• Geomechanics and Engineering
• /
• v.38 no.4
• /
• pp.381-395
• /
• 2024

With the wide application of urban subway tunnels, the foundation pits of new stations and existing subway tunnels are becoming increasingly close, and even zero-distance close-fitting construction has taken place. To optimize the construction support scheme, the existing tunnel's vertical displacement is theoretically analyzed using the two-stage analysis method to understand the action mechanism of the construction of zero-distance deep large foundation pits on both sides of the existing stations; a three-dimensional numerical calculation is also performed for further analysis. First, the additional stress field on the existing tunnel caused by the unloading of zero-distance foundation pits on both sides of the tunnel is derived based on the Mindlin stress solution of a semi-infinite elastic body under internal load. Then, considering the existing subway tunnel's joints, shear stiffness, and shear soil deformation effect, the tunnel is regarded as a Timoshenko beam placed on the Kerr foundation; a sixth-order differential control equation of the tunnel under the action of additional stress is subsequently established for solving the vertical displacement of the tunnel. These theoretical calculation results are then compared with the numerical simulation results and monitoring data. Finally, an optimized foundation pit support scheme is obtained considering the pit corner effect and external corner failure mode. The research shows a high consistency between the monitoring data,analytical and numerical solution, and the closer the tunnel is to the foundation pit, the more uplift deformation will occur. The internal corner of the foundation pit can restrain the deformation of the tunnel and the retaining structure, while the external corner can cause local stress concentration on the diaphragm wall. The proposed optimization scheme can effectively reduce construction costs while meeting the safety requirements of foundation pit support structures.

• Structural Monitoring and Maintenance
• /
• v.11 no.2
• /
• pp.71-86
• /
• 2024

In this study, to reduce the amount of cement consumed in the production of cementitious composites, the effects of partial replacement of cement weight with nano-silica, silica fume, and copper slag on the mechanical properties of polypropylene fiber-reinforced cementitious composites are investigated. For this purpose, the effect of replacing cement weight by each of the aforementioned materials individually and in combination is studied. A total of 34 mix designs were prepared, and their compressive, tensile, and flexural strengths were obtained for each mix. Among the mix designs with one cement replacement material, the highest strength is related to the sample containing 2.5% nano-silica. In this mix design, the compressive, tensile, and flexural strengths improve by about 33%, 13%, and 15%, respectively, compared to the control sample. In the ones with two cement replacement materials, the highest strengths are related to the mix made with 10% silica fume along with 2% nano-silica. In this mix design, compressive, tensile, and flexural strengths increase by about 42%, 18%, and 20% compared to the control sample, respectively. Furthermore, in the mixtures containing three cement substitutes, the final optimal mix design for all three strengths has 15% silica fume, 10% copper slag, and 2% nano-silica. This mix design improves the compressive, tensile, and flexural strengths by about 57%, 23%, and 26%, respectively, compared to the control sample. Finally, two relationships have been presented that can be used to predict the values of tensile and flexural strengths of cementitious composites with very good accuracy only by determining the compressive strength of the composites.

• Advances in nano research
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.125-136
• /
• 2024

In the present research the durability and geotechnical properties of an expensive clayey soil stabilized by two different compositions of additives were investigated and compared. The first composition consisted of environmentally and ecofriendly materials: BOF steel slag ranging from 0-20% as well as rice husk ash (RHA) ranged 0-16%wt of dry soil. The other composition consisted of relatively new generation of materials including nanomaterials: nano-CaCO3 as well as nano-SiO2. Atterberg limits test, free swell percent test, swelling pressure test and unconfined compressive test were used to assess the stabilizers influences upon expansive soil geotechnical characteristics. Also, the recurrent wet-dry cycles test was exerted on experimental and non-experimental samples for estimating stabilizers effects on durability. According to the results, each of the BOF slag and RHA enhances the expansive soil properties individually, while combination of slag-RHA led to better improvement of the soil properties. Also, the composition of nano-CaCO3 and SiO2 dramatically improved the clay soil operation. The optimum values of slag+RHA were suggested as 20% slag+12% RHA to enhance percent of swelling, pressure of swelling in addition to UCS as much as 95%, 96%, and 370%, respectively. The optimum value for the second stabilizer in this study was found to be 2%nano-SiO2+2% nano-CaCO3 which led to 318% increase in UCS and 86% decrease in swelling pressure.

