Centrifuge modeling of hybrid foundation to mitigate liquefaction-induced effects on shallow foundation resting on liquefiable ground

A hybrid foundation is developed in this study to mitigate the liquefaction-induced effects on shallow foundations. The proposed hybrid foundation is a combination of a gravel drainage system and friction steel piles with spiral blades, framed under the footing. The motivation behind having a gravel drainage system, as an integral part of the hybrid foundation, is its ability to improve the liquefaction resistance of the ground in the most economical way. However, case histories and the development of recent research have highlighted that gravel drainage systems have exhibited poor performances and could not prevent ground liquefaction during strong ground motion. To counteract these shortcomings, friction steel piles are provided which are supposed to yield frictional resistance during earthquakes and are presumed to minimize the rocking/tilting behavior of the foundation-structure system even if the ground undergoes liquefaction. The evolution of excess pore water pressure, specifically in the vicinity of the foundation-structure system, dominatingly influences the settlement mechanism of shallow foundations. Centrifuge test results show that the presence of gravel drainage can minimize the post-liquefaction settlement of shallow foundations through the rapid dissipation of excess pore water pressure. Moreover, friction piles are able to minimize the tilting/differential settlement of shallow foundations. It is found that the proposed hybrid foundation provides the desired function of reducing the overall liquefaction-induced effects on shallow foundations resting on liquefiable grounds.     

Modeling the stress versus settlement behavior of shallow foundations in unsaturated cohesive soils extending the modified total stress approach

The mechanical behavior of unsaturated soils can be interpreted using either modified total stress or a modified effective stress approach depending on the type of soils and various scenarios of drainage conditions of pore-water and pore-air. Recent studies suggest that the bearing capacity of unsaturated cohesive soils can be more reliably estimated using the modified total stress approach (MTSA) rather than the modified effective stress approach (MESA). In the present study, a modeling technique (extending Finite Element Analysis, FEA) is proposed to estimate the bearing capacity of shallow foundations in unsaturated cohesive soils by simulating the vertical stress versus surface settlement behaviors of shallow foundations extending the MTSA. The proposed technique is verified with the model footing test results in unsaturated cohesive soils. Commercial finite element software, SIGMA/W (GeoStudio 2012, Geo-Slope Int. Ltd.) is used for this study. Details of estimating the unsaturated soil parameters (i.e. total cohesion, modulus of elasticity and Poisson’s ratio) required for the FEA are also presented taking account of the influence of matric suction. Good agreements were observed between the measured bearing capacity values and those from the FEA extending the MTSA.     

Most impacting conventional design parameters on the seismic permanent displacement of shallow foundations

Japan's previous large earthquakes have caused minimal harmful damage to shallow foundations for highway bridges. Conventional earthquake designs have ensured stability within the conventional safety standards effective against small-to mid-scale seismic forces. Although such conventional stability checks are empirically thought to provide a sufficient margin of safety for highway bridge foundations, and even against larger earthquakes, this perception has not yet been thoroughly justified. CAESAR, at PWRI, has recently developed a new macro-element capable of expressing the seismic behavior of shallow foundations with reasonable accuracy. Accordingly, this paper presents a parametric study confirming the importance of conventional design criteria and computing the differences in the seismic permanent displacement of pier-shallow foundation systems by differentiating the values of safety factors incorporated in the conventional design criteria. Within the several conventional design parameters reviewed, this study finds that checks using the pseudo-static bearing capacity may not be as important as commonly assumed.     

