The objective of this work is to study the wave propagation of an FGM plate via a new integral inverse shear model with temperature-dependent material properties. In this contribution, a new model based on a high-order theory field of displacement is included by introducing indeterminate integral variables and inverse co-tangential functions for the presentation of shear stress. The temperature-dependent properties of the FGM plate are assumed mixture of metal and ceramic, and its properties change by the power functions of the thickness of the plate. By applying Hamilton's principle, general formulas of wave propagation were obtained to plot the phase velocity curves and wave modes of the FGM plate with simply supported edges. The effects of the temperature and volume fraction by distributions on wave propagation of the FGM plate are investigated in detail. The results of the dispersion and the phase velocity curves of the propagation wave in the functionally graded plate are compared with previous research.

The construction of shield tunnelling in urban sites is facing serious risks from complex and changeable underground conditions. Construction problems in the sand-clay mixed ground have been more reported in recent decades for its poor control of soil loss in tunnel face, ground settlement and supporting pressure. Since the limitations of observation methods, the conventional physical modelling experiments normally simplify the tunnelling to a plane strain situation whose results are not reliable in mixed ground cases which exhibit more complicated responses. We propose a new method for the study of the mixed ground tunnel through which mixed lays are simulated with transparent soil surrogates exhibiting different mechanical properties. An experimental framework for the transparent soil modelling of the mixed ground tunnel was established incorporated with the self-developed digital image correlation system (PhotoInfor). To understand better the response of face stability, ground deformation, settlement and supporting phenomenon to tunnelling excavation in the sand-clay mixed ground, a series of case studies were carried out comparing the results from cases subjected to different buried depths and mixed phenomenon. The results indicate that the deformation mode, settlement and supporting phenomenon vary with the mixed phenomenon and buried depth. Moreover, a stratigraphic effect exists that the ground movement around mixed face reveals a notable difference.

Intermediate Geomaterials (IGMs) are natural formation materials that exhibit the engineering behavior (strength and compressibility) between soils and rocks. The engineering behavior of such material is highly unpredictable as the IGMs are stiffer than soils and weaker/softer than rocks. Further, the characterization of such material needs exposure to both soil and rock mechanics. In most conventional designs of geotechnical structures, the engineering properties of the IGMs are either aligned with soils or rocks, and this assumption may end up either in an over-conservative design or under-conservative design. Hence, many researchers have attempted to evaluate its actual engineering properties through laboratory tests. However, the test results are partially reliable due to the poor core recovery of IGMs and the possible sample disturbance. Subsequently, in-situ tests have been used in recent years to evaluate the engineering properties of IGMs. However, the respective in-situ test finds its limitations while exploring IGMs with different geological formations at deeper depths with the constraints of sampling. Standard Penetration Test (SPT) is the strength-based index test that is often used to explore IGMs. Moreover, it was also observed that the coefficient of variation of the design parameters (which represents the uncertainties in the design parameters) of IGMs is relatively high, and also the studies on the probabilistic characterization of IGMs are limited compared with soils and rocks. With this perspective, the present article reviews the laboratory and in-situ tests used to characterize the IGMs and explores the shear strength variation based on their geological origin.

Tunnel construction activity, conducted mainly in mountains and within urban centres, causes soil settlement, thus requiring the relevant management of slopes and structures as well as evaluations of risk and stability. Accordingly, in this study we performed a three-dimensional finite element analysis to examine the behaviour of piles and pile cap stability when a tunnel passes near the bottom of the foundation of a pile group connected by a pile cap. We examined the results via numerical analysis considering different conditions for reinforcement of the ground between the tunnel and the pile foundation. The numerical analysis assessed the angular distortion of the pile cap, pile settlement, axial force, shear stress, relative displacement, and volume loss due to tunnel excavation, and pile cap stability was evaluated based on Son and Cording's evaluation criterion for damage to adjacent structures. The pile located closest to the tunnel under the condition of no ground reinforcement exhibited pile head settlement approximately 70% greater than that of the pile located farthest from the tunnel under the condition of greatest ground reinforcement. Additionally, pile head settlement was greatest when the largest volume loss occurred, being approximately 18% greater than pile head settlement under the condition having the smallest volume loss. This paper closely examines the main factors influencing the behaviour of a pile group connected by a pile cap for three ground reinforcement conditions and presents an evaluation of pile cap stability.

