A multiscale work-analysis approach for geotechnical structures

This paper presents a second-order work analysis in application to geotechnical problems by using a novel effective multiscale approach. To abandon complicated equations involved in conventional phenomenological models, this multiscale approach employs a micromechanically-based formulation, in which only four parameters are involved. The multiscale approach makes it possible a coupling of the finite element method (FEM) and the micromechanically-based model. The FEM is used to solve the boundary value problem (BVP) while the micromechanically-based model is utilized at the Gauss point of the FEM. Then, the multiscale approach is used to simulate a three-dimensional triaxial test and a plain-strain footing. On the basis of the simulations, material instabilities are analyzed at both mesoscale and global scale. The second-order work criterion is then used to analyze the numerical results. It opens a road to interpret and understand the micromechanisms hiding behind the occurrence of failure in geotechnical issues.     

A comparison of multiscale methods for elliptic problems in porous media flow

We review and perform comparison studies for three recent multiscale methods for solving elliptic problems in porous media flow; the multiscale mixed finite-element method, the numerical subgrid upscaling method, and the multiscale finite-volume method. These methods are based on a hierarchical strategy, where the global flow equations are solved on a coarsened mesh only. However, for each method, the discrete formulation of the partial differential equations on the coarse mesh is designed in a particular fashion to account for the impact of heterogeneous subgrid structures of the porous medium. The three multiscale methods produce solutions that are mass conservative on the underlying fine mesh. The methods may therefore be viewed as efficient, approximate fine-scale solvers, i.e., as an inexpensive alternative to solving the elliptic problem on the fine mesh. In addition, the methods may be utilized as an alternative to upscaling, as they generate mass-conservative solutions on the coarse mesh. We therefore choose to also compare the multiscale methods with a state-of-the-art upscaling method – the adaptive local–global upscaling method, which may be viewed as a multiscale method when coupled with a mass-conservative downscaling procedure. We investigate the properties of all four methods through a series of numerical experiments designed to reveal differences with regard to accuracy and robustness. The numerical experiments reveal particular problems with some of the methods, and these will be discussed in detail along with possible solutions. Next, we comment on implementational aspects and perform a simple analysis and comparison of the computational costs associated with each of the methods. Finally, we apply the three multiscale methods to a dynamic two-phase flow case and demonstrate that high efficiency and accurate results can be obtained when the subgrid computations are made part of a preprocessing step and not updated, or updated infrequently, throughout the simulation. The research is funded by the Research Council of Norway under grant nos. 152732 and 158908.     

A generalized surrogate response aided-subset simulation approach for efficient geotechnical reliability-based design

This paper aims to develop an efficient geotechnical reliability-based design (RBD) approach using Monte Carlo simulation (MCS). The proposed approach combines a recently developed MCS-based RBD approach, namely expanded RBD approach, with an advanced MCS method called “Subset Simulation (SS)” to improve the computation efficiency at small probability levels that are often concerned in geotechnical design practice. To facilitate the integration of SS and expanded RBD, a generalized surrogate response f is proposed to define the driving variable, which is a key parameter in SS, for expanded RBD of geotechnical structures (e.g., soil retaining structures and foundations). With the aid of the proposed surrogate response, failure probabilities of all the possible designs in a prescribed design space are calculated from a single run of SS. Equations are derived for integration of the surrogate response-aided SS and expanded RBD, and are illustrated using an embedded sheet pile wall design example and two drilled shaft design examples. Results show that the proposed approach provides reasonable estimates of failure probabilities of different designs using a single run of the surrogate response-aided SS, and significantly improves the computational efficiency at small probabilities levels in comparison with direct MCS-based expanded RBD. The surrogate response-aided SS is able to, simultaneously, approach the failure domains of all the possible designs in the design space by a single run of simulation and to generate more complete design information, which subsequently yields feasible designs with a wide range of combinations of design parameters. This is mainly attributed to the strong correlation between the surrogate response and target response (e.g., factor of safety) of different designs concerned in geotechnical RBD.     

