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.     

框支配筋砌块砌体剪力墙抗震性能试验研究

运用子结构方法对两榀框支配筋砌块砌体剪力墙结构(底部框架配筋砌块砌体剪力墙和底部框剪配筋砌块砌体剪力墙结构,均为14层)进行了1/4比例模型的多自由度子结构拟动力地震反应试验;研究了地震作用下该结构的动力反应和破坏机理;分析了试验模型的受力特点和破坏形态。试验结果表明:采用子结构技术对框支配筋砌块砌体剪力墙这类复杂高层结构进行拟动力试验是可行的;本试验能够合理体现结构在不同大小的地震中的反应情况;底部框剪-上部配筋砌块砌体剪力墙结构的抗震性能远好于底部框架-上部配筋砌块砌体剪力墙结构的抗震性能,并且符合我国规范多道抗震设防的设计思想;初始弹性侧移刚度比对框支配筋砌块砌体剪力墙结构的薄弱层位置、弹塑性变形性能和破坏形态的影响较大。     

Failure behavior and mechanism of slopes reinforced using soil nail wall under various loading conditions

Soil–nailing technology is widely applied in practice for reinforcing slopes. A series of centrifuge model tests was conducted on slopes reinforced with a soil nail wall under three types of loading conditions. The behavior and mechanism of failure process of the reinforced slopes were studied using image-based observation and displacement measurements for the slope, nails, and cement layer. The nailing significantly increased the stability level and restricted the tension cracks of the slopes. Increasing the nail length improved the stability of the reinforced slopes with deeper slip surfaces. The reinforced slope exhibited a significant failure process, in which slope slippage failure and cement layer fracture occurred in conjunction with a coupling effect. The deformation localization was induced by the loading within the slope and ultimately developed into a slip surface. The nailing reinforced the slope by significantly delaying the occurrence of the deformation localization within the slope. The failure of nails was recognized as a combination of pull-out failure and bend deformation. The loading conditions were shown to have a significant effect on slope deformation and nail deflection, and they consequently influenced the failure behavior and its formation sequence.     

Seismic behaviour of reinforced embankments in dynamic centrifuge model tests

A series of dynamic centrifuge model tests was conducted to investigate the effects of reinforcement on the seismic behaviour of hillside embankments consisting of sandy soils and resting on stiff base slopes. In total, three types of seismic reinforcements, namely, large-scale gabions, drainage-reinforcing piles, and ground anchors with pressure plates, were employed in the tests. The test results showed that: (1) the seismic performance of both lower and higher embankments was remarkably improved by installing large-scale gabions at the toe as they restrained the completion of the formation of sliding planes; (2) the installation of drainage-reinforcing piles at the embankment toe was rather effective in reducing the overall earthquake-induced deformation due to their high permeability and restraint effect against sliding displacement at the reinforced region; and (3) the embankments improved by ground anchors with pressure plates were not vulnerable to earthquake-induced damage due to their constraint effects even under high water table conditions. The improvement effects by the above-mentioned three types of reinforcements were presented by evaluating the global safety factors based on the results of a series of triaxial compression tests.     

加筋土挡墙拉筋轴向应力分布规律研究

基于剪力滞模型基本原理对加筋土挡墙筋土作用机理进行了研究。根据拉筋轴向应力是由拉筋周围土体发生剪切位移而产生,紧邻拉筋周围土体仅受剪应力作用的假定,将加筋体单元中土体分为内、外两层,建立了拉筋轴向受力平衡方程,推导出了加筋土挡墙拉筋轴向应力特解。理论分析表明,加筋土挡墙中拉筋轴向应力沿拉筋长度L呈非线性分布,且在x≤L/2时出现一个峰值;当水平拉筋沿筋长方向出现凹陷或凸起时,在该位置将产生拉力峰值。该研究成果合理解释了加筋土挡墙中拉筋轴向应力出现多个峰值以及越靠近墙底部潜在破裂面位置越接近墙面板的原因。     

Dynamic centrifuge model tests and material point method analysis of the impact force of a sliding soil mass caused by earthquake-induced slope failure

Dynamic centrifuge model tests and associated analyses are carried out to develop a procedure for simulating the slope failure process during earthquakes and to evaluate the force of a sliding soil mass impacting a structure. This impact force is successfully measured in the dynamic centrifuge model tests using a slope height of 50 m in the prototype scale. The results of a pseudo-static limit equilibrium analysis, assuming a circular failure plane, show that a stability analysis can be an effective tool for evaluating the critical acceleration under which the slope failure starts, although it is not applicable for evaluating the runout distance or the impact force of the sliding soil mass to the structure. Therefore, an attempt is also made in this study to examine the applicability of empirical equations for evaluating the impact force by comparing the evaluated impact force using Hertz’s equation and an empirical equation based on fluid mechanics with the measured ones. The comparison reveals that these simple equations would not be able to estimate the impact force well, even though parameter setting is required for applying the equations. On the other hand, it is also found from a relevant analysis that the material point method (MPM) is an effective tool for simulating the failure behavior of a slope and for evaluating the impact force of a sliding soil mass induced by a slope failure.     

