Wave propagation due to sinusoidal excitation in nonlinear one-dimensional soil column

The objective of the author's on-going research is to explore the feasibility of determining reliable in situ curves of shear modulus as a function of strain using the dynamic test. The purpose of this paper is limited to investigating what material stiffness is measured from a dynamic test, focusing on the harmonic excitation test. A one-dimensional discrete model with nonlinear material properties is used for this purpose. When a sinusoidal load is applied, the cross-correlation of signals from different depths estimates a wave velocity close to the one calculated from the secant modulus in the stress-strain loops under steady-state conditions. The variables that contributed to changing the average slope of the stress-strain loop also influence the estimate of the wave velocity from cross-correlation. Copyright ASCE 2007.

Effects of temperature, glucose and inorganic nitrogen inputs on carbon mineralization in a Tibetan alpine meadow soil

High levels of available nitrogen (N) and carbon (C) have the potential to increase soil N and C mineralization We hypothesized that with an external labile C or N supply alpine meadow soil will have a significantly higher C mineralization potential and that temperature sensitivity of C mineralization will increase To test the hypotheses an incubation experiment was conducted with two doses of N or C supply at temperature of 5 15 and 25 C Results showed external N supply had no significant effect on CO2 emission However external C supply increased CO2 emission Temperature coefficient (Q(10)) ranged from 113 to 1 29 Significantly higher values were measured with C than with N addition and control treatment Temperature dependence of C mineralization was well-represented by exponential functions Under the control CO2 efflux rate was 425 g CO2-Cm-2 year(-1) comparable to the in situ measurement of 422 g CO2-Cm-2 year(-1) We demonstrated if N is disregarded microbial decomposition is primarily limited by lack of labile C It is predicted that labile C supply would further increase CO2 efflux from the alpine meadow soil (C) 2010 Elsevier Masson SAS All rights reserved

Probabilistic modelling of soil moisture dynamics of irrigated cropland in the North China Plain

A probabilistic soil moisture dynamic model is used to estimate the soil moisture probability distribution and plant water stress of irrigated cropland in the North China Plain. Soil moisture and meteorological data during the period of 1998 to 2003 were obtained from an irrigated cropland ecosystem with winter wheat and maize in the North China Plain to test the probabilistic soil moisture dynamic model. Results showed that the model was able to capture the soil moisture dynamics and estimate long-term water balance reasonably well when little soil water deficit existed. The prediction of mean plant water stress during winter wheat and maize growing season quantified the suitability of the wheat-maize rotation to the soil and climate environmental conditions in North China Plain under the impact of irrigation. Under the impact of precipitation fluctuations, there is no significant bimodality of the average soil moisture probability density function.

A novel self-consistent-field lattice model for block copolymers

We develop a self-consistent-field lattice model for block copolymers and propose a novel and general method to solve the self-consistent-field equations. The approach involves describing the polymer chains in a lattice and employing a two-stage relaxation procedure to evolve a system as rapidly as possible to a free-energy minimum. In order to test the validity of this approach, we use the method to study the microphases of rod-coil diblock copolymers. In addition to the lamellar and cylindrical morphologies, micellar, perforated lamellar, gyroid, and zigzag structures have been identified without any prior assumption of the microphase symmetry. Furthermore, this approach can also give the possible orientation of the rods in different structures.

Corrosion behaviour of steel in beach soil along Bohai Bay

Research on corrosion of steel structures in various marine environments is essential to assure the safety of structures and can effectively prolong their service life. In order to provide data for anticorrosion design of oil exploitation structures in the Bohai Bay, the corrosion behaviour and properties of steel in beach soil, using typical steel samples (Q235A carbon steel and API 5Lx52 pipeline steel) buried 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 m deep under typical beach soils in Tanggu, Yangjiaogou, Xingcheng, Yingkou and Chengdao for 1-2 years were studied. The carbon steel and pipeline steel were both corroded severely in the beach soil, with the form of corrosion being mainly uniform with some localised attack (pitting corrosion). The corrosion rate of the carbon steel was up to 0.16 mm/year with a maximum penetration depth of 0.76 mm and that of the pipeline steel was up to 0.14 mm/year, with a maximum penetration depth of 0.53 mm. Compared with carbon steel, the pipeline steel generally had better corrosion resistance in most test beach soils. The corrosion rates and the maximum corrosion depths of carbon steel and pipeline steel were in the order: Tanggu>Xingcheng>Chengdao>Yingkou>Yangjiaogou with corrosion altering with depth of burial. The corrosion of steel in the beach soil involves a mixed mechanism with different degrees of soil aeration and microbial activity present. It is concluded that long term in situ plate laying experiments must be carried out to obtain data on steel corrosion in this beach soil environment so that the effective protection measures can be implemented.