基于e-p压缩曲线和p-s载荷沉降曲线的

以侧限压缩试验为基础的分层总和法在计算小尺寸基础沉降时存在较大误差,而以载荷板试验为基础的地基沉降算法不能够反映大尺寸基础的变形特性。依据e-p压缩曲线的分层总和法在计算大面积荷载下地基沉降时有一定的理论和试验基础,是相同基底压力的实际基础沉降的上限;而p-s沉降曲线能够反映小尺寸基础的变形特性,是相同基底压力的实际基础沉降的下限。以上述理论为基础,提出了地基沉降的内插算法,把确定压缩模量的问题转化为寻找内插函数的问题。该算法可以把传统算法产生的绝对误差降低为在一定区间内的相对误差,提高了地基沉降的计算精度。进而,提出了采用二组不同尺寸载荷板试验成果预测基础沉降的方法,通过在同一地基上的四组载荷板试验验证了该方法的合理性。推导了一个圆形基础的内插函数,给出了采用内插法计算基础沉降的具体过程。分析表明：随着基础尺寸的变大,地基沉降曲线逐渐由凹型过渡到凸型。该方法综合了侧限压缩试验和载荷板试验成果,可以反映不同尺寸基础的沉降特性。该方法理论和试验基础明确,计算过程简单方便,适合在工程实践中推广。     

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.     

河床冲刷深度变化对大型桩基桥梁地震反应的影响

以一座超大跨度斜拉桥为工程背景,采用解析解和有限元模拟计算相结合的方法,对河床冲刷深度变化对大型桩基桥梁地震反应的影响进行初步探索性研究。建立两质点单墩模型,推导地震反应计算公式,用解析法计算桥墩及其基础的地震反应随河床冲刷深度变化的情况,分析高桩承台基础与桥墩的动力相互作用规律,结果表明,由于承台大质量的存在,桥墩的地震反应会表现出显著的共振效应,当桥墩和基础的自振周期相近时,会出现一个峰值。进一步地,建立斜拉桥的全桥有限元模型,计算边墩、主塔及其基础的地震反应随河床冲刷深度变化的情况,验证了解析法得出的影响规律:河床冲刷深度变化对大型桩基桥梁的地震反应有很大的影响,随着冲刷深度的增加,桥梁结构的地震反应并不是单调减小,而可能出现一个峰值。     

Modeling of the cyclic behavior of shallow foundations resting on geomesh and grid-anchor reinforced sand

Storage tank foundations with frequent discharges and filling or road embankments under repeated traffic loads are examples of foundations subjected to the cyclic loading with the amplitude well below their allowable bearing capacity. The concern exists for the amount of uniform and non-uniform settlement of such structures. The soil under such foundations may be reinforced with geosynthetics to improve their engineering properties.This paper deals with the effects of using the new generation of reinforcement, grid-anchor, for the purpose of reducing the permanent settlement of these foundations under the influence of proportion of the ultimate load. Unloading-reloading field tests were performed to investigate the behavior of a square footing on the sand reinforced with this system under such loads. The effects of footing size and reinforcement types on the cyclic behavior of the reinforced sand were studied experimentally and numerically by the aid of computer code. The large-scale results show that by using the grid-anchors, the amount of permanent settlement decreases to 30%, as compared with the unreinforced condition. Furthermore, the number of loading cycles reaching the constant dimensionless settlement value decreases to 31%, compared with the unreinforced condition. Another goal of this paper is to present the equations for reinforced soil under cyclic loading to prevent such complicated calculation involved in deformation analysis. According to these equations, calculation of the permanent settlement and the number of load cycles to reach this amount for each foundation with a given size on the geomesh and grid-anchor reinforced sand, without further need to carry out the large-scale test, is supposed to perform easily.     

Centrifuge model tests on the behavior of strip footing on geotextile-reinforced slopes

