Effect of interface adhesion factor on the bearing capacity of strip footing placed on cohesive soil overlying rock mass

The problem related to bearing capacity of footing either on pure soil or on pure rock mass has been investigated over the years. Currently, no study deals with the bearing capacity of strip footing on a cohesive soil layer overlying rock mass. Therefore, by implementing the lower bound finite element limit analysis in conjunction with the second-order cone programming and the power cone programming, the ultimate bearing capacity of a strip footing located on a cohesive soil overlying rock mass is determined in this study. By considering the different values of interface adhesion factor (α_cr) between the cohesive soil and rock mass, the ultimate bearing capacity of strip footing is expressed in terms of influence factor (I_f) for different values of cohesive soil layer cover ratio (T_cs/B). The failure of cohesive soil is modeled by using Mohr−Coulomb yield criterion, whereas Generalized Hoek−Brown yield criterion is utilized to model the rock mass at failure. The variations ofI_f with different magnitudes of α_cr are studied by considering the influence of the rock mass strength parameters of beneath rock mass layer. To examine stress distribution at different depths, failure patterns are also plotted.     

基于影响带观测的加筋土坡稳定性分析

为了观测土工格栅加筋影响带的范围,采用特制的一侧透明的拉拔盒,共对6种不同级配的粗粒土分别完成了4种法向压力下的拉拔试验。通过预埋于土中用大头针尖制作并包裹于导线皮中的位移观测点,直接观测了土工格栅在粗粒土中拉拔引起的土粒位移,发现格栅的拉拔会带动其上一定厚度范围内的土体发生移动,这个范围称之为加筋影响带。试验发现平均粒径d_(50)0.83 mm的粗粒土中,土工格栅加筋影响带的厚度δ与试样的法向压力没有关联,主要与土粒级配有关,当d_(50)1.05 mm时,δ随d_(50)的增大有较显著的增加;而当d_(50)1.05 mm后,这种趋势明显减缓;特别是当d_(50)1.65 mm后,二者呈良好的线性递增关系。基于这一试验结果,提出了考虑加筋影响带的加筋土坡稳定性分析方法,简称影响带法。在这一方法中,认为土工格栅的加筋作用相当于增加了加筋影响带内土的黏聚力,而内摩擦角不变。从而将加筋土坡简化为成层土坡,使计算大为简化。而计算得到的加筋土坡稳定安全系数在加筋层距不大于0.6 m,且格栅抗拉强度大于20 k N/m时,与有限元强度折减法的计算结果符合良好。     

Denitrification with natural gas and various new growth media

Biological denitrification was investigated in an attached growth reactor system using several growth media, denitrifying cultures and natural gas (95% methane) as a carbon source. In order to establish a baseline of operation, initial experiments were conducted with a bed of 2–3 mm sand and methanol as a carbon source using a methylotrophic denitrifying culture and then the system was compared with natural gas using various methane utilising cultures. Compared to methanol, performance with methane was considerably lower. In order to improve denitrification with methane a plastic medium (Etapak, surface area 200 m²/m³) was placed above the sand bed (which increased the surface area for bacteria growth in the upper part of the bed), and a new methanotrophic mixed culture (NCIMB-code 11085) was introduced to the system. This combination resulted in a 27% higher denitrification efficiency. Experiments were continued by systematically varying the operating conditions to obtain highest denitrification using methane gas and replacing the Etapak media with different plastic media of higher surface area, but keeping the NCIMB culture unchanged. Other media tested were Pall-rings (surface area 319 m²/m³), IP-spacers (surface area 500 m²/m³) and granular activated carbon (GAC-code: Norit PK 1–3). Best results were obtained with IP-spacers which, surprisingly, are designed for use in the concrete industry rather than as a bacterial support medium. These produced nitrate removal efficiencies of up to 93% at 0.6 m/h or 55% at 1.6 m/h water filtration rates. Run times of 10 days or more to a limiting headloss of about 1.0 m,were usually achieved before “bumping” or back-washing to reduce headloss. Effluent turbidities were generally below 1.0 NTU. Tests for bacteria present with GAC media and COD removal with IP spacers were also carried out. Results are discussed with operational conditions and denitrification efficiencies achieved.     

