Dynamic active earth pressure on retaining structures

Earth-retaining structures constitute an important topic of research in civil engineering, more so under earthquake conditions. For the analysis and design of retaining walls in earthquake-prone zones, accurate estimation of dynamic earth pressures is very important. Conventional methods either use pseudo-static approaches of analysis even for dynamic cases or a simple single-degree of freedom model for the retaining wall–soil system. In this paper, a simplified two-degree of freedom mass–spring–dashpot (2-DOF) dynamic model has been proposed to estimate the active earth pressure at the back of the retaining walls for translation modes of wall movement under seismic conditions. The horizontal zone of influence on dynamic earth force on the wall is estimated. Results in terms of displacement,velocity and acceleration-time history are presented for some typical cases, which show the final movement of the wall in terms of wall height, which is required for the design. The non-dimensional design chart proposed in the present study can be used to compute the total dynamic earth force on the wall under different input ground motion and backfill conditions. Finally, the results obtained have been compared with those of the available Scott model and the merits of the present results have been discussed

Numerical modelling of seepage and tension beneath plate anchors

The uplift capacity of buried plate anchors depends on the tension sustained beneath the anchor. This study provides a detailed treatment of interface tension and the associated seepage flow and gap formation below the anchor. This behaviour is explored via large deformation finite element analysis using a thin highly compressible porous layer for the gap. The observed seepage effect is captured by a simple model using Hvorslev's intake factor, validated across a wide parameter range. This model for uplift capacity at various pull-out rates provides a simple basis for the effect of seepage on plate anchor capacity under sustained loading.</p

Uplift resistance of buried pipelines: The contribution of seepage forces

Pipelines are commonly buried, and can buckle upwards when heated if there is insufficient soil uplift capacity. Interface tension beneath the buried pipe significantly influences the uplift capacity at shallow embedments. Conventional design approaches, which consider either zero or unlimited interface tension, do not assess and quantify the effect of interface tension on uplift capacity. The present study bridges the gap between conventional “no tension” and “full tension” capacities. Mobilisation of interface tension is governed by seepage forces which in turn directly control the formation of a gap beneath the pipe. A large deformation finite element approach, which simulates this phenomenon of gap formation using a thin layer of gap elements below the pipe, is adopted to study the soil response for various cases of uplift velocity, embedment and soil weight. The enhancement in undrained shear strength of soil at higher uplift velocities due to strain rate effects has also been considered. The interface tension mobilised at these different velocities and embedments varies systematically in a way that is expressed by modifying Hvorslev's intake factors. The proposed expressions may be used with the existing methodologies to assess pipe stability during operation, demonstrated here through a design example

Coupled consolidation analysis of pipe-soil interactions

Current design practice for pipe-seabed interaction in soft soils is generally based on the assumption of undrained behaviour throughout laying and subsequent operation. In reality, drainage and consolidation around a partially embedded pipe can have a marked effect on the vertical penetration and horizontal breakout resistance. In this paper, a large-deformation finite element methodology coupled with the "modified Cam clay" plasticity soil model has been developed to study the coupled consolidation behaviour of soil around partially embedded seabed pipelines. Simulations of penetration show that after laying, subsequent consolidation leads to further embedment by an amount dependent on the level of drainage that occurred during laying. Also, if the pipe is embedded under undrained conditions, the waiting period between laying and operation allows the soil around the pipe to consolidate under the pipe self-weight. The consolidation process results in an increase in the strength of the soil. The lateral breakout resistance and the direction of pipe movement on breakout thus depend on the consolidated strength of the soil around the pipe, as well as the applied loading. The envelopes of vertical-lateral combined loading bearing capacity differ markedly from those predicted assuming undrained behaviour throughout.</p

Large-deformation numerical modeling of short-term compression and uplift capacity of offshore shallow foundations

Large-deformation finite-element analysis has been used to model the undrained response of skirted shallow foundations in uplift and compression. Large-deformation effects involve changes in embedment ratio and operative local soil shear strength with increasing foundation displacement-either in tension or compression. Centrifuge model testing has shown that these changes in geometry affect the mobilized bearing capacity and the kinematic mechanisms governing failure in undrained uplift and compression. Small-strain finite-element analysis cannot by definition capture the effects of changing foundation embedment ratio and variation in local soil strength with foundation displacement. In this paper, load-displacement relationships, ultimate capacities, and kinematic mechanisms governing failure from largedeformation finite-element analyses are compared with centrifuge model test results for circular skirted foundations with a range of embedment between 10 and 50% of the foundation diameter. The results show that the large-deformation finite-element method can replicate the loaddisplacement response of the foundations over large displacements, pre-and postyield, and also capture differences in the soil deformation patterns in uplift and compression. The findings from this study increase confidence in using advanced numerical methods for determining shallow skirted foundation behavior, particularly for load paths involving uplift.</p