This paper examines the stability of geotextile-reinforced slopes when subjected to a vertical load applied to a strip footing positioned close to the slope crest. Vertical spacing between geotextile reinforcement was varied while maintaining a constant slope angle, load position, soil density and geotextile type. Small-scale physical tests were conducted using a large beam centrifuge to simulate field prototype conditions. After the model was accelerated to 40g, a load was applied to the strip footing until slope failure occurred. Digital image analysis was performed, using photographs taken in-flight, to obtain slope displacements and strain distribution along the reinforcement layers at different loading pressures during the test and at failure. Stability analysis was also conducted and compared with centrifuge model test results. The vertical spacing between reinforcement layers has a significant impact on the stability of a reinforced slope when subjected to a vertical load. Less vertical distance between reinforcement layers allows the slope to tolerate much greater loads than layers spaced further apart. Distributions of peak strains in reinforcement layers due to the strip footing placed on the surface of the reinforced slope were found to extend up to mid-height of the slope and thereafter they were found to be negligible. Stability analysis of the centrifuge models was found to be consistent with the observed performance of geotextile-reinforced slopes subjected to loading applied to a strip footing near the crest.     

Influence of inherent anisotropy on the seismic behavior of liquefiable sandy level ground

Inherent anisotropy is a crucial aspect to consider for an improved understanding of the strength and deformation characteristics of granular materials. It has been the focus of intense investigation since the mid-1960s. However, inherent anisotropy’s influence on ground seismic responses, such as liquefaction, has not been extensively studied. In this paper, inherent anisotropy’s influence on ground seismic responses is examined through a series of dynamic centrifuge model tests on liquefiable level sand deposits. During the model setup, five different deposition angles (0, 30, 45, 60, and 90 degrees) were achieved using a specially designed rigid container. The models were exposed to tapered sinusoidal input accelerations and the recorded results were fully investigated. It was found that deposition angle-caused inherent anisotropy significantly influenced the excess pore pressure responses during the shaking and dissipation phases. The amount of excess pore pressure build-up and the high excess pore pressure duration increased with the deposition angle, while the dissipation rate decreased as the deposition angle increased. The inherent anisotropy also influenced liquefaction-induced ground settlement, with volumetric strain increasing along with the deposition angle. With respect to response acceleration, inherent anisotropy’s effects depended on the amount of excess pore pressure build-up (i.e., degree of liquefaction). In view of these results, it was concluded that a sandy ground, deposited at a higher angle (i.e., closer to 90 degrees), is more susceptible to liquefaction and that inherent anisotropy’s influence should be considered when evaluating the liquefaction potential and performing effective stress analyses.     

Optimum lateral extent of soil domain for dynamic SSI analysis of RC framed buildings on pile foundations

This article describes a novel approach for deciding optimal horizontal extent of soil domain to be used for finite element based numerical dynamic soil structure interaction (SSI) studies. SSI model for a 12 storied building frame, supported on pile foundation-soil system, is developed in the finite element based software framework, OpenSEES. Three different structure-foundation configurations are analyzed under different ground motion characteristics. Lateral extent of soil domain, along with the soil properties, were varied exhaustively for a particular structural configuration. Based on the reduction in the variation of acceleration response at different locations in the SSI system (quantified by normalized root mean square error, NRMSE), the optimum lateral extent of the soil domain is prescribed for various structural widths, soil types and peak ground acceleration levels of ground motion. Compared to the past studies, error estimation analysis shows that the relationships prescribed in the present study are credible and more inclusive of the various factors that influence SSI. These relationships can be readily applied for deciding upon the lateral extent of the soil domain for conducting precise SSI analysis with reduced computational time.     

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.     

砂土液化研究概述

在查阅大量资料的基础上,叙述了砂土的液化机理、影响因素以及液化的分析、判别方法及常用的地基处理方法,并指出液化土的加固处理是抗震工程的重要组成部分,应引起重视。     

Comparison of the dynamic responses of monopiles and gravity base foundations for offshore wind turbines in sand using centrifuge modelling

Monopiles and gravity base foundations (GBF) are two of the most commonly used foundations for offshore wind turbines. As resonance can cause damage and even failure of wind turbines, understanding the difference between the dynamic responses of monopiles and GBFs under free vibration is important. However there is little experimental data regarding their natural frequency, especially from model tests carried out at correct stress levels. This paper presents the results of novel monopile and GBF tests using a centrifuge to directly determine the natural frequency (f_n) of the foundation-soil system. The natural frequencies of wind turbine monopiles and GBFs in centrifuge models were measured during harmonic loading using a piezo-actuator, with the results confirming that soil-structure interaction must be considered to obtain the system’s natural frequency as this frequency reduces substantially from fixed-base values. These results will contribute in preventing resonance induced damage in wind-turbines.     

