14 research outputs found
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Seismic Response of Pile Foundations in Soft Clays and Layered Soils
Pile foundations are widely used to support large engineering structures by transferring loads to deeper layers of soil. During earthquakes, in addition to the axial loads, pile foundations are subjected to inertial loads and kinematic loads due to the motion of the superstructure and the vibrations of surrounding soil, respectively. Due to the significant damage caused by earthquake induced soil liquefaction, studies in the past few decades have focused more on liquefaction induced effects on pile foundations embedded in sands. However, post-reconnaissance reports of several earthquakes have concluded that pile foundations in soft clays and layered soils with significant stiffness contrast have also undergone severe damage during earthquakes.
In this research, three different series of centrifuge experiments were performed to investigate the dynamic behaviour of soft clays, two-layered soils with significant stiffness contrast and the dynamic response of pile foundations embedded in these soil types. The first series of centrifuge experiments were focused on studying the dynamic response of floating piles in soft clay, which in turn depends on the dynamic behaviour of the soft clay layer around the pile. It was found that the dynamic response of clay depends on the earthquake intensity as well as the shear strength and stiffness of the clay layer. The second and third series of centrifuge experiments were specifically designed to investigate the seismic kinematic and inertial loads acting on pile foundations embedded in two-layered soil models with soft clay underlain by dense sand. The results have shown that obtaining a reliable value for the kinematic pile bending moment using established methods in the literature required accurate assessment of the earthquake-induced shear strain at the interface between the two soil layers. Moreover, it was found that non-linearity effects in soil are significant and need to be accounted for. Further, the phase difference between the kinematic and inertial loads and its influence on pile accelerations, rotations and bending moments was evaluated. This research has revealed that the ratio of free-field soil natural frequency to the natural frequency of the embedded structure might not govern the phase relationship between the kinematic and inertial loads as reported in previous research. Instead, the phase relationship between the two loads agrees well with the conventional phase variation between the force and displacement of a viscously damped simple oscillator subjected to a harmonic force.
Lastly, the pile displacements (y) and corresponding soil pressures (p) were determined from the experimentally measured pile bending moments to establish p-y curves and compared with the corresponding curves recommended by design standards. The drawbacks of adopting p-y curves developed for monotonic or cyclic loading to dynamic loading conditions were highlighted through this comparison. The influence of earthquake characteristics such as frequency and intensity, pile group effects and soil layering on soil stiffness and ultimate lateral resistance of p-y curves were discussed in detail. Eventually, the analysis and interpretation of the centrifuge tests provided a better insight into the previously unexplored aspects of seismic soil-pile-structure interaction in soft clays and layered soils with significant stiffness contrast. This research also highlighted the importance of considering soil non-linearity effects in seismic analysis and design of pile foundations
Role of Pile Spacing on Dynamic Behavior of Pile Groups in Layered Soils
This research investigates the influence of pile spacing on the dynamic behavior of pile groups by performing a series of specifically designed dynamic centrifuge experiments on pile foundations embedded in a two-layered soil profile. A single pile and two 3×1 row pile groups with different pile spacing were used as model pile foundations, and the soil models consisted of a soft clay underlain by dense sand. The influence of earthquake frequency on the dynamic behavior of two-layered soils is discussed using the centrifuge data and 1D site response analysis from DEEPSOIL. Further, the results of these centrifuge tests agreed with the conviction that the group effects will be diminished with the increase in pile-to-pile spacing in a pile group due to reduced pile-soil-pile interaction. However, these reduced pile group effects can lead to larger kinematic pile bending moments in the widely spaced pile group compared with a closely spaced pile group. Moreover, the single pile always has larger bending moments than both the tested pile groups—an exception to this is when there is a significant phase difference between the kinematic and inertial loads for a single pile but not for the widely spaced pile group. The influence of pile spacing on the shadowing effects and location of peak bending moments in the piles of a group are also discussed in this paper. Lastly, an attempt is made to evaluate the individual contribution of inertial and kinematic loads for the seismic design of pile foundations considering soil-pile-structure interaction effects
