• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.68 no.1
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• pp.95-101
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• 2018

The low rate of penetration and short lifetime of drilling bit served as the most common problems encountered in hard formation drilling, thus leading to severe restriction of drilling efficiency in oil and gas reservoir. This study developed a new local impact drilling method to enhance hard formation drilling efficiency. The limitation length formulas of radial/lateral cracks under static indentation and dynamic impact are derived based on the experimental research of Marshall D.B considering the mud column pressure and confining pressure. The local impact rock breaking simulation model is conducted to investigate its ROP raising effect. The results demonstrate that the length of radial/lateral cracks will increase as the decrease of mud pressure and confining pressure, and the local impact can result in a damage zone round the impact crater which helps the rock cutting, thus leading to the ROP increase. The numerical results also demonstrate the advantages of local impact method for raising ROP and the vibration reduction of bit in hard formation drilling. This study has shown that the local impact method can help raising the ROP and vibration reduction of bit, and it may be applied in drilling engineering.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.947-961
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• 2017

An innovative spiral variable-section capillary model is established for piping critical hydraulic gradient of cohesion-less soils causing water/mud inrush in tunnels. The relationship between the actual winding seepage channel and grain-size distribution, porosity, and permeability is established in the model. Soils are classified into coarse particles and fine particles according to the grain-size distribution. The piping critical hydraulic gradient is obtained by analyzing starting modes of fine particles and solving corresponding moment equilibrium equations. Gravities, drag forces, uplift forces and frictions are analyzed in moment equilibrium equations. The influence of drag force and uplift force on incipient motion is generally expounded based on the mechanical analysis. Two cases are studied with the innovative capillary model. The critical hydraulic gradient of each kind of sandy gravels with a bimodal grain-size-distribution is obtained in case one, and results have a good agreement with previous experimental observations. The relationships between the content of fine particles and the critical hydraulic gradient of seepage failure are analyzed in case two, and the changing tendency of the critical hydraulic gradient is accordant with results of experiments.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.627-636
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• 2023

The essence of subgrade mud pumping under train load is the migration of fine particles in subgrade soil. The migration of fine particles will change the pore structure of overlying ballast, thus affecting the mechanical properties and hydraulic properties of ballast layer. It is of great theoretical significance and engineering value to study the effect of fine particle migration on the pore structure of ballast layer under cyclic loading. In this paper, a tailor-made subgrade mud pumping test model and an X-ray computed tomography (CT) scanning equipment were used to study the influence of migration of fine particles in subgrade soil on the pore parameters (plane porosity, volume porosity, pore distribution and pore connectivity) of overlying ballast under cyclic loading. The results show that the compression of ballast pores and the blockage of migrated fine particles make the porosity of ballast layer decreases gradually. And the percentage of small pores in ballast layer increases, while the percentage of large pores decreases; the connectivity of pores also gradually decreases. Based on the test results, an empirical model of ballast porosity evolution under cyclic loading is established and verified.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.437-454
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• 2016

Wellbore instability problem is one of the main problems that met frequently during drilling, particularly in high temperature, high pressure (HPHT) formations. There are large amount of researches about wellbore stability in HPHT formations, which based on the thermo-poroelastic theory and some achievements were obtained; however, few studies have investigated on the fully coupled thermo-poroelastoplasticity analysis of wellbore stability, especially the analysis of wellbore stability while the filter cake formed. Therefore, it is very necessary to do some work. In this paper, the three-dimensional wellbore stability model which overall considering the effects of fully coupled thermo-poroelastoplasticity and filter cake is established based on the finite element method and Drucker-Prager failure criterion. The distribution of pore pressure, wellbore stress and plastic deformation under the conditions of different mud pressures, times and temperatures have been discussed. The results obtained in this paper can offer a great help on understanding the distribution of pore pressure and wellbore stress of wellbore in the HPHT formation for drilling engineers.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.513-525
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• 2018

Slope stability of sensitive clayey soils is particularly important when subjected to strength loss and deformation. Except for progressive failure, for most sensitive and insensitive slopes, it is important to review the feasibility of conventional analysis methods based on peak strength since peak strength governs slope stability before yielding. In this study, as a part of efforts to understand the behavior of sensitive clay slopes, a total of 12 centrifuge tests were performed for artificially sensitive and insensitive clay slopes using San Francisco Bay Mud (PI = 50) and Yolo Loam (PI = 10). In terms of slope stability, the results were analyzed using the updated instability factor ($N_I$). $N_I$ using equivalent unit weight to cause a failure is in reasonable agreement shown in the Taylor's chart ($N_I$ ~ 5.5). In terms of dynamic deformation, it is shown that two-way sliding is a more accurate approach than conventional one-way sliding. Two-way sliding may relate to diffused shear surfaces. The outcome of this study is contributable to analyzing stability and deformation of steep sensitive clay slopes.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.57-81
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• 2015

