Filtration performance of geotextile encasement to minimize the clogging of stone column during soil liquefaction

Stone columns, which are frequently employed to stabilize the liquefiable soil, are susceptible to accumulation of soil particles. The progressive accumulation of the soil particles causes clogging of the stone column which decreases its drainage capacity. The stone column can be encased with geotextile to sustain its long term drainage function. The encasement prevents the movement of the soil particles into the stone pores. In the present paper, a mathematical model is presented to assess the filtration performance of the geotextile encasement to prevent the clogging. The filtration capacity of the geotextile is related to its maximum pore size, porosity and soil characteristics. It is observed that the encased stone column dissipates the excess pore pressure at a faster rate compared to the stone column without encasement. The peak maximum excess pore water pressure (U_max) is not significantly affected due to selection of the opening size of the geotextiles for single earthquake. However, the opening size can significantly affect the peak U_max value for multiple earthquakes. Depending on the capture coefficient of the stone column, the clogging can be fully prevented for higher hydraulic gradient if geotextile with maximum opening size in between D₁₀ to D₅ is used as encasement.     

Effect of different initiators on temperature-sensitive monolithic columns and application in online enrichment of β-sitosterol

Three temperature-sensitive monolithic columns were prepared by atom transfer radical polymerization and oxidation–reduction method using the initiator systems of CCl₄/FeCl₂, BPO/DMA, and APS/TEMED, respectively. The three monoliths were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, nitrogen adsorption, and thermogravimetric analysis. The obtained monolithic columns were used as on-line solid phase extraction sorbent coupled with high-performance liquid chromatography for the enrichment of β-sitosterol. By comparing some influencing factors on the adsorption, the optimum temperature-sensitive monolithic column which was initiated by CCl₄/FeCl₂ was selected for enrichment of β-sitosterol from plant oil. The maximum adsorption capacity of the monolith for β-sitosterol was 10.0031 mg/g. The limit of detection and limit of quantitation were 0.039 and 0.13 mg/mL, respectively. The recovery was in the range of 90.21–98.26%. The results showed that the monolith had better selectivity for β-sitosterol and could be used for enrichment of β-sitosterol in food samples. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019 , 136, 47683.     

Predicting the settlement of geosynthetic-reinforced soil foundations using evolutionary artificial intelligence technique

In order to ensure safe and sustainable design of geosynthetic-reinforced soil foundation (GRSF), settlement prediction is a challenging task for practising civil/geotechnical engineers. In this paper, a new hybrid technique for predicting the settlement of GRSF has been proposed based on the combination of evolutionary algorithm, that is, grey-wolf optimisation (GWO) and artificial neural network (ANN), abbreviated as ANN-GWO model. For this purpose, the reliable pertinent data were generated through numerical simulations conducted on validated large-scale 3-D finite element model. The predictive power of the model was assessed using various well-established statistical indices, and also validated against several independent scientific studies as reported in literature. Furthermore, the sensitivity analysis was conducted to examine the robustness and reliability of the model. The results as obtained have indicated that the developed hybrid ANN-GWO model can estimate the maximum settlement of GRSF under service loads in a reliable and intelligent way, and thus, can be deployed as a predictive tool for the preliminary design of GRSF. Finally, the model was translated into functional relationship which can be executed without the need of any expensive computer-based program.     

Seismic behavior of geosynthetic-reinforced retaining walls backfilled with cohesive soil

This study investigates the seismic performance of geosynthetic-reinforced modular block retaining walls backfilled with cohesive, fine grained clay-sand soil mixture. Shaking table tests were performed for three ½ scaled (wall height 190 cm) and ¼ scaled model walls to investigate the effects of backfill type, the influence of reinforcement length and reinforcement stiffness effects. The El Centro and Kobe earthquake records of varying amplitudes were used as base acceleration. Displacement of the front wall, accelerations at different locations, strains on the reinforcements, and the visual observations of the facing and the backfill surface were used to evaluate the seismic performance of model walls. The model walls were subjected to rigorous shaking and the walls did not exhibit any stability problems or signs of impending failure. The maximum deformations observed on the models with cohesive backfill was less than half of the deformation of the sand model. The load transfers between the geogrid and cohesive soil was comparable to that of sand and hence the needed reinforcement length was similar as well. As a result; the model walls with cohesive backfills performed within acceptable limits under seismic loading conditions when compared with granular backfilled counterparts.     

