls reinforced with sand-cushioned geogrid layers

This paper is to investigate the effectiveness of encapsulating geogrid layers within thin sand layers, for enhancing the deformation behavior of vertical reinforced soil walls constructed with marginal backfills. Centrifuge model tests were performed on vertical soil walls, reinforced with geogrid layers, using a 4.5 m radius large beam centrifuge available at IIT Bombay at 40 gravities. The backfill conditions, height of soil wall, reinforcement length, and reinforcement spacing, were kept constant in all the tests. A wrap-around technique was used to represent flexible facing. Three different geogrid types with varying stiffness were used in the present study. The walls were instrumented with vertical linear variable differential transformers to monitor surface settlements during the tests. Marker-based digital image analysis technique was used to determine face movements and distribution of geogrid strain along the wall height. The deformation behavior of soil walls, reinforced with geogrid layers encapsulated in thin layers of sand, were compared against a base model having no sand-cushioned geogrid layers. Provision of sand-cushioned geogrid layers and increase in geogrid stiffness were found to limit normalized face movements (S_f/H), normalized crest settlements (S_c/H), and change in maximum peak reinforcement strain (dε_pmax). Sand-cushioned geogrid layers were also found to limit the development of tension cracks behind and within the reinforced zone. Significant reduction in rate of maximum face movement (dS_fmax/dt) and rate of maximum peak reinforcement strain (dε_pmax/dt) was observed, with an increase in value of normalized reinforcement stiffness (J_g/γH²) of geogrid layers. The analysis and interpretation of centrifuge model tests on soil walls, constructed with marginal backfills and reinforced with sand-cushioned geogrid layers, indicate that their performance is superior to the walls without sand-cushioned geogrid layers.     

Dynamic shear behaviors of textured geomembrane/nonwoven geotextile interface under cyclic loading

Textured geomembrane (GMB) and nonwoven geotextile (GTX) are usually used together in liner systems of MSW landfills, but the low shear strength of GMB/GTX interface is extremely detrimental to the stability of landfills, especially under earthquake loading. To study the dynamic shear strength of the GMB/GTX interface, a series of displacement-controlled cyclic direct shear tests are conducted with a large-scale direct shear machine. Normal stress levels ranging from 100 to 1000 kPa and displacement amplitudes ranging from 5 to 25 mm are considered. To compare the failure mechanism, GMB and GTX specimens are tested in not only hydrated but also dry conditions. Different waveforms and excitation frequencies are also applied to analyze the effects of test conditions. It can be seen that the shear deformation develops totally along the GMB/GTX interface when specimens are fully hydrated, while the internal failure of GTX is induced in dry condition. Equivalent linear analyses reveal that the shear stiffness depends on normal stress and displacement amplitude, while the damping ratio is only affected by displacement amplitude. Variations of shear strength during the shear process indicate that the softening behavior of the GMB/GTX interface is closely related to cumulative displacement and normal stress level. Furthermore, based on test results, a positive correlation is summarized between the shear strength and displacement rate of the interface.     

Centrifuge model test study on micro-pile reinforcement of shallow foundation

Micro-piles are an effective reinforcement measure for existing foundations in practice. A series of centrifuge model tests were conducted on different combinations of shallow foundation and micro-piles to investigate the reinforcement effect of micro-piles. The interaction mechanisms between the shallow foundation and micro-piles were analyzed on the basis of full-field image-based measurements of soil displacement. The micro-piles were proven to provide an effective reinforcement on the shallow foundation by decreasing the settlement, increasing the bearing capacity and making the soil deformation more uniform. The loading induces soil deformation within an area that expands gradually with a similar boundary shape and is widened by the micro-piles. The shallow foundation and micro-piles exhibit a significant nonlinear coupling effect on the bearing ability due to their interaction through the soil with the mechanism summarized with the strengthening effect and weakening effect. The micro-piles have a strengthening effect on the shallow foundation to increase the bearing resistance by constraining the horizontal deformation of the neighboring soil. The shallow foundation has a weakening effect on the micro-piles to decrease the bearing resistance by reducing the pile-soil relative displacement. The weakening effect and strengthening effect play the dominant role in turn as the total resistance increases.     

Centrifuge modeling of geosynthetic-encased stone column-supported embankment over soft clay

Geosynthetic-encased stone column (GESC) has been proven as an effective alternative to reinforcing soft soils. In this paper, a series of centrifuge model tests were conducted to investigate the performance of GESC-supported embankment over soft clay by varying the stiffness of encasement material. The enhancement in the performance of stone columns encased with geosynthetic materials was quantified by comparing the test with ordinary stone columns (OSCs) under identical test conditions. The test results reveal that by encasing stone columns with geosynthetic material, a significant reduction in the ground settlement, relatively faster dissipation of excess pore pressure and enhanced stress concentration ratio was noticed. Moreover, with the increase in the encasement stiffness from 450 kN/m to 3300 kN/m, the stress concentration ratio increased from 4 to 6.5, which signifies the importance of encasement stiffness. In addition, a relatively lower value of soil arching ratio observed for GESCs compared to OSCs indicate the formation of a relatively strong soil arch in the GESC-supported embankment. Interestingly, under embankment loading, GESCs fail by bending while OSCs fail by bulging. The stress reduction method can be used to calculate the settlement of GESC-supported embankment with larger stress reduction factor than that in the OSC-supported embankment. Finally, the limitation of the construction of the embankment at 1 g was addressed.     