Calculating the effective permeability of sandstone with multiscale lattice Boltzmann/finite element simulations

The lattice Boltzmann (LB) method is an efficient technique for simulating fluid flow through individual pores of complex porous media. The ease with which the LB method handles complex boundary conditions, combined with the algorithm’s inherent parallelism, makes it an elegant approach to solving flow problems at the sub-continuum scale. However, the realities of current computational resources can limit the size and resolution of these simulations. A major research focus is developing methodologies for upscaling microscale techniques for use in macroscale problems of engineering interest. In this paper, we propose a hybrid, multiscale framework for simulating diffusion through porous media. We use the finite element (FE) method to solve the continuum boundary-value problem at the macroscale. Each finite element is treated as a sub-cell and assigned permeabilities calculated from subcontinuum simulations using the LB method. This framework allows us to efficiently find a macroscale solution while still maintaining information about microscale heterogeneities. As input to these simulations, we use synchrotron-computed 3D microtomographic images of a sandstone, with sample resolution of 3.34 μm. We discuss the predictive ability of these simulations, as well as implementation issues. We also quantify the lower limit of the continuum (Darcy) scale, as well as identify the optimal representative elementary volume for the hybrid LB–FE simulations.     

A one-dimensional integral approach to calculating the failure probability of geotechnical engineering structures

This study focuses on the geotechnical engineering structures with implicit or unknown expressions of performance functions. A one-dimensional integral approach (ODIA) consisting of sampling, evaluation of statistical moments for multivariable functions, probability density function fitting, and simple integration of failure probability was developed through system integration. A convergence study of an illustrative example was conducted, and the error analysis revealed that the accuracy of ODIA is equivalent to that of the second-order reliability method. Applications of ODIA to a slope and surrounding rock of an excavation were presented to further confirm the accuracy, efficiency, and practicability of the approach.     

A novel nonlinear solution for the polygon scaled boundary finite element method and its application to geotechnical structures

The polygon scaled boundary finite element method is semi-analytical and known for its high precision. However, the material nonlinearity cannot be maintained because this method uses an analytical solution in the radial direction. In this paper, a novel nonlinear algorithm is developed by introducing internal Gaussian points over a subdomain. The response of nonlinearity for a concrete-faced rockfill dam is modeled. The results correspond well with the results from finite element modelling, which demonstrates the method can be used to describe the nonlinear characteristics of geomaterials. Furthermore, this method offers promising flexibility for analyzing complex geometries without decreasing the precision.     

LISP for CAD与岩土工程勘察平面图处理

根据岩土工程勘察平面图绘制及处理的特点,分析了由勘察技术人员采用Lispfor CAD语言编写勘察平面图处理软件的优势。并举实例说明这种方法不仅可提高绘图质量和速度,而且具有实时纠错、自动统计及生成数据等处理功能。     

Controlling the safety of geotechnical structures: a proposed approach

Summary This paper considers the safety of geotechnical structures using various design philosophies which include the global safety method and a number of limit state design methods. The methods are considered individually and their treatment of uncertainties of design briefly discussed in terms of parameter and system uncertainty. Each method is not designed to produce a definitive measure of safety, but should be viewed as an aid in the process of controlling or managing safety. Crucial to all design methods is the idea of a design parameter. However, in certain instances it is often not clear whether a design parameter should be an upper or lower bound on its possible value. A proposed limit state design method for overcoming this problem is outlined, based on putting bounds on parameters. An example of a reinforced concrete cantilever retaining wall is used to demonstrate its advantages over current methods. The proposed method offers a more rational approach to the design of retaining structures.     