Three-dimensional finite element analysis of geosynthetic-reinforced soil walls with turning corners

The paper presents in-depth three-dimensional finite element analyses investigating geosynthetic-reinforced soil walls with turning corners. Validation of the 3D numerical procedure was first performed via comparisons between the simulated and reported results of a benchmark physical modeling built at the Royal Military College of Canada. GRS walls with corners of 90°, 105°, 120°, 135°, 150°, and 180° were simulated adopting the National Concrete Masonry Association guidelines. The behaviors of the GRS walls with corners, including the lateral facing displacement, maximum reinforcement load, factor of safety, potential failure surface, vertical separation of facing blocks, and types of corners were carefully evaluated. Our comprehensive results show (i) minimum lateral displacement occurs at the corner; (ii) lower strength of reinforcements are required at the corner; (iii) higher corner angles lead to lower stability; (iv) potential failure surface forms earlier at the end walls; (v) deeper potential failure surfaces are found at the corners; (vi) larger numbers of vertical separations are found at walls with smaller corner angles. The paper highlighted the salient influence of the corners on the behaviors of GRS walls and indicated that a 3D analysis could reflect the required reinforcement length and the irregular formation of the potential failure surfaces.     

Large-scale load capacity tests on a geosynthetic encased column

Stone columns have been used to minimize the settlement of embankments on soft soils but their use in very soft soils can become challenging, partly because of the low confinement provided by the surrounding soil. Geosynthetic encased columns (GECs) have been successfully used to enhance to reduce settlements of embankments on soft soils. This paper describes an investigation on the performance of encased columns constructed on a very soft soil using different types of encasement (three woven geotextiles with different values of tensile stiffness) and different column fill materials (sand, gravel and recycled construction and demolition waste, RCDW). The results of load capacity tests conducted on large-scale models constructed to simulate the different types of GECs indicate that the displacement method adopted during column installation can lead to an enhanced shear strength in the smear zone that develops within the very soft soil. In addition, breakage of the column fill material was found to affect the load-settlement response of gravel and RCDW columns. Furthermore, the excess pore water pressure generated in the surrounding soil during installation, was found to remain limited to radial distances smaller than three times the GEC diameter.     

水平井配汽三维物理模拟实验

水平井注汽物理模拟实验是模拟油田实际注汽过程的有效手段，国内外学者针对水平井配汽效果开展了许多实验研究，但现阶段缺少水平井配汽结构影响配汽效果的相关研究。通过构建三维实验模型，设计注汽井配汽结构，开展了不同配汽结构下的三维注汽实验。实验结果表明，不同配汽结构对配汽效果影响较大，其中割缝管柱实验配汽效果最差，注汽井附近储层发生汽窜的时间较早；均匀开孔管柱和趾端附近射孔加密管柱实验储层发生汽窜的时间较晚，储层动用范围更广；进行趾端附近配汽实验时，随着配汽量增大，会造成蒸汽回流；当配汽孔沿水平井方向均匀分布时，虽然在注汽前期可以较为均匀地分配蒸汽，但随着注汽量增大，蒸汽会优先从水平井跟端分配，跟端配汽量始终最多；当调整注汽井前、后配汽孔分布密度时，可有效改变水平井前、后的配汽量，并优化配汽效果。模拟实验可以为油田注汽井配汽结构优化设计提供理论支撑，以达到有效提高配汽效果和均匀动用储层的目的。     

Co/Al金属在聚晶立方氮化硼中的作用及加工适用性

通过正交试验和切削试验相结合的方法,检测聚晶立方氮化硼(PCBN)烧结体的硬度和强度,分析并观察烧结体组元相互熔渗状况以及微观形貌,探索了Co/Al金属对PCBN烧结体的影响以及不同结合剂含量PCBN的加工适应性。试验结果表明:CBN含量和Co含量对PCBN的抗弯强度和硬度影响显著;在刀具材料的选择上,高PCBN浓度的刀具适合加工灰铸铁,低PCBN浓度的刀具适合加工淬硬钢;Co/Al金属能够通过高温高压在PCBN层和硬质合金基体之间进行相互熔渗,导致PCBN层在距硬质合金10~20μm处Co含量达到最大值;PCBN的失效为穿晶断裂方式。     

地铁列车-嵌入式轨道系统动力学性能研究I：理论建模、试验分析及验证

嵌入式轨道作为一种减振降噪轨道结构型式，通常是基于城市街道路面的低地板有轨电车系统设计的，而嵌入式轨道的连续支承特性及其减振降噪优点使其在地铁中具有较好的应用前景。嵌入式轨道在地铁中应用，将面临更高运行速度、更大轴重、更复杂线路条件等挑战，地铁列车-嵌入式轨道系统的动力学行为有待研究。建立地铁列车-嵌入式轨道系统的动力学模型，模型包括轨道系统模型、列车系统模型以及轮轨相互作用模型。其中，轨道子系统为嵌入式轨道系统，是建模和研究的重点。模型考虑了TIMOSHENKO钢轨模型、等效弹簧-阻尼单元支承的柔性轨道板模型、以及钢轨周围的填充材料模型，填充材料模型采用考虑质量的黏弹性弹簧-阻尼单元来模拟以考虑填充材料的惯性、弹性和阻尼特性。在我国首例运用于地铁的嵌入式轨道试验线开展了动力学性能试验研究，基于试验分析了动力学性能并通过试验验证了动力学模型的有效性，建立的分析模型和相关结论为嵌入式轨道结构在我国地铁的应用提供了理论基础和参考。