Effects of restraining conditions on the bearing capacity of footings near slopes

In evaluating the ultimate bearing capacity (q_u) of a strip footing adjacent to a slope, conventional correction formulas for the effect of load eccentricity may not be applicable because these formulas were developed exclusively for footings situated on horizontal grounds, where loads eccentric to opposite sides of the footing yield identical results for q_u. In this study, loading tests and analyses are conducted on a strip footing placed adjacent to a model slope with various slope angles. The experimental evidence shows that a load eccentric toward the heel of a footing leads to an increase in bearing capacity, whereas the analytical results based on conventional formulas show the opposite trend. To address this discrepancy, an approach is proposed that uses a bearing capacity correction formula for a footing with a setback from the crest of the slope. Results of a comparative study show that the experimental values for bearing capacity factor N_γ(test), with full corrections for load inclination, load eccentricity, and footing setback are comparable to the theoretical solutions. Furthermore, fully corrected values for N_γ(test) for the fixed footing approximately follow the line of the upper boundary; those for the free-rotating footing follow the lower boundary of the theoretical solutions reported in the literature. This discrepancy is due to the different failure mechanisms induced by the restraining conditions of the footing which have yet to be considered in engineering practice.     

浅基础承载力离心模型试验研究

笔者利用容量为10gt的离心机对砂基上的浅基础进行了较为系统的试验,用以研究基础的尺寸、形状、埋深和砂土相对密度对浅基础承载力、承载力因数（Nr,Nq）、形状因数（ζr,ζq）及破坏型式的影响。笔者提出一种利用浅基础离心模拟试验资料确定浅基础的承载力因数和形状因数的方法。利用此方法确定的44T-4砂的承载力因数,形状因数与已有的各种理论解和试验解进行了对比。研究工作得出了一些有意义的结论。     

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.     

Load-settlement response of shallow square footings on geogrid-reinforced sand under cyclic loading

To study the settlement and dynamic response characteristics of shallow square footings on geogrid-reinforced sand under cyclic loading, 7 sets of large scale laboratory tests are performed on a 0.5?m wide square footing resting on unreinforced and geogrid reinforced sand contained in a 3?m?×?1.6?m?×?2?m (length?×?width?×?height) steel tank. Different reinforcing schemes are considered in the tests: one layer of reinforcement at the depth of 0.3B, 0.6B and 0.9B, where B is the width of the footing; two and three layers of reinforcement at the depth and spacing both at 0.3B. In one of the two double layered reinforcing systems, the reinforcements are wrapped around at the ends. The footings are loaded to 160?kPa under static loading before applying cyclic loading. The cyclic loadings are applied at 40?kPa amplitude increments. Each loading stage lasts for 10?min at the frequency of 2?Hz, or until failure, whichever occurs first. The settlement of the footing, strain in the reinforcement and acceleration rate in the soil have been monitored during the tests. The results showed that the ultimate bearing capacity of the footings was affected by the number and layout of the reinforcements, and the increment of bearing capacity does not always increase with the number of reinforcement layers. The layout of the reinforcement layers affected the failure mechanisms of the footings. Including more layers of reinforcement could greatly reduce the dynamic response of the foundations under cyclic loading. In terms of bearing capacity improvement, including one layer of reinforcement at the depth of 0.6B was the optimum based on the test results. It is found that fracture of geogrid could occur under cyclic loading if the reinforcement is too shallow, i.e. for the cases with the first layer of reinforcement at 0.3B depth.     

Bearing capacity of strip foundations in horizontal-vertical reinforced soils

The formula for calculating the ultimate bearing capacity of horizontal-vertical reinforced soil is investigated based on the failure mode and the mechanism of sand beds reinforced with horizontal-vertical reinforcement. Two components of soils and reinforcement are calculated separately. The ultimate bearing capacity of a shallow, concentrically loaded strip footing on homogeneous soil is commonly determined using the Terzaghi superposition method. The contribution of horizontal-vertical reinforcement is calculated based on the bearing resistance of the soil against the transverse members. A vertical inclusion is treated as a retaining wall, the confinement being calculated using Rankine's earth pressure theory. An analytical solution is presented including the traditional factors of soil, unit soil weight, footing width, number of horizontal-vertical reinforcement layers, and reinforcement geometry. The results were validated against experimental results and the mean error of the theoretical model was about 10%, with a maximum error of about 20%.     

