Genetic Manipulation of Sainfoin Leaf Tannins

An isogenic population of sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia Scop.) plants was developed by two methods; regeneration after long term tissue culture and plant transformation with an antisense chalcone synthase gene. Tannin (proanthocyanidin) content could be dramatically increased in untransformed callus by long term culture, but was not significantly altered in regenerating plantlets. Some of the mature transgenic plants had dramatically reduced levels of leaf tannin. The antisense gene was eliminated from all transgenic plants later in development

Micromechanics of seismic wave propagation in granular materials

In this study experimental data on a model soil in a cubical cell are compared with both discrete element (DEM) simulations and continuum analyses. The experiments and simulations used point source transmitters and receivers to evaluate the shear and compression wave velocities of the samples, from which some of the elastic moduli can be deduced. Complex responses to perturbations generated by the bender/extender piezoceramic elements in the experiments were compared to those found by the controlled movement of the particles in the DEM simulations. The generally satisfactory agreement between experimental observations and DEM simulations can be seen as a validation and support the use of DEM to investigate the influence of grain interaction on wave propagation. Frequency domain analyses that considered filtering of the higher frequency components of the inserted signal, the ratio of the input and received signals in the frequency domain and sample resonance provided useful insight into the system response. Frequency domain analysis and analytical continuum solutions for cube vibration show that the testing configuration excited some, but not all, of the system’s resonant frequencies. The particle scale data available from DEM enabled analysis of the energy dissipation during propagation of the wave. Frequency domain analysis at the particle scale revealed that the higher frequency content reduces with increasing distance from the point of excitation

DRAM:A three-dimensional analytical model for the mobilisation of root reinforcement in direct shear conditions

Roots can stabilise slopes against shallow landslides by mobilising their mechanical strength. Existing analytical models are highly simplified and typically focus on the ultimate limit state only, thus providing little insight into the underlying mechanism of reinforcement mobilisation. A new analytical model (‘DRAM’) was therefore developed to predict mechanical root reinforcement as a function of direct shear displacements. This model accounts for elasto-plastic root behaviour, three-dimensional root orientations, root failure through breakage or slippage, and a dynamically changing shear zone thickness. Comparison to two independent experimental direct shear data sets showed that the model was able to accurately predict the gradual mobilisation of root strength, the magnitude of peak root reinforcement, as well as the presence of significant root reinforcement at large shear displacements, associated with a relatively large quantity of roots slipping out of the surrounding soil. Because the newly developed model more closely resembles the underlying physics of the mobilisation of root reinforcement in direct shear while still being easy to use, it will be a useful tool for the engineering industry, in terms of quantifying root reinforcement distribution for limit analyses at the ultimate limit state, as well as for directing future research into the drivers of mechanical root reinforcement.</p

Vermiculate artefacts in image analysis of granular materials

Some reported analyses of images of deforming granular materials have generated surprising vermiculate strain features which are difficult to reconcile with the mechanics of deformation of granular matter. Detailed investigation using synthetic images and improved processing of images of laboratory experiments indicates that such features can emerge as a consequence of the image acquisition (sensor, contrast, resolution), the subsequent image correlation implementation, and the user’s choice of processing parameters. The two principal factors are: (i) the texture and resolution of the images and (ii) the algorithm used to achieve sub-pixel displacement resolution. Analysis of the images using a sub-pixel interpolation algorithm that is more robust than that used originally eliminates the vermiculate features for images with moderate resolution and texture. However, erroneous features persist in images with low resolution and poor texture. Guidance is provided on ways in which such artefacts can be avoided through improved experimental and image analysis techniques

Development of Stresses in Cohesionless Poured Sand

The pressure distribution beneath a conical sandpile, created by pouring sand from a point source onto a rough rigid support, shows a pronounced minimum below the apex (`the dip'). Recent work of the authors has attempted to explain this phenomenon by invoking local rules for stress propagation that depend on the local geometry, and hence on the construction history, of the medium. We discuss the fundamental difference between such approaches, which lead to hyperbolic differential equations, and elastoplastic models, for which the equations are elliptic within any elastic zones present .... This displacement field appears to be either ill-defined, or defined relative to a reference state whose physical existence is in doubt. Insofar as their predictions depend on physical factors unknown and outside experimental control, such elastoplastic models predict that the observations should be intrinsically irreproducible .... Our hyperbolic models are based instead on a physical picture of the material, in which (a) the load is supported by a skeletal network of force chains ("stress paths") whose geometry depends on construction history; (b) this network is `fragile' or marginally stable, in a sense that we define. .... We point out that our hyperbolic models can nonetheless be reconciled with elastoplastic ideas by taking the limit of an extremely anisotropic yield condition.Comment: 25 pages, latex RS.tex with rspublic.sty, 7 figures in Rsfig.ps. Philosophical Transactions A, Royal Society, submitted 02/9

Energy dissipation in soil samples during drained triaxial shearing

The discrete-element method was used to simulate drained triaxial compression of large-scale, polydisperse numerical samples at a range of void ratios while tracing all relevant energy components. The frictional dissipation and boundary work are almost equal regardless of sample density. The volumetric work reaches a steady value at large strain. However, the distortional work increases continually as sample deformation continues post-critical state. There is a preferential orientation for frictional dissipation at around 45° to the major principal stress direction. This matches the orientation at which there is the largest number of sliding contacts. The work equations, which are fundamental in most commonly used constitutive models, are linear when plotted against deviatoric strain. The modified Cam Clay work equation substantially over-predicts the frictional dissipation for dense samples. An alternative, thermodynamically consistent work equation gives a much better description of frictional dissipation and is therefore recommended to ensure accuracy in modelling

Ground characterisation for PISA pile testing and analysis

This paper is the first of a set of linked publications on the PISA Joint Industry Research Project, which was concerned with the development of improved design methods for monopile foundations in offshore wind applications. PISA involved large-scale pile tests in overconsolidated glacial till at Cowden, north-east England, and in dense, normally consolidated marine sand at Dunkirk, northern France. The paper presents the characterisation of the two sites, which was crucial to the design of the field experiments and advanced numerical modelling of the pile–soil interactions. The studies described, which had to be completed at an early stage of the PISA project, added new laboratory and field campaigns to historic investigations at both sites. They enabled an accurate description of soil behaviour from small strains to ultimate states to be derived, allowing analyses to be undertaken that captured both the serviceability and limit state behaviour of the test monopiles

Centrifuge model testing for pile foundation reuse

With continuous development in the urban environment the ground is becoming more and more congested with redundant foundations. The underground development of services and infrastructure already restricts the location of new building foundations and the redundant foundations only add to this problem. This paper describes how existing single pile foundations in overconsolidated clay are likely to behave when their loading conditions are changed by un-loading caused by demolition and subsequent re-loading from a new development. The influence of any new foundations on the existing foundations is also described. Experimental data were obtained from a series of centrifuge model tests undertaken at 60g in which a number of different geometries of novel pile groups were modelled. Model tests included comparison of the behaviour of bored piles when supplemented with mini-pile groups