土石混合体细观结构力学及其边坡稳定性研究

Soil-rock mixture (S-RM) refers to one extremely uneven loose rock and soil materials system with certain stone content. Its formation has started since Quaternary and it is composed of block stone, fine grained soil and pore with certain project scale and high strength. S-RM has extensive distribution in nature, especially in southwest China where the geotectonic background is complicated, the fracture activity is developed and the geomorphological characteristics of high mountain and steep gorge area are protuberant. This kind of complicated geologic body has developed wider in these areas. S-RM has obvious difference with the general soil or rock (rock mass) in physical and mechanical properties because its two components-“soil” and “rock-block” has extreme differences in physical and mechanical properties. The proposition of S-RM and its deep research are needed in the modern engineering construction. It is also the necessity in the modern development of rock and soil mechanics. The dissertation starts from the meso-structural characteristics of soil-rock and takes a systematic research on its meso-structural mechanics, deformation and failure mechanism and the stability of S-RM slope. In summary, it achieves the following innovative results and conclusions. There are various views on the conception of S-RM and its classification system. Based on the large number of field tests, the dissertation makes the conception and classification of S-RM more systematic. It systematically proposed the conception of meso-structural mechanics of S-RM. Thus the dissertation has laid a foundation for its deep study. With the fast development of the computer technology and digital image processing theory, digital image processing technology has been successfully applied in many fields and provided reliable technology support for the quantitative description of the structural characteristics of S-RM. Based on the digital image processing technology, the dissertation systematically proposes and developed the quantitative analysis method and quantitative index for the meso-structure of S-RM. The results indicate that the meso-structure such as its internal soil-rock granularity composition, the soil-rock shape and the orientability has obvious self-organization in the macro statistical level. The dissertation makes a systematic research on the physical mechanical properties, deformation and failure mechanism of S-RM based on large field test. It proposes the field test for the underwater S-RM and deduces the 3D data analysis method of in-situ horizontal push-shear test. The result indicates that S-RM has significant phenomenon of shear dilatancy in the shearing process, and its dilatancy will be more obvious with the increased proportion of rock or the decreased confining pressure. The proportion of rock has great effect on the strength of S-RM and rock-block, especially the spatial position of particles with comparatively big size has great effect on the shape and spatial position of the sample shear zone. The dissertation makes some improvements in the single ring infiltration test equipment and its application on the permeability of S-RM. The results indicate that the increasing of rock-block would make it more difficult for the soil to fill in the vacuity between the rock-block and the proportion would increase which would result in the increased permeability coefficient. The dissertation builds the real meso-structural model of S-RM based on the digital image processing technology. By using geometric reconstruction technology, it transfers the structural mode represented by Binary image into CAD format, which makes it possible to introduce the present finite element analysis software to take research on numerical experimental investigation. It systematically realizes leaping research from the image，geometric mode, to meso-structural mechanics numerical experiment. By using this method, the dissertation takes large scale numerical direct-shear test on the section of S-RM. From the mesoscopic perspective, it reveals three extended modes about the shear failure plane of S-RM. Based on the real meso-structural model and by using the numerical simulation test, the character and mechanics of seepage failure of S-RM are studied. At the same time, it builds the real structural mode of the slope based on the analysis about the slope crosssection of S-RM. By using the strength reduction method, it takes the research on the stability of S-RM and gets great achievements. The three dimensional geometric reconstruction technology of rock block is proposed, which provides technical support for the reconstruction of the 3D meso-structural model of S-RM. For the first time, the dissertation builds the stochastic structure model of two-dimensional and three-dimensional polygons or polyhedron based on the stochastic simulation technique of monte carlo method. It breaks the traditional research which restricted to the random generation method of regular polygon and develops the relevant software system (R-SRM2D/3D) which has great effect on meso-structural mechanics of S-RM. Based on the R-SRM software system which randomly generates the meso-structural mode of S-RM according to the different meso-structural characteristics, the dissertation takes a series of research on numerical test of dual axis and real three-axis, systematically analyses the meso destroy system, the effects of meso-structural characteristics such as on the stone content, size composition and block directionality on the macro mechanical behavior and macro-permeability. Then it proposes the expression of the upper and lower limit for the macro-permeability coefficient of the inhomogeneous geomaterials, such as S-RM. By using the strength reduction FEM, the dissertation takes the research on the stability of the slope structural mode of the randomly formed S-RM. The results indicate that generally, the stability coefficient of S-RM slope increases with the increasing of stone content; on the condition of the same stone content, the stability coefficient of slope will be different with different size composition and the space position of large block at the internal slop has great effect on the stability. It suggests that meso-structural characteristics, especially the space position of large block should be considered when analyzing the stability of this kind of slope and strengthening design. Taking Xiazanri S-RM slope as an example, the dissertation proposes the fine modeling of complicated geologic body based on reverse engineering and the generation method of FLAC3D mode. It resolves the bottleneck problem about building the fine structural mode of three-dimensional geological body. By using FLAC3D, the dissertation takes research on the seepage field and the displacement field of Xiazanri S-RM slope in the process of reservoir water level rising and decreasing. By using strength reduction method, it analyses the three-dimension stability in the process of reservoir water level rising and decreasing. The results indicate that the slope stability firstly show downward trend in the process of reservoir water level rising and then rebound to increase; the sudden drawdown of reservoir water level has great effect on the slope stability and this effect will increase with the sudden drawdown amplitude rising. Based on the result of the rock block size analysis of S-RM, and using R-SRM2D the stochastic structure model of Xiazanri S-RM slope is built. By using strength reduction method, the stability of the stochastic structure model is analysis, the results shows that the stability factor increases significantly after considering the block.