Wyzwania związane z modelowaniem fizycznym w skali laboratoryjnej materiałów o wysokiej plastyczności ze zwałowisk pogórniczych
Characterisation of spoil (surface mine overburden) material is essential when investigating geotechnical issues associated with the spoil, e.g., for investigating the stability of pit lakes formed with spoil or spoil-structure interaction for any structures built on the spoil as part of sustainable developments. A significant proportion of spoils found across European countries are classified predominantly as silty clay with significant plasticity index and low permeability. In this paper, the difficulties associated with laboratory testing of highly plastic spoil materials obtained from different post-mining sites within Europe are discussed. The issues associated with small-scale laboratory testing of field spoil samples, development of an equivalent spoil for performing physical modelling tests, and the difficulties of centrifuge tests with spoil models are discussed in detail.Charakterystyka odpadów pogórniczych (nadkładu kopalni odkrywkowych) jest niezbędna przy badaniu zagadnień geotechnicznych związanych ze zwałowiskami, np. w celu zbadania stabilności pokopalnianych zbiorników wodnych utworzonych ze zwałowanych materiałów lub interakcji zwałowisko-konstrukcja budowlana dla wszelkich konstrukcji zbudowanych na zwałowisku w ramach zasady zrównoważonego rozwoju. Znaczna część materiału zwałowego występującego w krajach europejskich jest klasyfikowana głównie jako ił pylasty o znacznym wskaźniku plastyczności i niskiej przepuszczalności. W niniejszej pracy omówiono trudności związane z badaniami laboratoryjnymi wysoce plastycznych materiałów pogórniczych uzyskanych z różnych terenów pokopalnianych w Europie. Szczegółowo omówiono zagadnienia związane z badaniami laboratoryjnymi w małej skali próbek materiału pobranego w terenie, opracowaniem materiału równoważnego do przeprowadzenia modelowania fizycznego oraz trudności związane z badaniami w wirówce geotechnicznej modeli materiałów zwałowych
The challenges associated with laboratory scale physical modelling of high-plasticity spoil materials
Characterisation of spoil (surface mine overburden) material is essential when investigating geotechnical issues associated with the spoil, e.g., for investigating the stability of pit lakes formed with spoil or spoil-structure interaction for any structures built on the spoil as part of sustainable developments. A significant proportion of spoils found across European countries are classified predominantly as silty clay with significant plasticity index and low permeability. In this paper, the difficulties associated with laboratory testing of highly plastic spoil materials obtained from different post-mining sites within Europe are discussed. The issues associated with small-scale laboratory testing of field spoil samples, development of an equivalent spoil for performing physical modelling tests, and the difficulties of centrifuge tests with spoil models are discussed in detail
Characterisation of spoil materials to develop an equivalent spoil material for physical model tests
The engineering behaviour of spoil (overburden) needs to be explored either to understand the stability of reservoir slopes under various geological and climatic conditions or for the effective utilisation of reclaimed mines for sustainable infrastructure (e.g., onshore wind turbines). The spoil material is usually considered as highly heterogeneous, and samples collected from the same site can exhibit widely varying characteristics. In this study, spoil material from a mine site in the Czech Republic is characterised using in-situ field tests and laboratory tests. Cone penetration tests were performed in the field and sample cores were collected for laboratory testing. In the laboratory, the index and engineering characteristics of the spoil were evaluated. Given the measured characteristics and behaviour of the field spoil, an equivalent spoil is proposed to perform physical modelling tests using geotechnical centrifuge. This enables simulation of the field spoil behaviour in controlled centrifuge testing, from which other aspects of spoil (e.g. stability of spoil slopes, spoil-structure interaction) can be investigated