Shaking table tests on gravel slopes reinforced by concrete canvas

The behaviour and performance of different reinforced slopes during earthquake loading were investigated through a series of shaking table tests. Concrete-canvas and composite reinforcement (geogrid attached to concrete-canvas) were proposed for reinforcing slopes. By considering the effects of different reinforcement methods, the seismic responses of the reinforced slopes were analysed, along with the accelerations, crest settlements, and lateral displacements. The failure patterns of different model slopes were compared using white coral sand marks placed at designated elevations to monitor the internal slide of the reinforced slopes. Both the concrete-canvas and composite reinforcement could increase the safety distance, which ranged from the slide-out point to the back of the model box. The composite reinforcement decreased the volume of the landslide and increased the failure surface angle as a result of the larger global stiffness in the reinforced zone. These results indicate that the recently developed concrete canvas has a better effect on restricting the slope deformation during seismic loading than the nonwoven geotextile reinforcement, and that the use of composite reinforcement could improve the seismic resistance of slopes.     

Modelling of hydraulic deterioration of geotextile filter in tunnel drainage system

The discharge capacity of a tunnel drainage system generally decreases with time because of the hydraulic deterioration of the geotextile filter. Hydraulic deterioration restricts groundwater flow into a tunnel and increases water pressure resulting in detrimental effects on the tunnel lining. Hydraulic deterioration of tunnel drainage system is unique in terms of clogging materials, deterioration mechanism, and flow conditions. Current studies and models investigating the clogging mechanism and hydraulic deterioration are not directly applicable to the geotextile filter of the tunnel drainage system. In this study, a theoretical model of the hydraulic deterioration of tunnel geotextile filter has been proposed considering the mechanical and hydraulic behavior of blinding, clogging and squeezing. A parametric study was carried out to evaluate the performance of the model. An experimental study has been conducted to investigate the clogging behavior of the tunnel drainage system and validate the theoretical model. Several types of clogging materials were selected: cement-leaching calcium oxide, calcium carbonate, iron oxide, and bentonite. Agglutinated clogging was mainly observed during the short-term testing. The findings suggest that the in-plane permeability of the geotextile filter decreased by approximately 90%. The proposed model corroborated the experimental results.     

水位下降条件下土坡破坏的离心模型试验研究

水位下降引起土坡破坏的规律机理对于发展稳定性分析方法具有重要意义。研制了离心模型试验中超重力场水位升降模拟设备,进行水位下降条件下黏性土坡变形破坏的离心模型试验。根据试验位移测量结果,基于变形与破坏过程集成分析的思路探讨了土坡破坏机理。水位下降导致土坡发生由坡顶向坡脚的渐进性的错动破坏。水位下降条件下土坡的变形和破坏过程是耦合的。变形局部化发展是导致滑裂面出现的根本原因。滑裂面出现后滑动体内部仍发生显著的变形,并与滑裂面上的错动变形相耦合。     

A new constitutive model for textured geomembrane/geotextile interfaces

The paper presents a study of the frictional behaviour of geosynthetics used for municipal solid waste landfills. Direct shear tests of several geomembrane/geotextile interfaces were performed to investigate the shear behaviour. Furthermore, analytical and numerical models were developed to describe the observed behaviour, especially to simulate progressive geomembrane/geotextile interface failure and the factors controlling its significance.     

Centrifuge tests to investigate global performance of geosynthetic-reinforced pile-supported embankments with side slopes

Three centrifuge model tests were conducted to investigate the influence of the number of geosynthetic layers and the pile clear spacing on the global performance of Geosynthetic-Reinforced Pile-Supported (GRPS) embankments with side slopes constructed on soft soil foundations. This study found that the change of the geogrid number from one to two did not significantly affect the foundation settlement, the geogrid deflection, and the vertical stress at the embankment base. For the GRPS embankment with a single geogrid layer, the geogrid strain distribution at the embankment base showed an “M” shape along the transverse direction with the maximum strain near the embankment shoulder. When two geogrid layers with sand in between were used, the upper and lower layers showed different strain distributions with the maximum strains happening near the embankment shoulder and at the center of the embankment for the upper and lower layers respectively. The strains of the upper geogrid were smaller than those of the lower geogrid. Smaller pile clear spacing reduced the geogrid deflection and the foundation settlement. Despite the change of the pile clear spacing, the progressive development of soil arching with the normalized displacement at the embankment base followed a similar trend without an obvious stress recovery stage.     

