Abstract
Uncertainties in design variables and design equations have a significant impact on the safety of geotechnical structures like retaining walls and slopes. This paper presents a possible framework for obtaining the partial safety factors based on reliability approach for different random variables affecting the stability of a reinforced concrete cantilever retaining wall and a slope under static loading conditions. Reliability analysis is carried out by Mean First Order Second Moment Method, Point Estimate Method, Monte Carlo Simulation and Response Surface Methodology. A target reliability index β = 3 is set and partial safety factors for each random variable are calculated based on different coefficient of variations of the random variables. The study shows that although deterministic analysis reveals a safety factor greater than 1.5 which is considered to be safe in conventional approach, reliability analysis indicates quite high failure probability due to variation of soil properties. The results also reveal that a higher factor of safety is required for internal friction angle φ, while almost negligible values of safety factors are required for soil unit weight γ in case of cantilever retaining wall and soil unit weight γ and cohesion c in case of slope. Importance of partial safety factors is shown by analyzing two simple geotechnical structures. However, it can be applied for any complex system to achieve economization.
Abstract
The main focus of the current study is to evaluate the dynamic behavior of a cantilever retaining wall considering backfill and soil/foundation interaction effects. For this purpose, a three-dimensional finite element model (FEM) with viscous boundary is developed to investigate the seismic response of the cantilever wall. To demonstrate the validity of the FEM, analytical examinations are carried out by using modal analysis technique. The model verification is accomplished by comparing its predictions to results from analytical method with satisfactory agreement. The method is then employed to further investigate parametrically the effects of not only backfill but also soil/foundation interactions. By means of changing the soil properties, some comparisons are made on lateral displacements and stress responses. It is concluded that the lateral displacements and stresses in the wall are remarkably affected by backfill and subsoil interactions, and the dynamic behavior of the cantilever retaining wall is highly sensitive to mechanical properties of the soil material.
Key Words
soil-structure interaction; viscous boundary; finite element analysis; analytical verification
Address
Tufan Cakir:
Department of Civil Engineering, Güšhane University, 29000 Güšhane, Turkey.
Abstract
Mudstone is a very common rock that, when in contact with water, can exhibit considerable volume change and breakdown. This behavior of mudstone is frequently encountered in geotechnical engineering and has a considerable influence on infrastructure stability. This is particularly important in the present work, which focuses on mitigating the harmful properties of mudstone. The samples studied are of Permian Age mudstone from Shandong Province, China. Modification tests using organic silicone additive material were carried out. The mechanisms of physical properties modification of mudstone were comparatively studied using corresponding test methods, and the modification mechanism of organic silicone additive material acting on mudstone was analyzed. The following conclusions were drawn. The surface texture and characters of mudstone changed dramatically, surface character turns from hydrophilic to hydrophobic after organic silicone additive material modification. The changes in the surface character indicate a reduction in the water sensitivity of mudstone. After modification, the shape of porosity and fracture of mudstone changed unremarkable, and the total and free expansion ratios decreased obviously, whereas the strength increased markedly.
Key Words
mudstone; modified mechanism; swelling and shrinkage; microstructure; strength characteristics; long-term stability
Address
(1) Zhaoyun Chai and Tianhe Kang:
Mining Technology Institute, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030024, China;
(2) Zhaoyun Chai and Weiyi Chen:
Institute of Applied Mechanics and Biomedical Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030024, China.
Abstract
In order to investigate the effect of different perforation angles (the angle between the perforation direction and the maximum horizontal principal stress) on the fracture initiation and propagation during hydraulic fracturing of highly deviated well in oil & gas saturated formation, laboratory experiments of the hydraulic fracturing had been carried out on the basis of non-dimensional similar criteria by using 400^3 mm3 cement cubes. A plane fracture can be produced when the perforations are placed in the direction of the maximum horizontal principal stress. When the perforation angle is 45°, the fractures firstly initiate from the perforations at the upper side of the wellbore, and then turn to the maximum horizontal principal stress direction. When the well deviation angle and perforation angle are both between 45° and 90°, the fractures hardly initiate from the perforations at the lower side of the wellbore. Well azimuth (the angle between the wellbore axis and the maximum horizontal principal stress) has a little influence on the fracture geometries; however it mainly increases the fracture roughness, fracture continuity and the number of secondary fractures, and also increases the fracture initiation and propagation pressure. Oriented perforating technology should be applied in highly deviated well to obtain a single plane fracture. If the well deviation angle is smaller, the fractures may link up.
