SIMULATION OF SHEAR AND ONE-DIMENSIONAL COMPRESSION BEHAVIOR OF NATURALLY DEPOSITED CLAYS BY SUPER/SUBLOADING YIELD SURFACE CAM-CLAY MODEL

Naturally deposited clays exhibit complicated mechanical behavior that differs from that of remolded clays. For example, clay in a normally consolidated state commonly exhibits softening in undrained shear tests or “rewinding” in a heavily overconsolidated state. The Super/subloading Yield Surface Cam-clay model (Asaoka et al., 1998, 2000, 2002) was proposed in an attempt to clarify the complicated mechanical behavior in naturally deposited clays. In this constitutive model, the concepts of “structure,” overconsolidation, anisotropy, and their evolution laws, are introduced into the modified Cam-clay model. In the present study, undrained triaxial compression tests and oedometer tests were carried out on two types of naturally deposited undisturbed clay, Pleistocene clay and Holocene clay, and the behavior was then simulated using the Super/subloading Yield Surface Cam-clay model. The findings of the present study are as follows:

• 1)For the two types of undisturbed clay, the Super/subloading Yield Surface Cam-clay model can simulate undrained triaxial compression behavior ranging from the normally consolidated state to the overconsolidated state, corresponding to various isotropic pressures using a single set of material constants.
• 2)In addition, the model can simulate one-dimensional compression behavior using the same material constants as those used for the simulation of the undrained triaxial compression behavior.
• 3)Through the simulation, the mechanical behavior of Pleistocene clay and Holocene clay, which have different loading histories and have undergone different aging effects, can be described by the different evolution parameters, as well as the elasto-plastic parameters.

     

VERIFICATION OF THE ELASTO-VISCOPLASTIC APPROACH ASSESSING THE LONG-TERM DEFORMATION OF THE QUASI-OVERCONSOLIDATED PLEISTOCENE CLAY DEPOSITS

A series of elasto-viscoplastic finite element analyses is performed to describe the long-term settlement measured at the reclaimed islands in Osaka Port. The compression modeling for the quasi-overconsolidated Pleistocene clays proposed by the authors has been incorporated to the procedure in which an elasto-viscoplastic deformation is assumed to occur even in the quasi-overconsolidated region (P₀≤P≤P_c). One-dimensional analysis is adopted for assessing the settlement of Sakishima and Yumeshima Reclaimed islands, whereas the plane-strain finite element analysis is carried out for investigating the deformation of the Pleistocene deposit beneath the sheet-pile composite revetment at Maishima Reclaimed Island. The proposed procedure is found to provide larger settlement for all cases compared to the conventional approach because of the consideration of viscoplastic deformation in the quasi-overconsolidated region. As for the case of the sheet-pile composite revetment, the effect of stress concentration due to ground improvement with SCP for the Holocene clay layer is remarkable on the underlying Pleistocene deposit. The measured settlement of the individual Pleistocene clay layers as well as the total settlement of the Pleistocene deposits are precisely described by the proposed procedure, whereas the conventional approach in which the instantaneous elastic deformation is assumed to occur in the quasi-overconsolidated region exhibits serious underestimation. From these results, the predictive accuracy of the proposed procedure is verified for assessing the long-term settlement at the reclaimed islands in Osaka Port.     

BASIC RESEARCH ON THE MECHANICAL BEHAVIOR OF METHANE HYDRATE-SEDIMENTS MIXTURE

The possible existence of a vast amount of methane hydrate around islands has attracted attention as the largest potential hydrocarbon resource in Japan. At the same time, several production methods have been considered to extract the gas from the hydrate zone. Although it is known that the hydrates pose significant obstacles to drilling and production operations, there is at present only limited knowledge on the mechanical behavior of hydrate-rich zones, which is necessary to understand the stability around the site. In order to know the properties of methane hydrate and/or its sand mixtures, a series of tests was carried out on artificial methane hydrate-sand mixtures, using low temperature and a newly developed high confining pressure triaxial compression technique. The sediments used in the mixture were obtained from a 207.75m sea bottom core from the Nankai Trough, located 1152.75m below sea level. The specimens used were prepared by compressing a mixture of artificial methane hydrate and the sediments with a volume ratio of sediments to the whole of specimen. On the basis of these experimental results, the factors affecting mechanical properties of the hydrate and sediment mixtures are discussed. It is very essential to collect more data on the properties of methane hydrate and/or sedimentation (soil) mixture to understand the stability of any attempt at methane hydrate production.     