• Structural Monitoring and Maintenance
• /
• v.11 no.2
• /
• pp.101-126
• /
• 2024

To avoid irregularities in buildings, design codes worldwide have introduced detailed guidelines for their check and rectification. However, the criteria used to define and identify each of the plan and vertical irregularities are specific and may vary between codes of different countries, thus making their implementation difficult. This short communication paper proposes a novel approach for quantifying different types of structural irregularities using a common parameter named as unified identification factor, which is exclusively defined for the columns based on their axial loads and tributary areas. The calculation of the identification factor is demonstrated through the analysis of rectangular and circular reinforced concrete models using ETABS v18.0.2, which are further modified to generate plan irregular (torsional irregularity, cut-out in floor slab and non-parallel lateral force system) and vertical irregular (mass irregularity, vertical geometric irregularity and floating columns) models. The identification factor is calculated for all the columns of a building and the range within which the value lies is identified. The results indicate that the range will be very wide for an irregular building when compared to that with a regular configuration, thus implying a strong correlation of the identification factor with the structural irregularity. Further, the identification factor is compared for different columns within a floor and between floors for each building model. The findings suggest that the value will be abnormally high or low for a column in the vicinity of an irregularity. The proposed factor could thus be used in the preliminary structural design phase, so as to eliminate the complications that might arise due to the geometry of the structure when subjected to lateral loads. The unified approach could also be incorporated in future revisions of codes, as a replacement for the numerous criteria currently used for classifying different types of irregularities.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
• /
• v.38 no.3
• /
• pp.249-260
• /
• 2024

In order to study the mechanical propertied and change rules of undrained shear behavior of saline soil under the freeze-thaw cycles, an improved constitutive model reflecting the effects of freeze-thaw cycles was proposed based on the traditional Duncan-Chang model. The saline soil in Qian'an County, western Jilin Province, was selected as the experimental object. Then, a set of freeze-thaw cycles (0, 1, 10, 30, 60, 90, 120) tests were conducted on the saline soil specimens, and conventional consolidated undrained triaxial shear tests were conducted on the saline soil specimens that underwent freeze-thaw cycles. The stress-strain relationship was obtained by the triaxial shear test. The model parameters have a corresponding regression relationship with the number of freeze-thaw cycles. Finally, based on the function expression of the model parameters, the modified Duncan-Chang model with the number of freeze-thaw cycles as the influence factor was established, whilst the calculation program of the modified model is compiled. Based on the test results, the stress-strain relationship of the saline soil specimen shows strain hardening. The shear strength gradually decreases with the increase of freeze-thaw cycle. The 10 freeze-thaw cycles are the turning point in the trend of changes of the mechanical properties of saline soils. The calculated and experimental stress-strain relationship are compared, and the comparison between the calculated value of the model and the experimental value showed that the two had a good consistency, which verified the validity of the modified Duncan-Chang model in reflecting the effects of the freeze-thaw cycle.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
• /
• v.38 no.3
• /
• pp.215-229
• /
• 2024

Because of the various patterns of deep-water inrush and complicated mechanisms, accurately predicting mine water inflows is always a difficult problem for coal mine geologists. In study presented in this paper, the water inrush channels were divided into four basic water diversion structures: aquifer, rock fracture zone, fracture zone and goaf. The fluid flow characteristics in each water-conducting structure were investigated by laboratory tests, and multistructure and multisystem coupling flow analysis models of different water-conducting structures were established to describe the entire water inrush process. Based on the research of the water inrush flow paths, the analysis model of different water inrush space structures was established and applied to the prediction of mine water inrush inflow. The results prove that the conduction sequence of different water-conducting structures and the changing rule of permeability caused by stress changes before and after the peak have important influences on the characteristics of mine water-gushing. Influenced by the differences in geological structure and combined with rock mass RQD and fault conductivity characteristics and other mine exploration data, the prediction of mine water inflow can be realized accurately. Taking the water transmitting path in the multistructure as the research object of water inrush, breaking through the limitation of traditional stratigraphic structure division, the prediction of water inflow and the estimation of potentially flooded area was realized, and water bursting intensity was predicted. It is of great significance in making reasonable emergency plans.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
• /
• v.38 no.3
• /
• pp.319-334
• /
• 2024

The current theories on the interaction between surrounding rock and support in deep-buried tunnels do not consider the form of pre-reinforcement support or the flexibility of primary support, leading to a discrepancy between theoretical solutions and practical applications. To address this gap, a comprehensive mechanical model of the tunnel with pre-reinforced rock was established in this study. The equations for internal stress, displacement, and the radius of the plastic zone in the surrounding rock were derived. By understanding the interaction mechanism between flexible support and surrounding rock, the three-dimensional construction analysis solution of the tunnel could be corrected. The validity of the proposed model was verified through numerical simulations. The results indicate that the reduction of pre-deformation significantly influences the final support pressure. The pre-reinforcement support zone primarily inhibits pre-deformation, thereby reducing the support pressure. The support pressure mainly affects the accelerated and uniform movement stage of the surrounding rock. The generation of support pressure is linked to the deformation of the surrounding rock during the accelerated movement stage. Furthermore, the strength of the pre-reinforcement zone of the surrounding rock and the strength of the shotcrete have opposite effects on the support pressure. The parameters of the pre-reinforcement zones and support materials can be optimized to achieve a balance between surrounding rock deformation, support pressure, cost, and safety. Overall, this study provides valuable insights for predicting the deformation of surrounding rock and support pressure during the dynamic construction of deep-buried weak rock tunnels. These findings can guide engineers in improving the construction process, ensuring better safety and cost-effectiveness.