In the studies on fault dislocation of tunnel, existing literatures are mainly focused on the problems caused by normal and reverse faults, but few on strike-slip faults. The paper aims to research the deformation and failure mechanism of a tunnel under strike-slip faulting based on a model test and test-calibrated numerical simulation. A potential faulting hazard condition is considered for a real water tunnel in central Yunnan, China. Based on the faulting hazard to tunnel, laboratory model tests were conducted with a test apparatus that specially designed for strike-slip faults. Then, to verify the results obtained from the model test, a finite element model was built. By comparison, the numerical results agree with tested ones well. The results indicated that most of the shear deformation and damage would appear within fault fracture zone. The tunnel exhibited a horizontal S-shaped deformation profile under strike-slip faulting. The side walls of the tunnel mainly experience tension and compression strain state, while the roof and floor of the tunnel would be in a shear state. Circular cracks on tunnel near fault fracture zone were more significant owing to shear effects of strike-slip faulting, while the longitudinal cracks occurred at the hanging wall.

Looking from the past to the present, the earthquakes can be said to be type of disaster with most casualties among natural disasters. Soil liquefaction, which occurs under repeated loads such as earthquakes, plays a major role in these casualties. In this study, analytical equation models were developed to predict the probability of occurrence of soil liquefaction. In this context, the parameters effective in liquefaction were determined out of 170 data sets taken from the real field conditions of past earthquakes, using WEKA decision tree. Linear, Exponential, Power and Quadratic models have been developed based on the identified earthquake and ground parameters using Krill Herd algorithm. The Exponential model, among the models including the magnitude of the earthquake, fine grain ratio, effective stress, standard penetration test impact number and maximum ground acceleration parameters, gave the most successful results in predicting the fields with and without the occurrence of liquefaction. This proposed model enables the researchers to predict the liquefaction potential of the soil in advance according to different earthquake scenarios. In this context, measures can be realized in regions with the high potential of liquefaction and these measures can significantly reduce the casualties in the event of a new earthquake.

The effects of various supporting arrangements have been investigated on an excavation support system using a numerical tool. The purpose of providing different supporting arrangements was to limit the pile wall deflection in the range of 0.5% to 1% of the excavation depth. Firstly, a deep excavation supported by sheet pile wall was modeled and the effects of sheet pile wall thickness, excavation depth and distance to adjacent footings from sheet pile wall face were explored on the soil deformation and wall deflection. Further analysis was performed considering six different arrangements of tieback anchors and struts in order to limit the wall deflections. Case-01 represents the basic excavation geometry supported by sheet pile wall only. In Case-02, sheet pile wall was supported by struts. Case-03 is a sheet pile wall supported by tieback anchors. Likewise, for the Cases 04, 05 and 06, different arrangements of struts and tieback anchors were used. Finally, the effects of different supporting arrangements on soil deformation, sheet pile wall deflection, bending moments and anchor forces have been presented.

In this paper, we present the results of an experimental study on the effect of polymer support fluid on shaft resistance of offshore bored piles. A series of pullout tests were performed on bored piles installed under various boundary conditions considering different types of grounds and support fluids, and a range of support fluid exposure times. Contrary to previous studies concerning onshore bored piles, a time dependent effect of polymer fluid on shaft resistance was observed in all ground types. The adverse effect of polymer support fluid on the shaft resistance, however, was considerably less than bentonite support fluid for a given exposure time. No significant reduction in shaft resistance was evident when limiting the exposure time of the polymer support fluid to the side wall of the borehole within 2-3 hours. The degree to which the polymer fluid affects shaft resistance seemed to vary with the ground type. A proper consideration should be given to the time dependent effect of polymer fluid on shaft resistance of bored piles installed in offshore construction environment to limit its adverse effect on the pile performance. The practical implications of the findings are discussed.