ALKALINITY CONTROL PROPERTIES OF THE SOLIDIFIED/STABILIZED SLUDGE BY A LOW ALKALINITY ADDITIVE

Several chemical reactions controlling the alkalinity of solidified/stabilized sludge using a low alkalinity additive (mainly composed of gypsum and slag) are investigated experimentally. The influence of curing conditions (open air or sealed) on the alkali leaching characteristics of the treated sludge was evaluated from the viewpoint of carbonate uptake and leaching properties of cations (Ca, K, Na, Mg, Al and Si). Modified batch leaching tests were conducted for the treated sludge cured in both open air and sealed conditions to characterize the alkali and cation leaching behaviour. Mineralogical characterization was performed through X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, and the Calcimeter test traced the variation of carbonate amount in the treated sludge under curing. In addition, the type of hydration products in treated sludge was also estimated by the acid neutralization capacity (ANC) tests. Experimental results showed that open air curing has an effect to decrease the pH of solutions from batch leaching tests compared to sealed curing, since the sludge cured in open air contained more carbonate and less hydroxide than those cured in sealed condition. Promoting the carbonation of Ca(OH)_₂ by contact with carbon dioxide could reduce the alkalinity of treated sludge. In addition, the amount of magnesium carbonates (e.g. MgCO_₃) and the fraction of Mg ions in treated sludge could affect the pH of leached water.     

STRENGTH AND CONSOLIDATION PROPERTIES OF BUSAN NEW PORT CLAYS

The sedimentary environment and the effects of sample disturbance on strength and consolidation properties of Busan New Port clays are examined through microfossils and radiocarbon age analyses and unconfined compression, K₀-consolidated undrained triaxial compression and extension tests and consolidation tests. In this study, only one or two samples, 74 mm in diameter and 100 mm in height, obtained from different depths, are used for the whole series of tests to provide small-sized specimens. The sedimentation rates of Busan New Port clays were (3.7-7.8) mm/year and higher than those for the coastal areas of the USA, Thailand and Japan. The in-situ undrained shear strength and consolidation parameters were estimated using Shogaki's method and compared with those of other test results and evaluated. Busan New Port clays are lightly overconsolidated clays. It can be seen that the consolidation settlements, which were greater than those estimated, were observed in Holocene Busan clay, are caused by the underestimation of the compression index and coefficient of consolidation values caused by sample disturbance.     

MEASUREMENT OF COPPER SOLUTION TRANSPORT IN A SAND COLUMN BY MEANS OF A FIBRE-OPTIC SENSOR AND ANALYSIS OF THE BREAKTHROUGH CURVE

This paper deals with the measurement of copper contaminant migration in soils by means of a fibre-optic sensor operating with yellow light buried in the soil. The resulting breakthrough curve is compared with a numerical analysis using the advection-dispersion equation. In order to examine the copper adsorption properties, a batch experiment was carried out. It was found that the copper adsorption on silica sand follows a Langmuir model at high concentration. The copper dispersion coefficient was estimated from the plume shape, assuming that a Gaussian distribution of concentration is applicable to the copper plumes. It is demonstrated that the measured breakthrough curve is in reasonable agreement with the one calculated from the dispersion coefficient or the longitudinal dispersivity and retardation factor measured by the batch method. The retardation factor is observed to decrease sharply with increasing concentration of copper solution up to 10 (g/L).     