Dynamic soil–structure interaction of monopile supported wind turbines in cohesive soil.

Offshore wind turbines supported on monopile foundations are dynamically sensitive because the overall natural frequencies of these structures are close to the different forcing frequencies imposed upon them. The structures are designed for an intended life of 25 to 30 years, but little is known about their long term behaviour. To study their long term behaviour, a series of laboratory tests were conducted in which a scaled model wind turbine supported on a monopile in kaolin clay was subjected to between 32,000 and 172,000 cycles of horizontal loading and the changes in natural frequency and damping of the model were monitored. The experimental results are presented using a non-dimensional framework based on an interpretation of the governing mechanics. The change in natural frequency was found to be strongly dependent on the shear strain level in the soil next to the pile. Practical guidance for choosing the diameter of monopile is suggested based on element test results using the concept of volumetric threshold shear strain.

Winkler springs (p-y curves) for liquefied soil from element tests.

In practice, piles are most often modelled as "Beams on Non-Linear Winkler Foundation" (also known as “p-y spring” approach) where the soil is idealised as p-y springs. These p-y springs are obtained through semi-empirical approach using element test results of the soil. For liquefied soil, a reduction factor (often termed as p-multiplier approach) is applied on a standard p-y curve for the non-liquefied condition to obtain the p-y curve liquefied soil condition. This paper presents a methodology to obtain p-y curves for liquefied soil based on element testing of liquefied soil considering physically plausible mechanisms. Validation of the proposed p-y curves is carried out through the back analysis of physical model tests.

Nitrogen-15 and Oxygen-18 Natural Abundance of Potassium Chloride Extractable Soil Nitrate Using the Denitrifier Method

In agroecosystems, most isotopic investigations of NO3- involve the use of tracers that are artificially enriched in 15N. Although the dual isotope composition of NO3-— d15N and d18O is especially beneficial for understanding the origin and fate of NO3-, its use for KCl-extractable soil NO3- has been hampered by the lack of a suitable analytical technique. Our objective was to test whether the denitrifier method, whereby NO3- is reduced to N2O before mass spectrometric analysis, can be used to determine the N and O isotopic composition of NO3- from 2 M KCl soil extracts. Several internationally accepted NO3- standards were dissolved in 2 M KCl, the conventional extractant for soil inorganic N, and inoculated with the bacterial strain Pseudomonas aureofaciens (ATCC no. 13985). The standard deviation of the NO3- standards analyzed did not exceed 0.2‰ for d15N and 0.3‰ for d18O values. After appropriate corrections, differences between our measured and consensus d15N and d18O values of standard NO3- generally were within the standard deviations given for the consensus values. Both d15N and d18O values were reproducible among separate analytical runs. The method was also tested on genuine 2 M KCl extracts from unfertilized and fertilized soils. Depending on N fertilization, the soils had distinct d15N and d18O values, which were attributed to amendment with NH4NO3 fertilizer. Hence, our data indicate that the denitrifier method provides a fast, reliable, precise, and accurate way of simultaneously analyzing the natural abundances of 15N and 18O in KCl-extractable soil NO3-.