Field investigation and model tests on differential settlement of houses due to liquefaction in the Niigata-ken Chuetsu-Oki earthquake of 2007

A massive earthquake struck the Niigata Chuetsu-Oki region of Japan on July 16th, 2007, claiming 11 lives and damaging about 6000 houses. The earthquake had a magnitude of 6.8, with data from an accelerograph managed by a nationwide strong-motion observation network known as Kyoshin Net (K-net) showing a maximum value of 668 gal (NS). In the Matsunami district of Kashiwazaki city (located on land filled and developed as a residential area from around 1970 onward) about 3 km northeast of Kashiwazaki Railway Station, many houses were damaged due to liquefaction. A field investigation, including a boring survey, surface wave exploration and measurement of differential settlement of houses knocked aslant by soil liquefaction, was conducted to determine the relationship between the extent of damage to houses and the area׳s geological structure. It was found that most houses severely damaged due to liquefaction were located around the boundary between sand dunes and the local river delta. Additionally, the relationships linking sloping geological structure, the thickness of the liquefaction layer and total/differential settlement of houses were clarified from the results of shaking table model tests conducted in this study. Test results showed that it is important to consider multidimensional influences caused by sloping geological structure in the estimation method of liquefaction potential in order to predict and assess degree of damage to houses due to liquefaction.     

Seismic bearing capacity of shallow strip foundations in the vicinity of slopes using the lower bound finite element method

The seismic bearing capacity of shallow strip foundations in the vicinity of slopes was investigated by the use of the lower bound limit analysis in conjunction with the finite element method and the linear programming technique. The combination of the most probable failure modes including slope instability and ultimate bearing capacity makes the problem difficult to solve by conventional approximate methods such as the limit equilibrium, the bound theorems of the limit analysis, and the slip line methods since these are based on assumptions about either kinematically admissible failure mechanisms or statically admissible stress fields. The pseudo-static seismic loading scheme was adopted in the presence of both horizontal and vertical acceleration fields, and the soil-foundation interface was assumed perfectly rough. Parametric analyses were conducted to evaluate the most effective factors in the form of the dimensionless strength and geometry parameters. The results of the current study were found comparable with those in the literature, and the consistency of the results confirmed the robustness of the extended finite element lower bound formulation. It was shown that the normalized limit pressure is dramatically reduced as the earthquake acceleration coefficients increases, and that it increases with higher the soil strength parameters. Moreover, the threshold distance at which the influence of the slope diminishes was found to be a function of the soil strength parameters and the slope geometry.     

分层地基模型|桩筏基础|沉降|非线性|离心模型试验

基于改进的分层地基模型,考虑桩–土–筏的共同作用,提出了刚性桩筏基础非线性分析方法。地基附加应力计算考虑土层参数的变化,采用层状弹性体系的Burmister应力解;地基变形采用分层总和法,所采用的计算参数压缩模量和一维回弹模量试验确定方便。通过简单的室内一维加卸载试验确定其随加卸载次数的变化,进一步得到桩筏基础在重复加卸载下的沉降规律。对单桩和桩筏基础进行离心模型试验,并将计算结果和试验结果进行对比分析,验证了本文方法的正确性,可应用于实际工程问题的分析。     

Centrifuge modeling of the behaviour of helical piles in cohesive soils from installation and axial loading