Charakterystyka odpadów pogórniczych w celu opracowania materiału równoważnego do modelowania fizycznego
The engineering behaviour of spoil (overburden) needs to be explored either to understand the stability of reservoir slopes under various geological and climatic conditions or for the effective utilisation of reclaimed mines for sustainable infrastructure (e.g., onshore wind turbines). The spoil material is usually considered as highly heterogeneous, and samples collected from the same site can exhibit widely varying characteristics. In this study, spoil material from a mine site in the Czech Republic is characterised using in-situ field tests and laboratory tests. Cone penetration tests were performed in the field and sample cores were collected for laboratory testing. In the laboratory, the index and engineering characteristics of the spoil were evaluated. Given the measured characteristics and behaviour of the field spoil, an equivalent spoil is proposed to perform physical modelling tests using geotechnical centrifuge. This enables simulation of the field spoil behaviour in controlled centrifuge testing, from which other aspects of spoil (e.g. stability of spoil slopes, spoil-structure interaction) can be investigated.Zachowanie zwałowisk pogórniczych (nadkładu) pod względem inżynieryjnym powinno zostać zbadane w celu określenia stabilności zboczy zbiorników poeksploatacyjnych w różnych warunkach geologicznych i klimatycznych lub w celu efektywnego wykorzystania rekultywowanych kopalń do budowy zrównoważonej infrastruktury (np. lądowych turbin wiatrowych). Materiał zwałowisk pogórniczych jest zwykle uważany za wysoce niejednorodny, a próbki pobrane z tego samego miejsca mogą wykazywać bardzo różne właściwości. W niniejszej pracy, materiał odpadowy z czeskiej kopalni został scharakteryzowany przy użyciu badań terenowych i laboratoryjnych in-situ. W terenie przeprowadzono sondowania CPT, a do badań laboratoryjnych pobrano próbki rdzeniowe. W laboratorium oceniono właściwości indeksowe i inżynieryjne materiału. Biorąc pod uwagę zmierzone cechy i zachowanie się materiału pogórniczego, zaproponowano materiał równoważny do wykonania modelowania fizycznego z wykorzystaniem wirówki geotechnicznej. Umożliwia to symulację zachowania się materiału w kontrolowanych badaniach wirówkowych, na podstawie których można badać inne cechy materiałów pogórniczych (np. stabilność skarp zwałowiska, interakcje zwałowisko-konstrukcja budowlana)
Centrifuge modelling of spoil slopes within pit-lake mine reclamations
Pit lakes are a common form of reclamation of areas where open pit mining activities have taken place. The development of these lakes often uses previous overburden materials, or “spoils”, that are readily available. Depending on the local geology, these spoil materials can contain large proportions of high-plasticity clays, which poses challenges in terms of the analysis and design of the sloped banks constructed to form new lakes. This paper describes a study in which geotechnical centrifuge modelling was used to investigate the stability and performance, in terms of accumulated displacements over cycles of lowering and raising the lake water elevation, of slopes constructed with a high-plasticity clay. A “replica-spoil” material was used in the tests to replicate key characteristics of spoil materials from known spoil heaps in Europe. The paper describes the centrifuge models and testing procedure developed for the tests, as well as the challenges encountered with the use of the high-plasticity clay. Two slope angles were tested: a 15 slope to match the typical slopes at a known field site, and a steeper 24 slope. Pore pressures within the slope were measured over several cycles of lake water elevation change. Slope displacements were measured using local transducers placed at the slope crest and toe, as well as using a PIV image analysis technique. The slopes were shown to experience plastic deformations, with displacements accumulating over subsequent cycles of lake water level change. The 24 slope developed slightly larger accumulated displacements than the 15 slope, though neither slope showed signs of ultimate collapse. Results from the centrifuge tests provide invaluable data which can be used for the verification of numerical models considering similar stability scenarios