Visualisation and quantification of geogrid reinforcing effects under strip footing loads using discrete element method

Geogrids have been commonly used in reinforced soil structures to improve their performance. To investigate the geogrid reinforcement mechanisms, discrete element modelling of unreinforced and geogrid reinforced soil foundations and slopes was conducted under surface strip footing loads in this study. For unreinforced and reinforced soil foundations, the numerically obtained footing pressure-settlement relationships were validated by experimental results from the literature. In the numerical modelling of unreinforced and reinforced soil slopes, identical models and micro input parameters to those used in the numerical modelling of unreinforced and reinforced soil foundations were used. The geogrid reinforcing effects under strip footing loads were visualised by the qualitative contact force distributions in the soil structures, as well as the qualitative and quantitative tensile force distributions along the geogrids. In addition, the qualitative displacement distributions of soil particles in the soil structures and the quantitative vertical displacement distributions along soil layers/geogrids also indicated the geogrid reinforcing effects in such practical reinforced soil structures. The discrete element modelling results visualise and quantify the load transfer and spreading behavior in geogrid reinforced soil structures, and it provides researchers with an improved understanding of geogrid reinforcing effects at microscopic scale under strip footing loads.     

Full-scale mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) walls under strip footing load

This study analyses two full-scale model tests on mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) walls. One test was conducted with a rigid and one with a flexible wall face. Other parameters were the same in these two tests, like the number and type of geogrid layers, the vertical distance between the layers and the soil type. The loads and strains on the reinforcement are measured as function of the horizontal and vertical earth pressure and compared with analytical models. Specifics regarding the behavior of the geogrids under the compaction load during the construction of the model and under strip footing load are included in the study. Results are compared with AASHTO and the empirical K-stiffness method. In this study, an analytical method is developed for the MSE walls taking into account the facing panel rigidity both after backfill construction and after strip footing load. There is good agreement between the proposed analytical method and the experimental results considering the facing panel rigidity. The results indicate that the tensile force on reinforcement layers for rigid facing is less than the flexible facing. The maximum strains in the reinforcement layers occurred in the upper layers right below the strip footing load. The maximum wall deflection for the flexible facing is more than for the rigid facing. The maximum deflection was at the top of the wall for the rigid facing and occurred at z/H?=?0.81 from top of the wall for the flexible facing.     

Prediction of bearing capacity of circular footings on soft clay stabilized with granular soil

The shortage of available and suitable construction sites in city centres has led to the increased use of problematic areas, where the bearing capacity of the underlying deposits is very low. The reinforcement of these problematic soils with granular fill layers is one of the soil improvement techniques that are widely used. Problematic soil behaviour can be improved by totally or partially replacing the inadequate soils with layers of compacted granular fill. The study presented herein describes the use of artificial neural networks (ANNs), and the multi-linear regression model (MLR) to predict the bearing capacity of circular shallow footings supported by layers of compacted granular fill over natural clay soil. The data used in running the network models have been obtained from an extensive series of field tests, including large-scale footing diameters. The field tests were performed using seven different footing diameters, up to 0.90 m, and three different granular fill layer thicknesses. The results indicate that the use of granular fill layers over natural clay soil has a considerable effect on the bearing capacity characteristics and that the ANN model serves as a simple and reliable tool for predicting the bearing capacity of circular footings in stabilized natural clay soil.     

Numerical and experimental investigation of a gully under surcharge conditions

This paper deals with numerical and experimental investigation of a gully under exceptional situations after the sewer system becomes pressurized. These results are useful for the calibration and validation of the linking elements found in Dual Drainage (DD) models. The experimental results were obtained in the MLE (Multiple-Linking-Element) experimental installation that allows the simulation of full surcharge flow through a gully. The installation consists of an 8 m long and 0.5 m wide channel, fitted with a 0.6 × 0.3 × 0.3 m gully with a 80 mm diameter pipe inlet at the bottom. The numerical results were obtained using a three-dimensional structured mesh simulated in the OpenFOAM^TM Toolbox. The results characterization focuses mainly on the jet area, whereby pressure-flow relations were derived for this specific gully. The good agreement found between numerical and experimental results, allowed the extrapolation to larger flow rates.     

