• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.481-489
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• 2023

Drained cyclic triaxial tests were conducted on a saturated sand to examine its deformation characteristics under either axial or lateral cyclic loading condition. To apply lateral cyclic loading, the cell pressure was cycled while maintaining a constant vertical stress. The strain accumulations and flow direction in the soil were presented and discussed considering various initial stress ratios (η₀), cyclic stress amplitudes and cyclic stress paths. The results indicate that axial strain accumulation shows an exponential increase with the maximum stress ratio (η^max). The initial deviatoric stress has comparable effects with lateral cyclic stress amplitude on the accumulated axial strain. In contrast, the accumulated volumetric strain is directly proportional to the lateral cyclic stress amplitude but not much affected by η₀ values. Due to the anisotropy of the soil, the accumulated axial and lateral bulging strains are greater in lateral cyclic loading when compared to axial cyclic loading even though η^max is the same. It is also found that η^max affects soil's lateral deformation and increasing the ratio could change the lateral deformation from contraction to bulging. The flow direction depends on η^max in the sand under lateral cyclic loading, regardless of η₀ values and the cyclic stress amplitudes, and a large η^max could lead to great deviatoric strain but a little volumetric strain accumulation.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.577-595
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• 2023

A dynamic triaxial discrete element numerical model of lightweight soil was established using the discrete element method to study the microscopic mechanism of expanded polystyrene (EPS) particles in the soil under cyclic loading. The microscopic parameters of the discrete element model of the lightweight soil were calibrated depending on the dynamic triaxial test hysteresis curves. Based on the calibration results, the effects of the EPS particles volume ratio and amplitude on the contact force, displacement field, and velocity field of the lightweight soil under different accumulated strains were studied. The results showed that the hysteresis curves of lightweight soil exhibit nonlinearity, hysteresis, and strain accumulation. The strain accumulated in remolded soil is mainly tensile strain, and that in lightweight soil is mainly compressive strain. As the volume ratio of EPS particles increased, the contact force first increased and then decreased, and the displacement and velocity of the particles increased accordingly. With an increase in amplitude, the dynamic stress of the particle system increased, and the accumulation rate of the dynamic strain of the samples also increased. At 5% compressive strain, the contact force of the particles changed significantly and the number of particles deflected in the direction of velocity also increased considerably. These results indicated that the cemented structure of the lightweight soil began to fail at a compressive strain of 5%. Thus, a compressive strain of 5% is more reasonable than the dynamic strength failure standard of lightweight soil.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2005.06a
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• pp.337-340
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• 2005

The effect of residual stress on fatigue crack growth was investigated in terms of finite element analysis. Simulations were performed on a CT specimen in plane strain. An interface-cohesive element that accounts for damage accumulation due to fatigue along the notch direction has been used. Numerical results show that fatigue crack growth rate slows down when compressive residual stress field exists in front of the crack tip.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.215-226
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• 2021

To study the evolution mechanism of cracks in rocks with multiple defects, rock-like samples with multiple defects, such as strip-shaped through-going cracks and cavity groups, are used, and the crack propagation law and changes in AE (acoustic emission) and strain of cavity groups under different inclination angles are studied. According to the test results, an increase in the cavity group inclination angle can facilitate the initial damage degree of the rock and weaken the crack initiation stress; the initial crack initiation direction is approximately 90°, and the extension angle is approximately 75~90° from the strip-shaped through-going cracks; thus, the relationship between crack development and cavity group initiation strengthens. The specific performance is as follows: when the initiation angle is 30°, the cracks between the cavities in the cavity group develop relatively independently along the parallel direction of the external load; when the angle is 75°, the cracks between the cavities in the cavity group can interpenetrate, and slip can occur along the inclination of the cavity group under the action of the shear mechanism rupture. With the increase in the inclination angle of the cavity group, the AE energy fluctuation frequency at the peak stress increases, and the stress drop is obvious. The larger the cavity group inclination angle is, the more obvious the energy accumulation and the more severe the rock damage; when the cavity group angle is 30° or 75°, the peak strain of the local area below the strip-shaped through-going fracture plane is approximately three times that when the cavity group angle is 45° and 60°, indicating that cracks are easily generated in the local area monitored by the strain gauge at this angle, and the further development of the cracks weakens the strength of the rock, thereby increasing the probability of major engineering quality damage. The research results will have important reference value for hazard prevention in underground engineering projects through rock with natural and artificial defects, including tunnels and air-raid shelters.