An elasto-plastic critical state framework for unsaturated soil.

Data from a series of controlled suction triaxial tests on samples of compacted speswhite kaolin were used in the development of an elasto–plastic critical state framework for unsaturated soil. The framework is defined in terms of four state variables: mean net stress, deviator stress, suction and specific volume. Included within the proposed framework are an isotropic normal compression hyperline, a critical state hyperline and a state boundary hypersurface. For states that lie inside the state boundary hypersurface the soil behaviour is assumed to be elastic, with movement over the state boundary hypersurface corresponding to expansion of a yield surface in stress space. The pattern of swelling and collapse observed during wetting, the elastic–plastic compression behaviour during isotropic loading and the increase of shear strength with suction were all related to the shape of the yield surface and the hardening law defined by the form of the state boundary. By assuming that constant–suction cross–sections of the yield surface were elliptical it was possible to predict test paths for different types of triaxial shear test that showed good agreement with observed behaviour. The development of shear strain was also predicted with reasonable success, by assuming an associated flow rule.

A preliminary investigation into the use of testate amoebae for the discrimination of forensic soil samples

We present the results of an initial investigation into the efficacy of using testate amoebae for the discrimination of soils from wet ground and puddles, as little attention has been given to these organisms in forensic science. The preservation of testate amoebae in these sediments is generally good, although test concentrations are low. Statistical analysis suggests that restate amoebae assemblages are somewhat spatially distinct and have potential to be used for soil discrimination. A case study is presented where mineralogical (X-ray diffraction) and restate amoebae analyses are used in conjunction to clarify the scene of crime in a 'cold case' murder enquiry. Testate amoebae were recovered from dried sediment residues on clothing 10 years after the murder. Despite these promising results, further experimental work is crucial to examine the spatial and temporal variation of amoebae assemblages in water films, wet ground and puddles before they can be added to the armoury of methods available to the forensic biologist.

The effect of construction pattern and unit interlock on the structural behaviour of block pavements

The maintenance or even replacement of cracked pavements requires considerable financial resources and puts a large burden on the budgets of local councils. In addition to these costs, local councils also face liability claims arising from uneven or cracked pedestrian pavements. These currently cost the Manchester City Council and Preston City Council around £6 million a year each. Design procedures are empirical. A better understanding of the interaction between paving blocks, bedding sand and subbase was necessary in order to determine the mode of failure of pavements under load. Increasing applied stress was found to mobilise ‘‘rotational interlock’’, providing increased pavement stiffness and thus increased load dissipation resulting in lower transmitted stress on the subgrade. The indications from the literature
review were that pavements are designed to fail by excessive deformation and that paving blocks remained uncracked at failure. This was confirmed with experimental data which was obtained from tests on segments of pavements that were laid/constructed in a purpose built test frame in the laboratory.

Soil conditioning for EPBMs

Nowadays, the Earth Pressure Balanced (EPB) shields are used more and more caused by both the mechanical development of the machines and the more effective use of additives such as foams and polymers. These additives are used to condition spoil in the screw conveyor. A crucial component of EPB tunnelling applications is ground conditioning. Thus, in order to permit quantitative measurements of the conditioned ground behavior, it is necessary to develop and use a test able to simulate the extraction of earth from the chamber with a screw conveyor. This reliable test procedure can provide quantitative parameters that can really describe the conditioned soil behavior.

Screw conveyor device for laboratory tests on conditioned soil for EPB tunneling operations

Earth pressure balanced (EPB) full face tunneling machines have experienced a remarkable increase in the number of applications throughout the world due to both mechanical developments and a more effective use of additives to condition the ground. Conditioning modifies the mechanical and hydraulic properties of a soil by making it suitable for the pressure control in the bulk chamber and extraction with the screw conveyor. The extraction system plays a fundamental role during the EPB operations particularly for a correct application of the face pressure. Despite the extensive use of the EPB technique, little knowledge exists concerning the understanding of the behavior of conditioned soil, particularly for noncohesive ground (sand and gravel). This paper presents and describes a prototype laboratory device, which simulates the extraction of the ground from a pressurized tank with a screw conveyor. The results of a preliminary test program carried out on a medium sized sand show that the prototype device is efficient in verifying the effects of foam for an optimal use in EPB conditioning. © 2007 ASCE.