On braced trapezoidal corrugated steel shear panels: An experimental and numerical study

In this study, a new system consisting of a combination of braces and steel infill panels called the braced corrugated steel shear panel (BCSSP) is presented. To obtain the hysteretic behavior of the proposed system, the quasi-static cyclic performances of two experimental specimens were first evaluated. The finite element modeling method was then verified based on the obtained experimental results. Additional numerical evaluations were carried out to investigate the effects of different parameters on the system. Subsequently, a relationship was established to estimate the buckling shear strength of the system without considering residual stresses. The results obtained from the parametric study indicate that the corrugated steel shear panel (CSSP) with the specifications of a = 30 mm, t = 2 mm, and θ = 90° had the highest energy dissipation capacity and ultimate strength while the CSSP with the specifications of a = 30 mm, t = 2 mm, and θ = 30° had the highest initial stiffness. It can thus be concluded that the latter CSSP has the best structural performance and that increasing the number of corrugations, corrugation angle, and plate thickness and decreasing the sub-panel width generally enhance the performance of CSSPs in terms of the stability of their hysteretic behaviors.     

Predicting one-dimensional compression of tire derived aggregate using a simple method

Tire derived aggregate (TDA) is a material that exhibits high compression under loading, a factor that governs its design and performance in civil engineering. Due to the large size of TDA particles (up to 305 mm), it is hard to obtain undisturbed TDA samples from the field to perform compression testing in the laboratory. Commonly, laboratory compression tests are conducted on TDA with small particle sizes, and hence the stress-strain curves obtained cannot be directly used to predict the field compression of TDA with different particle sizes and initial unit weights. To solve this problem, this study proposes a simple method to predict the compression of TDA based on its compression modulus (E_c)-void ratio (e) relationship under one-dimensional loading. The effectiveness of this method is evaluated using experimental data from laboratory and field tests. The results indicate that TDA samples with different particle sizes and initial unit weights have a very similar E_c − e relationship under one-dimensional loading. Hence, the E_c − e relationship can be determined from a relatively small-scale laboratory compression test, and can then be used to predict the compression of TDA with different particle sizes, initial unit weights, tire sources, and test scales. The accuracy of the prediction relies on the accuracy of the measurements for specific gravity and initial unit weight.     

A miniature triaxial apparatus for investigating the micromechanics of granular soils with in situ X-ray micro-tomography scanning

The development of a miniature triaxial apparatus is presented. In conjunction with an X-ray micro-tomography (termed as X-ray μCT hereafter) facility and advanced image processing techniques, this apparatus can be used for in situ investigation of the micro-scale mechanical behavior of granular soils under shear. The apparatus allows for triaxial testing of a miniature dry sample with a size of \mathrm{8}\hspace{0.17em}\mathrm{mm}\times \mathrm{16}\hspace{0.17em}\mathrm{mm} (diameter \times height). In situ triaxial testing of a 0.4–0.8 mm Leighton Buzzard sand (LBS) under a constant confining pressure of 500 kPa is presented. The evolutions of local porosities (i.e., the porosities of regions associated with individual particles), particle kinematics (i.e., particle translation and particle rotation) of the sample during the shear are quantitatively studied using image processing and analysis techniques. Meanwhile, a novel method is presented to quantify the volumetric strain distribution of the sample based on the results of local porosities and particle tracking. It is found that the sample, with nearly homogenous initial local porosities, starts to exhibit obvious inhomogeneity of local porosities and localization of particle kinematics and volumetric strain around the peak of deviatoric stress. In the post-peak shear stage, large local porosities and volumetric dilation mainly occur in a localized band. The developed triaxial apparatus, in its combined use of X-ray μCT imaging techniques, is a powerful tool to investigate the micro-scale mechanical behavior of granular soils.     