• Wind and Structures
• /
• v.39 no.2
• /
• pp.85-100
• /
• 2024

In light of extreme value distribution probability, an improved prediction method of the Recurrence Period Wind Speed (RPWS) is constructed considering wind direction, with the Equivalent Independent Wind Direction Number (EIWDN) introduced as a parameter variable. Firstly, taking the RPWS prediction of Beijing city as an example, the traditional Cook method is used to predict the RPWS of each wind direction based on the measured wind speed data in Beijing area. On basis of the results, the empirical formulae to determine the parameter variables are fitted to construct an improved expression of the non-exceedance probability of the RPWS. In this process, the statistical model of the optimal threshold is established, and thus the independent wind speed samples exceeding the threshold are extracted and fitted to follow the Generalized Pareto Distribution (GPD) model for analysis. In addition, the Extreme Value Type I (EVT I) distribution model is used to predict and analyze the RPWS. To verify its wide applicability, the improved method is further used in cities like Jinan, Nanjing, Wuxi, Shanghai and Shenzhen to predict and analyze the RPWS of each wind direction, and the prediction results are compared against those gained via the traditional Cook method and the whole direction. Results show that the 50-year RPWS results predicted by the improved method are basically consistent with those predicted by the traditional method, and the RPWS prediction values of most wind directions are within the envelope range of the whole wind direction prediction value. Compared with the traditional method, the improved method can readily predict the RPWS under different return periods through empirical formulae, and avoid the repeated operation process and some assumptions in the traditional Cook method, and then improve the efficiency of prediction. In addition, the improved RPWS prediction results corresponding to the GPD model are slightly larger than those of the EVT I distribution model.

• Advances in materials Research
• /
• v.13 no.4
• /
• pp.269-283
• /
• 2024

Biocompositesmade up of starch and jute fibres are biodegradable and environmentally friendly materials for sustainable development. In this study, corn starch has been separately modified with 15% pine rosin and 40% glutaraldehyde, and 30% glycerol is used as a plasticizer. The composites have been prepared for three different volume proportions of matrix and jute fibre such as 60:40, 70:30 and 80:20 by using a hot compression moulding machine. The effects of pine rosin and glutaraldehyde on mechanical properties have been studied. Pine rosin modified starch jute composites have shown higher tensile and flexural properties as compared with glutaraldehyde modified starch jute composite. The highest tensile strength and modulus are found at 60:40 matrix and jute fibre volume proportion of pine rosin modified starch jute composite which are 13.97 MPa and 782.94 MPa respectively. Similar trends were found in flexural strength and modulus for pine rosin modified starch jute composite having matrix to jute fibre proportion 60:40 which are 29.18 MPa and 1107.76 MPa respectively. But, in case of impact strength, glutaraldehyde modified starch jute composite having matrix to jute fibre proportion 80:20 have shown highest impact strength that is 59.05 KJ/m². Starch-jute composite with glutaraldehyde shows 33% more water absorbency as compared to composite having pine rosin as cross linker. Highest FTIR graph indicates that the number of -OH group is much lower in case of pine rosin modified starch than glutatraldehyde modified starch which indicates that bonds formed by pine rosin are much stronger than the bonds formed by glutaraldehyde. The surface morphology of the composite was influenced by pine rosin and glutaraldehyde which is shown in the SEM image.

• Advances in materials Research
• /
• v.13 no.4
• /
• pp.299-319
• /
• 2024

Due to higher strength-to-weight ratio of composite laminates, they find uses in many weight-sensitive applications like aerospace, automobile and marine structures. From a reliability point of view, accurate prediction of failure of these structures is important. Due to the complexities in the manufacturing processes of composite laminates, there is a variation in the material properties and geometric parameters. Hence stochastic aspects are important while designing the composite laminates. Many existing works of composite laminate failure analysis are based on the deterministic approach but it is important to consider the randomness in the material properties, geometry and loading to predict accurate failure loads. In this paper the statistics of the ultimate failure load of the [0/θ]_s laminated composite plate (LCP) containing the edge crack and voids subjected to the tensile loading are presented in terms of the mean and coefficient of variance (COV). The objective is to better the efficacy of laminate failure by predicting the statistics of the ultimate failure load of LCP with random material, geometric and loading parameters. The stochastic analysis is done by using the extended finite element method (XFEM) combined with the second-order perturbation technique (SOPT). The ultimate failure load of the LCP is obtained by ply-by-ply failure analysis using the ply discount method combined with the Tsai-Wu failure criterion. The aim is to know the effect of the stacking sequence, crack length, crack angle, location of voids and number of voids on the mean and corresponding COV of the ultimate failure load of LCP is investigated. The results of the ultimate failure load obtained by the present method are in good agreement with the existing experimental and numerical results. It is observed that [0/θ]_s LCPs are very sensitive to the randomness in the crack length, applied load, transverse tensile strength of the laminate and modulus of elasticity of the material, so precise control of these parameters is important. The novelty of the present study is, the stochastic implementation in XFEM for the failure prediction of LCPs containing crack and voids.