This study evaluated the side resistance of drilled shafts socketed into rock sections. Commonly used analysis methods for side resistance of piles in rocks are examined by utilizing a large number of load test data. The analysis of the unit side resistance of pile foundations embedded into rock sections is based on an empirical coefficient (α) and the uniaxial compressive strength (q_u) or its root (${\sqrt{q_u}}$). The Davisson criterion was used to interpret the resistance capacity from the load test results to acquire the computed relationships. The α-${\sqrt{q_u}}$ relationship is proven to be reliable in the prediction of friction resistance. This study further analyzed the relationship by including the effect of rock quality designation (RQD) on the results. Analysis results showed that the analysis model of α-${\sqrt{q_u}}$-RQD provided better prediction and reliability considering the RQD classification. Based on these analyses, the side resistance of drilled shafts socked into rocks is provided with statistical data to support the analysis.

Slopes stabilised with piles are seldom analysed considering uncertainties in the parameters of the pile-slope system. Reliability analysis of the pile-slope system quantifies the degree of uncertainties and evaluates the safety of the system. In the present study, the reliability analysis of a slope stabilised with piles is performed using the first-order reliability method (FORM) based on Hasofer-Lind approach. The implicit performance function associated with the factor of safety (FS) of the slope is approximated using the response surface method. The analyses are carried out considering the design matrices formulated based on both the 2^k factorial design augmented with a centre run (2^k fact-centred design) and face-centered cube design (FCD). The finite element method is used as the deterministic model to compute the FS of the pile-slope system. Results are compared with the results of the Monte Carlo simulation. It is observed that the optimum location of the row of piles is at the middle of the slope to achieve the maximum FS. The results show that the reliability of the system is not uniform for different pile configurations, even if the system deterministically satisfies the target factor of safety (FS_t) criterion. The FS_t should be selected judiciously as it is observed that the reliability of the system changes drastically with the FS_t level. The results of the 2^k fact-centred design and FCD are in good agreement with each other. The procedure of the FCD is computationally costly and hence the use of 2^k fact-centred design is recommended, provided the response of the system is sufficiently linear over the factorial space.

An elastic-plastic solution for cavity expansion problem considering strength degradation, undrained condition and initial anisotropic in-situ stress is established based on the Tresca yield criterion and cavity expansion theory. Assumptions of large-strain for plastic region and small-strain for elastic region are adopted, respectively. The initial in-situ stress state of natural soil mass may be anisotropic caused by consolidation history, and the strength degradation of soil mass is caused by structural damage of soil mass in the process of loading analysis (cavity expansion process). Finally, the published solutions are conducted to verify the suitability of this elastic-plastic solution, and the parametric studies are investigated in order to the significance of this study for in-situ soil test.

The presence of cracks changes the water content pattern during seepage through a cracked soil as compared to that of intact soil. In addition, several different crack networks may form in one soil type. These two factors result in a variation of water contents in the soil matrix part of a cracked soil during seepage. This paper presents an investigation of the effect of crack network representation on the water content of the soil matrix part of cracked soil using numerical models. A new method for the numerical generation of crack networks incorporating connections among crack endpoints was developed as part of the investigation. Numerical analysis results indicated that the difference in the point water content was large, whereas the difference in the average water content was relatively small, indicating the uniqueness of the crack network representation on the average water content of the soil matrix part of cracked soil.

High-stress and complex geological conditions impose great challenges to maintain excavation stability during deep underground mining. In this research, large anisotropic deformation and its management by support system at a deep underground mine in Western Australia were simulated through three-dimensional finite-difference model. The ubiquitous-joint model was used and calibrated in FLAC3D to reproduce the deformation and failure characteristics of the excavation based on the field monitoring results. After modeling verification, the roles of mining depth also the intercept angle between excavation axis and foliation orientation on the deformation and damage were studied. Based on the results, quantitative relationships between key factors and damage classifications were presented, which can be used as an engineering tool. Subsequently, the performance of support system installation sequences was simulated and compared at four different scenarios. The results show that, first surface support and then reinforcement installation can obtain a better controlling effect. Finally, the influence of bolt spacing and ring spacing were also discussed. The outcomes obtained in this research may play a meaningful reference for facing the challenges in thin-bedded or foliated ground conditions.

Large tonnage pile foundation load test system is designed in this paper by using pre-stressed technique to optimize the design of anchor pile reaction beam system, in which project pile can be successfully taken as anchor pile. The test results show that the cracks and excessive deformations of the prestressed anti-force device designed in this study have not occurred, and the prestressed tendons of the anchor pile ensure that the anchor pile will not be pulled and fractured, and the prestressed tendons can be reused, thus ensuring the safety and reliability of the test. This test method can directly test bearing capacity of long rock-socketed piles, and analysis bearing behaviors from test results of sensors which embedded in the pile. Through test studied, authors summarized the vertical bearing characteristics of long rock-socketed piles and the main problems that should be paid attention to during design and construction, and provided reliable solutions.

Aiming at the mechanical and structural characteristics of the contact zone composite rock, the uniaxial compression tests and numerical studies were carried out. The interaction forms and formation mechanisms at the contact interfaces of different materials were analyzed to reveal the effect of interaction on the mechanical behavior of composite samples. The research demonstrated that there are three types of interactions between the two materials at the contact interface: constraint parallel to the interface, squeezing perpendicular to the interface, and shear stress on the interface. The interaction is mainly affected by the differences in Poisson's ratio and elastic modulus of the two materials, stronger interface adhesion, and larger interface inclination. The interaction weakens the strength and stiffness of the composite sample, and the magnitude of weakening is positively correlated with the degree of difference in the mechanical properties of the materials. The tensile-shear stress derived from the interaction results in the axial tensile fracture perpendicular to the interface and the interfacial shear facture. Tensile cracks in stronger material will propagation into the weaker material through the bonded interface. The larger inclination angle of the interface enhances the effect of composite tensile/shear failure on the overall sample.

This study is attempted to propose a new hybrid artificial intelligence model called integrative genetic algorithm with multivariate adaptive regression splines (GA-MARS) for settlement prediction of shallow foundations on sandy soils. In this hybrid model, the evolution algorithm - Genetic Algorithm (GA) was used to search and optimize the hyperparameters of multivariate adaptive regression splines (MARS). For this purpose, a total of 180 experimental data were collected and analyzed from available researches with five-input variables including the bread of foundation (B), length to width (L/B), embedment ratio (D_f/B), foundation net applied pressure (q_net), and average SPT blow count (N_SPT). In further analysis, a new explicit formulation was derived from MARS and its accuracy was compared with four available formulae. The attained results indicated that the proposed GA-MARS model exhibited a more robust and better performance than the available methods.