Rate and acceleration effects on residual strength of kaolin and kaolin–bentonite mixtures in ring shearing

Rate effects on residual strength play an important role in predicting and evaluating the behaviour of reactivated landslides and in the application of test results and procedures. Although the rate dependency of residual strength has been investigated extensively, there is a lack of consistency in the experimental results. In particular, the effect of the shear rate on the residual strength of high-plasticity, low-permeability soils is not well understood. Additionally, field observations suggest that the sliding velocity of a soil block in the residual state is not constant and that its acceleration may affect the residual strength of the soil. However, the effect of acceleration changes on the residual strength of soil has not yet been investigated. The main objectives of this study are to elucidate the rate dependency of the residual strength of high-plasticity soils and investigate the effect of acceleration. In addition, the effect of the test procedure on the rate effect is also examined. A number of kaolin and kaolin–bentonite samples were tested using the Bishop-type ring shear device. The single-stage procedure which the shear rate was not changed during shearing, was conducted on individual specimens with shear rates from 0.02 to 20?mm/min to investigate the rate effect. The accelerations of 0.028 and 0.014?mm/min² were applied in multi-stage procedure with shear rates increasing gradually from 0.002 to 20?mm/min to examine the acceleration effect. The test results show that the bentonite content significantly affects the rate effect on the residual strength of kaolin–bentonite mixtures. For instance, in the single-stage procedure, the presence of just 10% bentonite changes the rate effect from positive to negative. This may be due to the generation of unknown excess pore water pressure under fast shearing. Furthermore, the test results also show that the type of rate effect observed depends on the test procedure. For mixture samples of 90% kaolin and 10% bentonite, the rate effect is negative in the single-stage procedure but positive in the multi-stage procedure. The analysis of the experimental results suggests that the effect of acceleration can be neglected in determining the residual strength.     

Laboratory investigation of bearing capacity behaviour of strip footing on reinforced flyash slope

The paper presents the results of laboratory model tests on bearing capacity behaviour of a strip footing resting on the top of a geogrid reinforced flyash slope. A series of model footing tests covering a wide range of boundary conditions, including unreinforced cases were conducted by varying parameters such as location and depth of embedment of single geogrid layer, number of geogrid layers, location of footing relative to the slope crest, slope angles and width of footing. The results of the investigation indicate that both the pressure–settlement behaviour and the ultimate bearing capacity of footing resting on the top of a flyash slope can be enhanced by the presence of reinforcing layers. However the efficiency of flyash geogrid system increases with the increasing number of geogrid layers and edge distance of footing from the slope. Based on experimental results critical values of geogrid parameters for maximum reinforcing effects are established. Experimental results obtained from a series of model tests have been presented and discussed in the paper.     

越南同林高岭土工艺矿物学及初步增白研究

对越南同林高岭土进行了系统的工艺矿物学研究,结果表明,试样中-0.045mm粒级产率为44.87%,淘洗率较高,说明该矿物粒度较细;煅烧试验结果表明,-0.002mm产品在900℃条件下白度较未煅烧白度低,不适合生产煅烧高岭土,但在1 250℃下煅烧后白度提高,适合作为陶瓷土使用;高梯度磁选试验研究结果表明,磁选精矿的自然白度可从磁选入料试样白度的76.28%提高到81.23%,效果不是很明显,还有待进一步研究其增白方法。     

Influence of geosynthetic stiffness on bearing capacity of strip footings seated on thin reinforced granular layers over undrained soft clay

Thin granular fill layers are routinely used to aid the construction of shallow footings seated over undrained soft clay foundations and to increase their load capacity. The influence of time- and strain-dependent reduction in reinforcement stiffness on the bearing capacity and load-settlement response of a footing seated on a thin reinforced granular fill layer over undrained soft clay foundations is examined in this paper using finite-difference method (FDM) numerical models. The time- and strain-dependent stiffness of the reinforcement described by a two-component hyperbolic isochronous tensile load-strain model is shown to influence the bearing capacity and load-settlement response of the reinforced granular base scenario. The additional benefit of a reinforced granular layer diminishes as the time-dependent stiffness of the geosynthetic reinforcement increases. An analytical solution for the ultimate bearing capacity of strip footings seated on thin unreinforced and reinforced granular layers over undrained clay is proposed in this study. The main practical outcome from this study are tables of bearing capacity factors to be used with the analytical solution. The bearing capacity factors were back-calculated from the numerical analyses and account for the influence of rate-dependent properties of geogrid reinforcement materials and clay foundations with soft to very soft undrained shear strength.