Laboratory evaluation of the behavior of a geotextile reinforced clay

To evaluate the behavior of cohesive soil reinforced with a geotextile, 144 unconfined and 72 unconsolidated–undrained (UU) triaxial compression tests were conducted. The moisture content of soil during remolding, relative compaction, soil type, confining pressure, type and number of geotextile layers were all varied so that the behavior of the sample could be examined. The results provide evidence that as the moisture content increases, the peak strength of both the reinforced and unreinforced samples decreases and the axial strain at failure increases. Moreover, with increasing relative compaction the peak strength of the sample and axial strain at failure increases, whereas the peak strength ratio decreases. The peak strength ratio is the ratio of the peak strength of the reinforced samples to that of the unreinforced samples. For soils with low plasticity indices the main cause of the increase in the strength is the increase in the cohesion of the reinforced sample. However, in soils of higher plasticity index, as the number of geotextile layers increases, the internal friction angle of the reinforced samples increases.     

Centrifuge model tests on the deformation behavior of geosynthetic-encased stone column supported embankment under undrained condition

A series of centrifuge model tests were carried out to investigate the performance of geosynthetic-encased stone columns (GESCs) supported embankment under undrained condition. The influence of stiffness of encasement, basal reinforcement and embankment loading on the deformation behavior of GESCs were also assessed. The centrifuge test results reveal that under undrained condition, compared to ordinary stone column (OSC) supported embankment, the settlement of column has reduced by 50% and 34% when columns were encased with high and low stiffness geogrids respectively. Moreover, under identical embankment loading condition, the stress concentration ratio has increased significantly upon inclusion of basal reinforcement in the GESCs supported embankment. In case of OSCs supported embankment, columns experiences bulging in the top portion, inward bending in the central portion and a noticeable shear at the bottom portion. However, when columns were encased with geogrid layer, bulging in the top portion was significantly reduced but the inward bending of columns were noticed. With the inclusion of basal reinforcement, bending curvature of columns increases thereby inducing higher settlement in columns and relatively lesser settlement in surrounding soil. The differential settlement between the encased column and the surrounding soil under embankment loading has been considerably reduced with the inclusion of basal reinforcement.     

Influence of geotextile arrangement on seismic performance of mid-rise buildings subjected to MCE shaking

Geotextile layers make it possible to construct mid-rise buildings sitting on shallow foundations in unfavourable soil conditions; this study investigates how the arrangement of geotextiles affects the seismic performance of mid-rise buildings under Maximum Considered Earthquake (MCE) shaking. The geotextile arrangement considered here includes the stiffness (5000?kN/m – 12000?kN/m), the length with respect to width of the foundation (B) (1B – 4B), the number of geotextile layers (1 – 7 layers), and their spacing (250?mm – 1000?mm). FLAC3D is used for the numerical simulation and to carry out nonlinear dynamic analysis in the time domain, and an inelastic constitutive model is used to simulate the behaviour of the structure and the geotextile layers under seismic loads. Variations in the shear modulus of soil and the corresponding damping ratio with cyclic shear strain are considered using a hysteretic damping algorithm to model the reasonable dissipation of energy in the soil. The interface between the foundation and ground surface, including the material and geometrical nonlinearities, are used to capture any possible slide and uplift in the foundations. The results are presented with regard to the geotextile arrangement considered, and include the tensile force mobilised in the geotextile layers, the response spectra at the bedrock and ground surface, the shear force developed in the structure, the maximum rocking angle of the foundation, permanent foundation settlement, maximum lateral displacement and the maximum and residual inter-storey drifts. The results show that the geotextile layers close to the edges of the foundation sustained most of the stress induced by foundation rocking, and the geotextile arrangement has a significant influence on the seismic response of mid-rise buildings. Thus, to satisfy the seismic performance of buildings and to optimise the design of foundations reinforced with geotextiles, the stiffness, length, number and spacing of the geotextile layers should be designed with great care.     

A major failure involving an exposed geotextile to contain dredged spoil

The development of facility for the export of LNG from coal seam gas required a major dredging program which, due to the proximity of the Great Barrier Reef, was subject to strict environmental conditions. Most of the dredged spoil was required to be disposed of into a purpose-built bunded disposal area, constructed over existing seabed shallows. The as constructed rock fill embankment unintentionally allowed significant leakage of dredged spoil through and along much of its perimeter, compromising the disposal area's effectiveness in meeting water quality requirements. The loss of the dredged material through the embankment was primarily attributed to the geotextile component of the wall not performing as anticipated by the design and construct alliance. The design and construction factors that lead to the failure are discussed. Guidance is provided so as to avoid similar designs from being implemented in the future.