Modelowanie wirówkowe zboczy zwałowisk w ramach rekultywacji kopalni odkrywkowych w kierunku wodnym
Pit lakes are a common form of reclamation of areas where open pit mining activities have taken place. The development of these lakes often uses previous overburden materials, or “spoils”, that are readily available. Depending on the local geology, these spoil materials can contain large proportions of high-plasticity clays, which poses challenges in terms of the analysis and design of the sloped banks constructed to form new lakes. This paper describes a study in which geotechnical centrifuge modelling was used to investigate the stability and performance, in terms of accumulated displacements over cycles of lowering and raising the lake water elevation, of slopes constructed with a high-plasticity clay. A “replica-spoil” material was used in the tests to replicate key characteristics of spoil materials from known spoil heaps in Europe. The paper describes the centrifuge models and testing procedure developed for the tests, as well as the challenges encountered with the use of the high-plasticity clay. Two slope angles were tested: a 15° slope to match the typical slopes at a known field site, and a steeper 24° slope. Pore pressures within the slope were measured over several cycles of lake water elevation change. Slope displacements were measured using local transducers placed at the slope crest and toe, as well as using a PIV image analysis technique. The slopes were shown to experience plastic deformations, with displacements accumulating over subsequent cycles of lake water level change. The 24° slope developed slightly larger accumulated displacements than the 15° slope, though neither slope showed signs of ultimate collapse. Results from the centrifuge tests provide invaluable data which can be used for the verification of numerical models considering similar stability scenarios.Zbiorniki wodne są powszechną formą rekultywacji terenów, na których prowadzono wydobycie metodą odkrywkową. Do ich budowy często wykorzystuje się wcześniejsze materiały nadkładowe, czyli materiał zwałowy, który jest łatwo dostępny. W zależności od lokalnej geologii, materiał ten może zawierać duże ilości iłów o wysokiej plastyczności, co stanowi wyzwanie w zakresie analizy i projektowania nachylonych brzegów budowanych w celu utworzenia nowych zbiorników. W niniejszej pracy opisano badania, w których wykorzystano modelowanie w wirówce geotechnicznej do zbadania stabilności i zachowania, pod względem skumulowanych przemieszczeń w cyklach obniżania i podwyższania poziomu wody w zbiorniku, zboczy zbudowanych z iłów o wysokiej plastyczności. Aby odtworzyć kluczowe cechy materiałów zwałowych ze znanych hałd w Europie, w badaniach użyto materiału równoważnego. W artykule opisano modele wirówkowe i procedurę badawczą opracowaną na potrzeby badań, jak również wyzwania napotkane przy stosowaniu iłów o wysokiej plastyczności. Testowano dwa kąty nachylenia zbocza: 15°, aby pasowało do typowych zboczy w znanym miejscu w terenie, oraz bardziej strome nachylenie 24°. Ciśnienia porowe w obrębie zboczy były mierzone przez kilka cykli zmian poziomu wody w zbiorniku. Przemieszczenia zbocza były mierzone przy użyciu lokalnych przetworników umieszczonych na szczycie i u podnóża zbocza, jak również przy użyciu techniki analizy obrazów PIV. Wykazano, że zbocza ulegają deformacjom plastycznym, a przemieszczenia kumulują się w kolejnych cyklach zmian poziomu wody w zbiorniku. Zbocze o nachyleniu 24° rozwinęło nieco większe skumulowane przemieszczenia niż to o nachyleniu 15°, jednak żadne ze nich nie wykazywało oznak ostatecznego zawalenia. Wyniki badań wirówkowych dostarczają bezcennych danych, które mogą być wykorzystane do weryfikacji modeli numerycznych uwzględniających podobne scenariusze stateczności
Systemy fundamentowania w zrównoważonej rewitalizacji terenów zwałowisk pogórniczych
The design of foundations systems is well established in the literature and codes of practice. However, these are generally applicable to well characterised, homogenous ground conditions. Spoil materials represent a significant challenge when implementing these design procedures due to their time-dependent characteristics, their spatial variability , and the likelihood that they will consist of low strength/stiffness materials. As such, careful consideration is required when designing foundation systems on spoil materials, especially for sensitive structures such as wind turbines. Physical modelling experiments using a geotechnical centrifuge were conducted to study the spoil-foundation system interaction. In these tests, an