Water inrush and mud outburst always restricts the tunnel constructions in mountain area, which becomes a major geological barrier against the development of underground engineering. In view of the complex disaster-causing mechanism and difficult quantitative predictions of water inrush and mud outburst, several theoretical methods are adopted to realize dynamic assessment of water inrush in the progressive process of tunnel construction. Concerning both the geological condition and construction situation, eleven risk factors are quantitatively described and an assessment system is developed to evaluate the water inrush risk. In the static assessment, the weights of eight risk factors about the geological condition are determined using Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). Each factor is scored by experts and the synthesis scores are weighted. The risk level is ultimately determined based on the scoring outcome which is derived from the sum of products of weights and comprehensive scores. In the secondary assessment, the eight risk factors in static assessment and three factors about construction situation are quantitatively analyzed using fuzzy evaluation method. Subordinate levels and weight of factors are prepared and then used to calculate the comprehensive subordinate degree and risk level. In the dynamic assessment, the classical field of the eleven risk factors is normalized by using the extension evaluation method. From the input of the matter-element, weights of risk factors are determined and correlation analysis is carried out to determine the risk level. This system has been applied to the dynamic assessment of water inrush during construction of the Yuanliangshan tunnel of Yuhuai Railway. The assessment results are consistent with the actual excavation, which verifies the rationality and feasibility of the software. The developed system is believed capable to be back-up and applied for risk assessment of water inrush in the underground engineering construction.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.49-68
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• 2023

The three-dimensional failure criterion is essential for maintaining wellbore stability and sand production problem. The convenient factor for a stable wellbore is mud weight and borehole orientation, i.e., mud window design and selection of borehole trajectory. This study proposes a new three-dimensional failure criterion with linear relation of three in-situ principal stresses. The number of failure criteria executed to understand the phenomenon of rock failure under in-situ stresses is the Mohr-Coulomb criterion, Hoek-Brown criterion, Mogi-Coulomb criterion, and many more. A new failure criterion is the extended Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion with the influence of intermediate principal stress (σ₂). The influence of intermediate principal stress is considered as a weighting of (σ₂) on the mean effective stress. The triaxial compression test data for eleven rock types are taken from the literature for calibration of material constant and validation of failure prediction. The predictions on rock samples using new criteria are the best fit with the triaxial compression test data points. Here, Drucker-Prager and the Mogi-Coulomb criterion are also implemented to predict the failure for eleven different rock types. It has been observed that the Drucker-Prager criterion gave over prediction of rock failure. On the contrary, the Mogi-Coulomb criterion gave an equally good prediction of rock failure as our proposed new 3D failure criterion. Based on the yield surface of a new 3D linear criterion it gave the safest prediction for the failure of the rock. A new linear failure criterion is recommended for the unique solution as a linear relation of the principal stresses rather than the dual solution by the Mogi-Coulomb criterion.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.287-304
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• 2014

A computer based iterative numerical procedure has been developed to analyse reinforced high strength concrete columns subjected to horizontal wave loads and eccentric vertical load by taking the material, geometrical and wave load non-linearity into account. The behaviour of the column has been assumed, to be represented by Moment-Thrust-Curvature relationship of the column cross-section. The formulated computer program predicts horizontal load versus deflection behaviour of a column up to failure. The developed numerical model has been applied to analyse several column specimens of various slenderness, structural properties and axial load ratios, tested by other researchers. The predicted values are having a better agreement with experimental results. A simplified user friendly hydrodynamic load model has been developed based on Morison equation supplemented with a wave slap term to predict the high frequency non-linear impulsive hydrodynamic loads arising from steep waves, known as ringing loads. A computer program has been formulated based on the model to obtain the wave loads and non-dimensional wave load coefficients for all discretised nodes, along the length of column from instantaneous free water surface to bottom of the column at mud level. The columns of same size and material properties but having different slenderness ratio are analysed by the developed numerical procedure for the simulated wave loads under various vertical thrust. This paper discusses the results obtained in detail and effect of slenderness in resisting wave loads under various vertical thrust.

• Journal of Energy Engineering
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.36-40
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• 2018

Climate change is one of the major issues in both the developed and developing world. Greenhouse gas (GHG) emission is one of the implications for climate change. It is increasing rapidly. Although the emission is much less when compared to the rest of the world, Ethiopia has also faced this global issue. The major source for GHG emission in Ethiopia is agriculture. Therefore, the agriculture sector has to be given more attention in Ethiopia. To overcome the problem, Climate-Resilient Green Economy (CRGE) strategy has been initiated. One way of executing this target is to create a sustainable and environmentally friendly pathway to use agricultural byproducts. Sugarcane is one of the major plants in Ethiopia. Its byproducts are bagasse, molasses, and press mud. Since it is a waste product, it is economical and creates a sustainable and green environment by reducing GHG emissions. Sugarcane byproducts have versatile applications like as fuel, as cement replacing material, as a mitigation for expansive soils, as biosorbent for the treatment of water and wastewater and also as a wood material. However, Ethiopia has not used this byproduct massively as it is readily available. This paper reviews the possible applications of sugarcane byproducts to mitigate climate change.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.465-481
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• 2017

Thermal effect has great influence on wellbore stability in Dongfang 1-1 (DF 1-1) gas field, a reservoir with high-temperature and high-pressure. In order to analyze the wellbore stability in DF1-1 gas field, the variation of temperature field after drilling was analyzed. In addition, the effect of temperature changing on formation strength and the thermal expansion coefficients of formation were tested. On this basis, a wellbore stability model considering thermal effect was developed and the thermal effect on fracture pressure and collapse pressure was analyzed. One of the main challenges in this gas field is the decreasing temperature of the wellbore will reduce fracture pressure substantially, resulting in the drilling fluid leakage. If the drilling fluid density was reduced, kick or blowout may happen. Therefore, the key of safe drilling in DF1-1 gas field is to predict the fracture pressure accurately.