Three-dimensional topology optimization for geotechnical foundations in granular soil

This article presents three-dimensional structural optimization in geotechnical engineering for foundations in granular soil. The general design (topology) of a shallow foundation is optimized with respect to its deformational behaviour within the service limit state. The SIMP (solid isotropic material with penalization) method is applied to optimize the distribution of foundation material. The soil is modelled as a hypoplastic material with a constitutive model suitable for optimization using finite element analysis. Two load cases are examined. The optimized topology is validated against two-dimensional optimization and 1g-model test results. The present study proves the applicability and shows the potential of topology optimization in geotechnical engineering.     

Genetic algorithms in probabilistic finite element analysis of geotechnical problems

In application to numerical analysis of geotechnical problems, the limit-state surface is usually not known in any closed form. The probability of failure can be assessed via the so-called reliability index. A minimization problem can naturally be formed with an implicit equality constraint defined as the limit-state function and optimization methods can be used for such problems. In this paper, a genetic algorithm is proposed and incorporated into a displacement finite element method to find the Hasofer–Lind reliability index. The probabilistic finite element method is then used to analyse the reliability of classical geotechnical systems. The performance of the genetic algorithm (GA) is compared with simpler probability methods such as the first-order-second-moment Taylor series method. The comparison shows that the GA can produce the results fairly quickly and is applicable to evaluation of the failure performance of geotechnical problems involving a large number of decision variables.     

三维过渡等参单元在岩土工程有限元分析中的应用

土石坝等复杂土工结构物有限元三维建模中多采用精度较高的六面体单元辅以部分过渡用的退化单元,而退化单元由于形态不好,会导致有限元计算精度较差。解决该问题的途径之一是采用过渡性的等参元。总结了几种常遇到的过渡等参单元（楔形体、四面体、金字塔）的插值函数和高斯积分局部坐标和权重,并编入了有限元程序。通过比较六面体单元和金字塔单元剖分理想土石坝的有限元计算结果,说明所引入的金字塔单元是满足精度要求的。将各种过渡单元应用于实际土石坝工程的有限元计算,结果表明,使用过渡等参单元是可以在一定程度上提高计算精度的。最后讨论了二次单元在弹塑性有限元动力计算中的应用。二次单元的使用,可以改善动力计算中的超静孔压分布,提高计算精度。     

Development of an implicit material point method for geotechnical applications

An implicit material point method (MPM), a variant of the finite element method (FEM), is presented in this paper. The key feature of MPM is that the spatial discretisation uses a set of material points, which are allowed to move freely through the background mesh. All history-dependent variables are tracked on the material points and these material points are used as integration points similar to the Gaussian points. A mapping and re-mapping algorithm is employed, to allow the state variables and other information to be mapped back and forth between the material points and background mesh nodes during an analysis. In contrast to an explicit time integration scheme utilised by most researchers, an implicit time integration scheme has been utilised here. The advantages of such an approach are twofold: firstly, it addresses the limitation of the time step size inherent in explicit integration schemes, thereby potentially saving significant computational costs for certain types of problems; secondly, it enables an improved algorithm accuracy, which is important for some constitutive behaviours, such as elasto-plasticity. The main purpose of this paper is to provide a unified MPM framework, in which both quasi-static and dynamic analyses can be solved, and to demonstrate the model behaviour. The implementation closely follows standard FEM approaches, where possible, to allow easy conversion of other FEM codes. Newton’s method is used to solve the equation of motion for both cases, while the formation of the mass matrix and the required updating of the kinematic variables are unique to the dynamic analysis. Comparisons with an Updated Lagrangian FEM and an explicit MPM code are made with respect to the algorithmic accuracy and time step size in a couple of representative examples, which helps to illustrate the relative performance and advantages of the implicit MPM. A geotechnical application is then considered, illustrating the capabilities of the proposed method when applied in the geotechnical field.     