equivalent spoil was used that provided satisfactory reproduction of key physical and mechanical characteristics of a real spoil material. Three types of foundation systems were considered in the centrifuge tests: (1) raft foundation, (2) pile-group foundation, and (3) pile-raft foundation. The long-term cyclic loading of 87kN, 171kN and 460kN maximum cyclic load were used for the raft foundation. A higher cyclic load of 501kN was applied to the pile-group and pile-raft foundations. To evaluate the effect of climatic condition variations on spoil-foundation interactions, the centrifuge tests were carried out at different water table levels within the spoil material. The experimental results were analysed in terms of foundation rotation and foundation vertical settlement. The raft foundation rotated around 0.1-0.2 degrees and vertically displaced by 5-10 mm, whereas the pile-group rotated about 0.6-0.8 degrees and vertically displaced by 20-30 mm due to long-term cyclic loading. The pile-raft foundation displayed better response as compared to pile-group foundation.Projektowanie systemów fundamentowych jest dobrze ugruntowane w literaturze i w praktyce. Systemy te mają jednak zastosowanie do dobrze scharakteryzowanych, jednorodnych warunków gruntowych. Materiały zwałowe stanowią poważne wyzwanie przy wdrażaniu procedur projektowych ze względu na ich charakterystykę zależną od czasu, ich zmienność przestrzenną oraz duże prawdopodobieństwo, że będą się składać z materiałów o niskiej wytrzymałości/sztywności. W związku z tym, projektowanie systemów fundamentowych na zwałowiskach, szczególnie w przypadku wrażliwych konstrukcji, takich jak turbiny wiatrowe, wymaga starannego podejścia. W celu zbadania interakcji pomiędzy materiałem zwałowym a systemem fundamentowym przeprowadzono eksperymenty modelowania fizycznego z wykorzystaniem wirówki geotechnicznej. W badaniach tych zastosowano materiał równoważny, który zapewniał zadowalające odzwierciedlenie kluczowych cech fizycznych i mechanicznych rzeczywistego materiału. W badaniach wirówkowych rozpatrywano trzy rodzaje systemów fundamentowych: (1) fundamenty płytowe, (2) fundamenty wielopalowe oraz (3) fundamenty palowo-płytowe. Dla fundamentów płytowych zastosowano długotrwałe obciążenie cykliczne o maksymalnej wartości 87kN, 171kN i 460kN. Dla fundamentów wielopalowych i palowo-płytowych zastosowano większe obciążenie cykliczne - 501kN. W celu oceny wpływu zmienności warunków klimatycznych na interakcje zwałowisko-fundamenty, przeprowadzono badania wirówkowe przy różnych poziomach zwierciadła wody w obrębie zwałowiska. Wyniki eksperymentów analizowano pod kątem rotacji fundamentu i jego osiadania pionowego. W wyniku długotrwałego obciążenia cyklicznego fundament płytowy obrócił się o około 0,1-0,2 stopnia i przesunął w pionie o 5-10 mm, natomiast fundament wielopalowy obrócił się o około 0,6-0,8 stopnia i przesunął w pionie o 20-30 mm. Fundamenty palowo-płytowe odznaczały się lepszą reakcją w porównaniu do fundamentu wielopalowego
Effect of spatial variation of spoil material properties on slope displacements under rapid drawndown of pit lakes
In many European countries, lignite or brown coal is used as a fuel source in steam-electric power generation. Upon completion of mining activities, a reclamation plan is imperative to ensure environmental and social prosperity of local areas. Abandoned mine pits are often reclaimed by creating a pit lake. Reclamation of large lignite open pit mine sites may use large amounts of previous overburden materials or “spoils” to create the slopes of the pit lake. Spoils are anthropogenic materials with large spatial variation in properties, hence, considering mean values of shear strength and hydraulic parameters to assess stability and seasonal displacements will not fully simulate actual field conditions. This paper considers the effect of spatial variation on slope stability and ground movements during rapid drawdown events (a critical case) using coupled flow-deformation 2D finite element analyses, incorporating unsaturated soil suctions above the phreatic surface. Effects of heterogeneity and randomness of spoils on the response of the slope are considered through random field modelling and the Monte-Carlo simulation technique. Four lognormally distributed random variables (spoil cohesion, friction angle, void ratio, and permeability coefficient) are examined. The effect of spatial variability of spoils is shown to be important; a significant number of the random field analyses resulted in larger displacements compared to a benchmark deterministic analysis adopting uniform mean parameter values