Address
(1) Hai Y. Zhu:
State Key Laboratory of Oil & Gas Reservoir Geology and Exploitation, Southwest Petroleum University, Chengdu 610500, China;
(2) Hai Y. Zhu, Jin G. Deng, Ji R. Li, Zi J. Chen, Lian B. Hu and Hai Lin:
State Key Laboratory of Petroleum Resource and Prospecting (China University of Petroleum, Beijing), Beijing 102249, China;
(3) Shu J. Liu, Min Wen and Cheng Y. Peng:
CNOOC Research Institute, Beijing 100027, China;
(4) Dong Guang:
Research Institute of Engineering and Technique, Huabei Sub-Company, SINOPEC, Zhengzhou, Henan 450006, China.
Abstract
Laboratory and field data showed that deep mixed (DM) columns accelerated the rate of consolidation of the soft foundations. Most analyses of consolidation of DM column-improved foundations so far have been based on the elastic theory. In reality, the DM columns may yield due to the stress concentration from the soft soil and its limited strength. The influence of column yielding on the degree of consolidation of the soft foundation improved by DM columns has not been well investigated. A three-dimensional mechanically and hydraulically-coupled numerical method was adopted in this study to investigate the degree of consolidation of the DM column foundation considering column yielding. A unit cell model was used, in which the soil was modeled as a linearly elastic material. For a comparison purpose, the DM column was modeled as an elastic or elastic-plastic material. This study examined the aspects of stress transfer, settlement, and degree of consolidation of the foundations without or with the consideration of the yielding of the DM column. A parametric study was conducted to investigate the influence of the column yielding on the stress concentration ratio, settlement, and average degree of consolidation of the DM column foundation. The stress concentration ratio increased and then decreased to reach a constant value with the increase of the column modulus and time. A simplified method was proposed to calculate the maximum stress concentration ratios under undrained and drained conditions considering the column yielding. The simplified method based on a composite foundation concept could conservatively estimate the consolidation settlement. An increase of the column modulus, area replacement ratio, and/or column permeability increased the rate of consolidation.
Key Words
column; consolidation; deep mixing; numerical analysis; settlement; soft soil; stress
Address
(1) Yan Jiang and Jie Han:
Department of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering, the University of Kansas, Learned Hall, 1530 West 15th Street, Lawrence, Kansas, USA;
(2) Gang Zheng:
Department of Civil Engineering, Tianjin University, No.92 Weijing Road, Tianjin, P.R. China.
Abstract
Stone columns (or granular column) have been used to increase the load carrying capacity and accelerating consolidation of soft soil. Recently, the geosynthetic reinforced stone column technique has been developed to improve the load carrying capacity of the stone column. In addition, reinforcement prevents the lateral squeezing of stone in to surrounding soft soil, helps in easy formation of stone column, preserve frictional properties of aggregate and drainage function of the stone column. This paper investigates the improvement of load carrying capacity of isolated ordinary and geotextile reinforced sand column through field load tests. Tests were performed with different reinforcement stiffness, diameter of sand column and reinforcement length. The results of field load test indicated an improved load carrying capacity of geotextile reinforced sand column over ordinary sand column. The increase in load carrying capacity depends upon the sand column diameter, stiffness of reinforcement and reinforcement length. Also, the partial reinforcement length about two to four time's sand column diameter from the top of the column was found to significant effect on the performance of sand column.
Key Words
soft soil; ground improvement; ordinary sand column; geosynthetic reinforced sand column; field load test
Address
Yogendra K. Tandel, Chandresh H. Solanki and Atul K. Desai:
Applied Mechanics Department, S.V. National Institute of Technology, Surat 395007, India.
