Generalized Plasticity and Cyclic Pressuremeter Test Modelling

A constitutive model based on generalized elastoplasticity (Zienkiewicz et al., 1985) is used for the modelling of monotonic and cyclic pressuremeter tests in a clay. The permeability of the material is taken into account for the modelling of the excess pore water pressure generation during the test (combination of pore pressure build up and dissipation). It is shown how this type of model can simply represent the main features observed during a cyclic pressuremeter test in a clay, particularly the accumulation of excess pore water pressure during the cycles of loading, and the importance of dissipation on the excess pore water pressure build up

Bearing capacity of a foundation resting on a soil improved by a group of columns

A new design method for a foundation on a soil reinforced by columns is described. A lower bound of the bearing capacity is determined within the framework of the yield design theory. It takes into account the three-dimensional nature of the problem and is applicable to a wide range of geometries. A parametric study on the improvement of the bearing capacity as a function of the proportion of reinforcement, and on the strength characteristics, is presented. A complete analytical solution is given for the strength of a composite cell subjected to a triaxial loading, which provides an insight into the reinforcement mechanism

Bearing capacity of a foundation resting on a soil improved by a group of columns

A new design method for a foundation on a soil reinforced by columns is described. A lower bound of the bearing capacity is determined within the framework of the yield design theory. It takes into account the three-dimensional nature of the problem and is applicable to a wide range of geometries. A parametric study on the improvement of the bearing capacity as a function of the proportion of reinforcement, and on the strength characteristics, is presented. A complete analytical solution is given for the strength of a composite cell subjected to a triaxial loading, which provides an insight into the reinforcement mechanism

Stress dependent thermal pressurization of a fluid-saturated rock

Temperature increase in saturated porous materials under undrained conditions leads to thermal pressurization of the pore fluid due to the discrepancy between the thermal expansion coefficients of the pore fluid and of the solid matrix. This increase in the pore fluid pressure induces a reduction of the effective mean stress and can lead to shear failure or hydraulic fracturing. The equations governing the phenomenon of thermal pressurization are presented and this phenomenon is studied experimentally for a saturated granular rock in an undrained heating test under constant isotropic stress. Careful analysis of the effect of mechanical and thermal deformation of the drainage and pressure measurement system is performed and a correction of the measured pore pressure is introduced. The test results are modelled using a non-linear thermo-poro-elastic constitutive model of the granular rock with emphasis on the stress-dependent character of the rock compressibility. The effects of stress and temperature on thermal pressurization observed in the tests are correctly reproduced by the model

Environmental Impact of Undular Tidal Bores in Tropical Rivers

A tidal bore impacts significantly on the estuarine ecosystem, although little is known on the flow field, mixing and sediment motion beneath tidal bores. In the absence of detailed systematic field measurements, a quasi-steady flow analogy was applied to investigate undular tidal bores with inflow Froude numbers between 1.25 and 1.6. Experimental results indicated that rapid flow redistributions occur beneath the free-surface undulations, with significant variations in bed shear stress between wave crests and troughs. Dynamic similarity was used to predict detailed flow characteristics of undular tidal bores. The effects of periodic loading on river sediments, scour of river bed and flow mixing behind the bore are discussed. A better understanding of these processes will contribute to better management practices in tidal bore affected rivers, including the Styx and Daly rivers in tropical Australia

Détermination de caractéristiques dynamiques d’un sol à l’aide d’un essai pressiométrique cyclique

On envisage l'emploi d'un essai pressiométrique cyclique consistant à faire varier sinusoïdalement le volume de la sonde pour déterminer les paramètres du modèle viscoélastique équivalent utilisé en Dynamique des Sols. En se limitant aux variations de volume de sonde de faibles amplitudes, on admet que la relation entre la pression de sonde et le volume correspondant se stabilise sur une boucle fermée. A l'aide d'une interprétation numérique de l'essai reposant sur un calcul viscoélastique équivalent, on montre que les données de la pente moyenne et de l'aire de la boucle pressiométrique expérimentale permettent d'identifier certains paramètres du modèle employé