Three-Dimensional Discrete Element Method of Analysis of Clays

Particles of cohesive soils such as clays are platelike and very small in size (e.g., cuboids of dimensions 1.0?μm×1?μm×0.06?μm). There are not only mechanical interactions between two clay particles, but also physico–chemical interactions. Properties such as the stress–strain behavior and shear strength of such a material result from a complex microscopic interactions of particles and interparticle forces. Development of physically meaningful mathematical models requires a microlevel understanding of these interactions. These interactions are difficult to observe experimentally, owing primarily to the minute size of particles. Numerical simulation studies have been conducted in the past, but using two-dimensional idealizations of particles. In the present study, a three-dimensional discrete element method is developed and implemented into a computer program. The method is used to conduct one-dimensional compression of an assembly of particles, and the macroscopic and microscopic results are presented and discussed.     

用初参数法解多层地基的动力问题

本文应用Ｆｏｕｒｉｅｒ积分变换，求出平面多层地基动力问题的初参数解，这些公式简单明了，便于数值计算，不论弹性层数目多少，都不必求解联立方程。     

Determining Erodibility, Critical Shear Stress, and Allowable Discharge Estimates for Cohesive Channels: Case Study in the Powder River Basin of Wyoming

The continuous discharge of coalbed natural gas-produced (CBNG-produced) water within ephemeral, cohesive channels in the Powder River Basin (PRB) of Wyoming can result in significant erosion. A study was completed to investigate channel stability in an attempt to correlate cohesive soil properties to critical shear stress. An in situ jet device was used to determine critical shear stress (τc) and erodibility (kd); cohesive soil properties were determined following ASTM procedures for 25 reaches. The study sites were comprised of erodible to moderately resistant clays with τc ranging from 0.11?to?15.35?Pa and kd ranging from 0.27?to?2.38?cm3/N?s. A relationship between five cohesive soil characteristics and τc was developed and presented for use in deriving τc for similar sites. Allowable discharges for CBNG-produced water were also derived using τc and the tractive force method. An increase in the allowable discharge was found for channels in which vegetation was maintained. The information from this case study is critical to the development of a conservative methodology to establish allowable discharges while minimizing flow-induced instability.     

Analytical Solutions of Linear Finite-Strain One-Dimensional Consolidation

Numerical solutions of linear finite-strain one-dimensional consolidation of both initially unconsolidated and initially fully consolidated soil layers with both one-way and two-way drainage have been available for some time. However, no solutions of the limiting cases for initially unconsolidated soil have been available. Nor, except for the limiting cases corresponding to small-strain consolidation of initially fully consolidated layers, has the accuracy of these solutions and the solution charts based on them been evaluated. Analytical counterparts of the earlier numerical solutions and solution charts, analytical solutions of the limiting cases for initially unconsolidated soil, and analytical solutions of the small-strain Terzaghi equation expressed in material coordinates are presented in this paper. The analytical solutions clarify aspects of the numerical solutions, improve marginally the accuracy of the solution charts, and enable the latter to be easily replicated and extended. They may also be applied to the validation of numerical solutions of nonlinear finite-strain consolidation.     

Modified ultimate bearing capacity formula of strip footing on sandy soils considering strength non-linearity depending on stress level

Most of the contemporary ultimate bearing capacity (UBC) formulas assume a linear yield function in shear stress-normal stress space. However, experimental investigations have corroborated the non-linearity in the failure envelopes of sandy soils. This study focused on the assessment of the stress level effect on the UBC of surface strip footings ascribed to the soil unit weight (γ), footing size (B), and uniform surcharge load (q). The rigid plastic finite element method (RPFEM) was employed for the analysis. The analysis method was validated against the centrifuge test results from the published references in the case of various sandy soils with different relative densities. The RPFEM, using the mean confining stress dependence property of Toyoura sand, is utilized in non-linear finite element analysis of model sandy soil. The normalized ground failure domains in the case of the non-linear shear strength model are gleaned smaller than those in the case of the linear shear strength one. The numerical results are compared with the guidelines of the Architectural Institute of Japan (AIJ) and the Japan Road Association (JRA). The modification coefficients are ascertained for the frictional bearing capacity factor (N_γ) and surcharge bearing capacity factor (N_q), and a modified UBC formula is proposed. The performance of the proposed UBC formula is examined against the analysis results and various prevailing UBC guidelines.     