加入多尺度图像纹理的岩性分类

利用遥感图像进行岩性分类,是遥感地质应用的重要方面之一.本文运用地统计学中变差函数提取图像纹理,并与原始的光谱图像相结合用于遥感图像的岩性分类.文章分析了不同尺度的纹理信息对岩性分类的作用,并进一步分析和比较多尺度图像纹理对岩性分类的作用.结果表明,在岩性分类过程中加入不同尺度的纹理信息可不同程度地提高图像的岩性分类精度,而同时加入多尺度的纹理信息,可得到更高的分类精度.将多尺度的图像纹理信息和光谱信息综合,是一种有效的岩性分类方法.     

A finite element approach to solve contact problems in geotechnical engineering

This paper presents a finite element approach to solve geotechnical problems with interfaces. The behaviours of interfaces obey the Mohr–Coulomb law. The FEM formulae are constructed by means of the principle of virtual displacement with contact boundary. To meet displacement compatibility conditions on contact boundary, independent degrees of freedom are taken as unknowns in FEM equations, instead of conventional nodal displacements. Examples on pressure distribution beneath a rigid strip footing, lateral earth pressure on retaining walls, behaviours of axially loaded bored piles, a shield‐driven metro tunnel, and interaction of a sliding slope with the tunnels going through it are solved with this method. The results show good agreement with analytical solutions or with in situ test results. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Multivariate adaptive regression splines for analysis of geotechnical engineering systems

With the rapid increases in processing speed and memory of low-cost computers, it is not surprising that various advanced computational learning tools such as neural networks have been increasingly used for analyzing or modeling highly nonlinear multivariate engineering problems. These algorithms are useful for analyzing many geotechnical problems, particularly those that lack a precise analytical theory or understanding of the phenomena involved. In situations where measured or numerical data are available, neural networks have been shown to offer great promise for mapping the nonlinear interactions (dependency) between the system’s inputs and outputs. Unlike most computational tools, in neural networks no predefined mathematical relationship between the dependent and independent variables is required. However, neural networks have been criticized for its long training process since the optimal configuration is not known a priori. This paper explores the use of a fairly simple nonparametric regression algorithm known as multivariate adaptive regression splines (MARS) which has the ability to approximate the relationship between the inputs and outputs, and express the relationship mathematically. The main advantages of MARS are its capacity to produce simple, easy-to-interpret models, its ability to estimate the contributions of the input variables, and its computational efficiency. First the MARS algorithm is described. A number of examples are then presented that explore the generalization capabilities and accuracy of this approach in comparison to the back-propagation neural network algorithm.     

A generalized probabilistic approach for slope analysis

Summary A new probabilistic approach is introduced for slope stability analysis, which is general in types of variable distributions and correlations or dependency between variables, and flexible enough to include any adverse impact analysis for blasting vibrations and groundwater conditions.The material strength within a slope area, given in terms of the internal friction angle (ø) and cohesion (c), is randomized in the bivariate joint probability analysis. To be a completely general engineering method, the new probabilistic approach employs the random variable transformation technique: the Hermite model of the Gaussian transformation function, which transforms the experimental histogram of shear strength parameters to the standard Gaussian distribution (=0, ²=1.0).Because a binormal joint probability is analysed on the true probability region projected on the plane of the Gaussian transformed variables, it is an exact solution of slope stability based on the available sample data. No assumption on the shape of the experimental histogram or independency between two random variables is made as in the current probability methods of slope analysis.     

A geographical information system managing geotechnical data for Athens (Greece) and its use for automated seismic microzonation

This article presents a geographical information system (GIS) which manages geotechnical data obtained from detailed geotechnical surveys as well as from in situ observations in Athens, Greece. Thoroughly examined data from more than 2,000 exploratory boreholes and trial pits located in the wider area of Athens have been incorporated using a relational database system. From the analysis of these results, thematic maps are compiled to illustrate the distribution of engineering geological information (e.g. the depth of the “Athens schist” head). In addition, a methodology for an automated GIS-aided seismic microzonation study is outlined and is being employed taking into account the aforementioned geotechnical and engineering geological information, as well as existing seismological data to estimate the variability of seismic ground motion for the southern part of Athens.