Earthquake-induced landslides: Distribution,motion and mechanisms

The objective of this paper is to clarify the factors that resulted in many landslides during the 2011 off the Pacific Coast of Tohoku Earthquake. The geology of the Tohoku district, the seismic motion of the main shock and the precipitation around the time of the earthquake are described. As one of the characteristic phenomena observed around Shirakawa city in Fukushima prefecture and the mid-eastern part of Tochigi prefecture, many of the slopes were characterized by a high distribution of sensitive volcanic cohesive soils. The estimated PGA and PGV around the areas were therefore larger, which might have promoted the softening of the sensitive soils.Although there had been little precipitation before the main shock, the landslides occurred mostly in the slopes containing the volcanic cohesive soils with higher water content. The influences of the ground water as well as other factors on the seismic slope stability are discussed in each of the following case studies. In order to clarify the mechanism of each landslide, the study focused on three typical landslides which occurred in the affected areas, i.e., the Hanokidaira, Okanouchi and Kami-kashiwazaki landslides. Detailed surveying with a laser profiler (LP) was carried out at the Hanokidaira and Okanouchi landslides to enable the topography of each slope before and after the main shock to be accurately grasped. Analytical examinations for the sliding mechanisms in each slope from an engineering point of view are made based on the numerical analyses with the actual soil properties observed in the laboratory tests. According to the results obtained from the cyclic direct and triaxial tests using the undisturbed specimens of the clayey loams sampled at the slip surfaces in each landslide, the shear strength can be reduced under cyclic loading and may eventually make the materials behave as those of high-mobility. Strength reduction is believed to be caused by the destruction of the clay particle structures originated from the sedimentation. Since the duration of the main shock exceeded three minutes, the slopes were subjected to the strong motion for a very long time. The sensitive cohesive soils resulted in a state with high mobility, which might have been the reason for the long distances traveled by the debris.     

Lessons for countermeasures using earth structures against tsunami obtained in the 2011 Off the Pacific Coast of Tohoku Earthquake

Since many infrastructures, such as sea walls, sand beaches, forests, etc., were severely damaged or destroyed by the tsunami that occurred due to the 2011 Off the Pacific Coast of Tohoku Earthquake, it is said that the resistant functions of the above structures against tsunami attacks did not perform well. However, some structures are known to have resisted the tsunami, based on field surveys conducted after the earthquake by the authors and others; and thus, the resistant functions of those infrastructures against tsunami should be estimated more properly. This paper focuses on earth structures, including river levees and road embankments, both damaged and undamaged, at 13 sites in Miyagi Prefecture, Chiba Prefecture, and Ibaraki Prefecture. They have been investigated through field surveys and other related data, such as satellite photographs taken before and/or after the tsunami. Furthermore, 10 dug pools, eroded by the flood stream on the back side of sea walls and banks during the tsunami, are also investigated to clarify their effects against tsunami attacks for use as future hardware countermeasures. Based on the above field investigations, several important lessons on hardware countermeasures against tsunami, using earth structures, are discussed. And, performance-based design concepts for reconstruction after this earthquake and for the reduction of future tsunami damage are discussed and proposed.     

Prediction of non-woven geotextiles’ reduction factors for damage caused by the drop of backfill materials

The need for sustainable solutions in geotechnical works has encouraged the investigation of recycled construction and demolition wastes (RCDW) as backfill material. The possible damages caused by the launching (dropping) process of this “new” backfill material (RCWD) must be quantified for its combined use with geosynthetics. This study evaluated the influence of the backfill's grain-size distribution and the geotextile's mass per unit area in the damages caused by the launch of RCDW material and aimed to provide a prediction equation of the reduction factors. Five RCDW materials were launched from 1.0-m and 2.0-m height over five non-woven polyester needle-punched geotextile and specimens were exhumed to be tested under tensile. Databases were created with the results and subjected to machine learning to obtain a prediction equation for the reduction factor's values. The results show that the damages caused by the dropping height are complex. The 1.0-m increase in the drop height and the increase in the geotextile's mass per unit area cannot be associated with an increase in the damage. The geotextiles were more affected by the backfills with uniform gradation. A reduction factor's prediction equation is presented considering the three variables investigated (geotextile, drop height and backfill material classification). The artificial neural network is a more interesting solution than multiple linear regression since it does not possess several application criteria and provides more accurate predictions.