Radionuclide Contamination of Surface Waters, Sediments, and Soil Caused by Coal Mining Activities in the ruhr District (Germany)

Abstract.   The discharge of highly mineralised mine waters with enhanced ²²⁶Ra and ²²⁸Ra activity concentrations has affected creeks, rivers, sediments, soils, and plants along the Lippe River and its tributaries. ²²⁶Ra activity concentrations were elevated in all water samples receiving mine water, with activity concentrations gradually decreasing with increased distance from the colliery due to dilution and chemical precipitation of radium with barium. Increased concentrations of radium and radium decay products were also measured in sediments and flood-affected soils. The sediments show an enrichment of ²²⁶Ra up to a factor of 750, while the contaminated soils only reach a factor of 10. In aquatic plants, a 4-fold increase in ²²⁶Ra activity concentrations was measured downstream of the discharge points. The contamination of the river banks and adjacent floodplain with radium is responsible for enhanced gamma dose rates, which, along with the incorporation of soil by playing children, provide potential radiation exposure to the public.     

低应变检测中振源及桩土相互作用的影响分析

敲击-回波法是基桩完整性检测的有效方法,基于一维应力波理论,可以根据桩顶反射波质点振动速度响应曲线（包括走时、幅值及相位）来确定桩体波阻抗变化范围及程度。然而,在实际中,桩是柱体而非杆件,截面变形不均匀。通过点源激发的波分量及在桩顶侧面的反射波,分析了桩顶近场三维波动现象,并基于圆柱中纵向波对远场波进行分析。结果表明,在测点位置及激振频率满足一定的要求时,三维波动特性及纵向波频散特性可以削弱,桩的动测信号可近似用一维应力波理论来分析。在桩土相互作用下,桩体中应力波随传播衰减,分析了桩土剪切波速差异对应力波衰减影响规律,结果表明,应力波衰减不仅与桩土剪切波速比值有关,而且还与桩土剪切波速绝对值有关,桩体剪切波速越低、土体剪切波速越高,应力波衰减越快。     

排桩隔振的理论与应用

本文首次提出了地面连续和非连续屏障隔振的概念。指出非连续排桩屏障的散射效应决定隔振效果；而屏障的衍射效应决定其影响范围；同时对柔性屏障应避免其与人射波的“吻合效应”。通过理论与试验分析．证明圆形截面排极有较好的隔振效果。在工程上，突破了Woods等提出的桩径必须大于被屏蔽的波长的1／6结论（对于主要的地面波，桩径约需3～5m，这意味着在工程中无法实现），其屏蔽效果的主要影响因素是地基土的波长、屏障的深度和长度等。根据波的衍射理论和实测研究，在近场（主动隔振）屏障和远扬（被动隔振）屏障的设计深度方面，得出了与已有理论不同的结论。对屏障的面积率与波依的关系亦提出了定量计算公式，并应用于地面隔振工程设计。     

Investigation of unsaturated frozen soil behavior: Phase transformation state,post-peak strength,and dilatancy

In this study, a database of triaxial compressive tests on unsaturated frozen soils is compiled to investigate the mechanical behavior that has not been considered in previous studies. The results for the stress-strain volume changes are presented first. Then, the physical mechanisms that might control the deformation of unsaturated frozen soils, namely, volumetric compression and frictional sliding, are used to interpret the changes in volume and deviator stress during the tests. The relationship between the compression rate due to the mean stress and the dilation rate due to shearing determines the changes in sample volume and shear stress with an increasing axial strain. The test results indicate that confining pressure and temperature significantly affect the phase transformation state, the post-peak strength, and the maximum dilation ratio. A higher post-peak strength ratio is observed in tests performed at higher confining pressure or under a higher temperature. As the confining pressure is increased, the shear stress at the phase transformation state initially increases and then decreases or stabilizes. However, the maximum dilation ratio decreases considerably and tends to reach zero after a certain confining pressure is reached. Both the deviator stress at the phase transformation state and the maximum dilation ratio are higher under a lower temperature given constant confining pressure. Ice cementation and pressure melting are attributed to the specific features of frozen soils compared to those of unfrozen soils. This paper provides new insights into the mechanical behavior of frozen soils.     

A one-dimensional creep model for frozen soils taking temperature as an independent variable

In this paper, a one-dimensional creep model that takes temperature as an independent variable was proposed for frozen soils. A series of K₀ compression tests was conducted under different constant surcharge loads with stepped increases in temperature. An analysis of the test results indicated that the characteristics of creep strain, developing due to the stepped increases in temperature, matched well with the parallel lines postulate of the isotache model for unfrozen soils. The independent variable (stress) in the original model was replaced with a reciprocal of the temperature’s absolute value, and a novel model for directly describing the effect of the increase in temperature on the creep behavior of frozen soils was established. It was verified by the test results in this study and in previous research work that the tendency of the stepped development of creep strain, due to the stepped increases in temperature, can be reasonably captured by the model. Based on further analysis of the test results, a simplified parameter-obtaining method was recommended and its applicability was verified.