Centrifuge modeling offers a viable tool for research in the soil-pile interaction, but this technique has not been used for helical piles in cohesive soils. A centrifuge model test program of helical piles in cohesive soils was carried out to investigate the axial soil-pile interaction and pile failure mechanism. Helical piles were installed while the centrifuge was spinning, which enabled the determination and interpretation of installation torque and pore pressure response of the soil. An analytical model for calculating the installation torque of helical piles screwed into cohesive soils was proposed and verified by test results. The pore pressure response to pile installation was monitored near two piles at two depths. Comparing the measured dissipation curves with the analytical curves for driven piles suggested that the excess pore pressure was primarily induced by the helical pile shaft. The model piles were axially loaded under 20 g condition. The present research may be considered as the first centrifuge test program that measured the axial load distribution along helical piles. The shaft internal loads were recorded using an innovative strain gauging method. The results show that the axial failure modes of helical piles depend on the strength of soil and inter-helix spacing. In general, it may be easier for a stiffer clay to form an inter-helix soil cylinder during axial pile movement.     

下伏基岩堆积体边坡抗滑桩加固前后地震响应特征离心模型试验

为研究抗滑桩加固上覆堆积体——下伏基岩二元结构边坡的抗震机制,开展2组1∶50比尺的离心振动台模型试验,以对比分析下伏基岩堆积体边坡在抗滑排桩加固前后的地震响应特征与抗滑桩的桩身弯矩分布规律。试验时,输入4级加速度峰值连续增大的El Centro波,监测边坡模型坡面与坡体内的加速度响应、坡顶沉降变形以及抗滑桩上静、动弯矩的分布。试验结果显示由于抗滑桩抑制了上覆堆积体的下滑,坡顶的加速度峰值(PGA)放大系数、加速度反应谱以及竖向沉降变形均有不同程度的降低。抗滑桩一方面加固了上覆堆积滑体另一方面在坡体内产生了地震波的反射叠加效应,使得边坡水平响应加速度放大系数出现了桩前增大桩后减小的现象。下伏基岩堆积体边坡坡顶沉降与Arias烈度在抗滑排桩加固前后均具有良好的正相关线性关系。地震荷载作用过程中抗滑桩动力响应弯矩变化幅值明显大于地震作用后的静弯矩增量,且静弯矩与动弯矩变化幅值的分布均在基岩面附近达到峰值,易在基岩面附近造成抗滑桩的破坏,类似工况下抗滑桩的抗震配筋设计应充分考虑这一特点。     

Exploring the possibility of assessing the damage degree of liquefaction based only on seismic records by artificial neural networks

This study presents a new approach to determine the damage degree of liquefaction caused by a large earthquake. We propose an artificial neural network (ANN) model based only on the seismic records of ground and define the degree of liquefaction “DDL” as a damage index. This ANN model predicts the degree of excess pore water pressure increase as the correct output label based on the seismic records obtained from the three-dimensional shaking table test. The proposed model achieved high accuracy, and the outcomes from training data indicated that the ANN model is suitable to function as a liquefaction assessment system. Further, to evaluate the applicability of the proposed ANN model in the real world, the datasets of waves from three actual seismic records were input to the ANN as validation data. The DDL judgment obtained was a good fit with the real phenomena observed.     

Numerical assessment of the seismic response of an earth embankment on liquefiable soils

This study presents a numerical assessment of the seismic behaviour of an earth embankment founded on liquefiable foundation soils during earthquake loading. Analysis was carried out using an effective stress-based, fully coupled, finite element method. The behaviour of the sandy soil is described by means of a cyclic elastoplastic constitutive model which was developed within the framework of the Armstrong–Frederick type non-linear kinematic hardening concept. The numerical method and the analysis procedure are briefly outlined and as an example, the seismic response of an earth embankment on a saturated sand foundation is assessed. Based on the numerical results, the distinctive patterns of seismic response of the embankment are discussed. Special emphasis is given to the computed results of excess pore water pressures, co-seismic and post-seismic deformations, and accelerations during the seismic excitation. It has been found that the numerical model can capture fundamental liquefaction aspects of the embankment foundation system and produce preliminary results for its seismic assessment.