Quantifying the effects of geogrid reinforcement in unbound granular base

This study presents an effort to quantify the effects of geogrid reinforcement in the unbound granular base through laboratory testing. Two laboratory tests, the large-scale cyclic shear test and the repeated load triaxial test, were employed. The test protocol of the cyclic shear test was developed by modifying that for the triaxial test. The cyclic shear test was performed by applying a series of cyclic shear stresses to the geogrid-aggregate interface under different normal stresses. Two different types of geogrids were used as reinforcement in unbound granular material. Resilient modulus (M_R) from the repeated load triaxial test and a term named resilient interface shear modulus (G_i) from the cyclic shear test was used to characterize the effects of geogrid reinforcement in unbound granular base, respectively. The results of triaxial tests showed that the inclusion of geogrid had a negligible effect on the resilient modulus, indicating that the triaxial resilient modulus test may not be effective in evaluating the geogrid reinforcement in unbound granular materials. Compared to the triaxial resilient modulus test, the cyclic shear test showed great potential in identifying the effects of geogrid reinforcement, with an obvious improvement in the degree of interlocking between geogrids and aggregates.     

Full scale investigation of GCL damage mechanisms in small earth dam retrofit applications under earthquake loading

This paper reports results of full scale testing to further explore potential GCL damage mechanisms in earth dam retrofit applications in seismically active areas; in particular, to a) investigate whether shear displacements could reduce the magnitude of GCL panel overlap during earthquake shaking; b) explore the influence of gravel particles on GCL thickness at localised point of contact; and c) observe the consequences of an accidental exposure of an uncovered GCL to short duration rainfall in terms of moisture content and effects during subsequent compaction. The results of these experiments indicate that even under severe shaking no movements were detected at the GCL panel overlap. Whereas gravel particles were observed to locally reduce the thickness of the GCL to 2.2 mm, no plowing of the particle into the GCL occurred due to a lack of shear displacement at the interface, resulting in no localised internal erosion through the barrier. Furthermore, hydration of GCL panels during construction due to surface wetting was observed to result in a state of hydration less than its post-construction state. These results indicate that although each of the three GCL damage mechanisms cannot be ruled out to ever be relevant in practice, the performance of the GCL retrofitted earth dam tested was satisfactory under even severe Level 2 earthquake shaking, and suggests that the retrofitting of small earth dams with GCLs is a promising strategy to improve their static and seismic resistance.     

半刚性框架-密肋网格复合钢板剪力墙结构抗震性能试验研究

对一榀单跨两层半刚性框架-密肋网格复合钢板剪力墙结构进行了低周反复荷载作用下的试验研究。系统分析了结构的受力机制、破坏模式和耗能机理,得到了承载力、刚度、延性及耗能能力等指标,评价了该种结构体系的抗震性能。结果表明：结构在弹性工作阶段主要依靠墙板的剪切机制承担水平荷载,非弹性阶段区格中钢板的对角拉力带为结构提供侧向承载能力;密肋网格的设置有效限制了内嵌钢板的面外变形值,提高了结构的弹性刚度,克服了滞回曲线的“捏缩”效应,减小了钢板的噪音及震颤,显著增强了结构的耗能能力;框架与钢板墙协同工作良好,结构塑性变形能力强,安全储备高,是一种优良的抗侧力体系;破坏模式为各区格中的钢板撕裂,拉力带效应明显,边框架柱脚及边框架梁端形成塑性铰。     

Tests on mechanical behavior of unsaturated decomposed granite and its modelling considering finite deformation

Generally speaking, most of the geomaterials in the surface ground are in an unsaturated state. The mechanical and hydraulic properties of unsaturated soil are much more complicated than those of saturated soil. To rationally describe these properties, it is important to couple the stress-strain relation of the unsaturated soil with its water retention characteristics using rational state variables. In this paper, oedometer and triaxial compression tests on decomposed granite under constant-suction and constant degree of saturation conditions were conducted. Based on the test results, a modified constitutive model was proposed to build an incremental relation between the degree of saturation and suction that considers the influence of finite deformation. The modified model was utilized to simulate the corresponding laboratory tests. It is found that the modified constitutive model has satisfactory accuracy to describe the mechanical and hydraulic properties of unsaturated decomposed granite, which verified the reasonability of the assumption adopted in this paper. The test results are also helpful for the understanding of the moisture characteristics of the decomposed granite under constant degree of saturation condition.