Effect of relative density and biocementation on cyclic response of calcareous sand

2019 ◽  
Vol 56 (12) ◽  
pp. 1849-1862 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peng Xiao ◽  
Hanlong Liu ◽  
Armin W. Stuedlein ◽  
T. Matthew Evans ◽  
Yang Xiao

Microbial-induced calcium carbonate precipitation (MICP) represents a promising approach to improve the geotechnical engineering properties of soils through the precipitation of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) at soil particle contacts and soil particle surfaces. An extensive experimental study was undertaken to investigate the influence of initial relative density on the efficiency of the biocementation process, the reduction of liquefaction susceptibility, and the cyclic response in biocemented calcareous soils. For this purpose, stress-controlled undrained cyclic triaxial shear (CTS) tests were carried out on untreated and MICP-treated calcareous sand specimens for different initial relative densities and magnitudes of biocementation. Improvement in the cyclic response was quantified and compared in terms of excess pore pressure generation, evolution of axial strains, and the number of cycles to liquefaction. The cyclic experiments show that MICP treatment can change the liquefaction failure mechanism from flow failure to cyclic mobility and can significantly change the excess pore pressure generation response of initially loose specimens. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images indicate the CaCO3 crystals alter the characteristics of the sand particles and confirm the physical change in soil fabric that impacts the dynamic behavior and liquefaction resistance of MICP-treated specimens. Furthermore, the effect of biocementation was contrasted against the effect of relative density alone, and MICP treatment was shown to exhibit greater efficiency in improving the cyclic resistance than densification.

2012 ◽  
Vol 446-449 ◽  
pp. 1940-1943
Author(s):  
Yang Liu ◽  
Hong Xiang Yan

Numerical simulation of vibro-stone column is taken to simulate the installation of vibro-stone column. A relationship based on test is adopted to calculate the excess pore pressure induced by vibratory energy during the installation of vibro-stone column. A numerical procedure is developed based on the formula and Terzaghi-Renduric consolidation theory. Finally numerical results of composite stone column are compared single stone column.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Davide Mencaroni ◽  
Roger Urgeles ◽  
Jonathan Ford ◽  
Jaume Llopart ◽  
Cristina Sànchez Serra ◽  
...  

<p>Contourite deposits are generated by the interplay between deepwater bottom-currents, sediment supply and seafloor topography. The Gulf of Cadiz, in the Southwest Iberian margin, is a famous example of extensive contourite deposition driven by the Mediterranean Outflow Water (MOW), which exits the Strait of Gibraltar, flows northward following the coastline and distributes the sediments coming from the Guadalquivir and Guadiana rivers. The MOW and related contourite deposits affect the stability of the SW Iberian margin in several ways: on one hand it increases the sedimentation rate, favoring the development of excess pore pressure, while on the other hand, by depositing sand it allows pore water pressure to dissipate, potentially increasing the stability of the slope.</p><p>In the Gulf of Cadiz, grain size distribution of contourite deposits is influenced by the seafloor morphology, which splits the MOW in different branches, and by the alternation of glacial and interglacial periods that affected the MOW hydrodynamic regimes. Fine clay packages alternates with clean sand formations according to the capacity of transport of the bottom-current in a specific area. Generally speaking, coarser deposits are found in the areas of higher MOW flow energy, such as in the shallower part of the slope or in the area closer to the Strait of Gibraltar, while at higher water depths the sedimentation shifts to progressively finer grain sizes as the MOW gets weaker. Previous works show that at present-day the MOW flows at a maximum depth of 1400 m, while during glacial periods the bottom-current could have reached higher depths.</p><p>In this study we derived the different maximum depths at which the MOW flowed by analyzing the distribution of sands at different depths along the Alentejo basin slope, in the Northern sector of the Gulf of Cadiz.</p><p>Here we show how changes in sand distribution along slope, within the stratigraphic units deposited between the Neogene and the present day, are driven by glacial – interglacial period alternation that influenced the hydrodynamic regime of the MOW.</p><p>By deriving the depositional history of sand in the Alentejo basin, we are able to correlate directly the influence that climatic cycles had on the MOW activity. Furthermore, by interpreting new multi-channel seismic profiles we have been able to derive a detailed facies characterization of the uppermost part of the Gulf of Cadiz.</p><p>An accurate definition of sand distribution along slope plays an important role in evaluating the stability of the slope itself, e.g. to understand if the sediments may be subjected to excess pore pressure generation. As sand distribution is a direct function of the bottom-current transport capacity, the ultimate goal of this study is to understand how climate variations can affect the stability of submarine slope by depositing contourite-related sand.</p>


Geofluids ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hung-Ming Lin ◽  
Jian-Hong Wu ◽  
Erik Sunarya

A new consolidated undrained ring shear test capable of measuring the pore pressures is presented to investigate the initiation mechanism of the Hsien-du-shan rock avalanche, triggered by Typhoon Morakot, in southern Taiwan. The postpeak state of the landslide surface between the Tangenshan sandstone and the remolded landslide gouge is discussed to address the unstable geomorphological precursors observed before the landslide occurred. Experimental results show that the internal friction angle of the high water content sliding surface in the total stress state, between 25.3 and 26.1°, clarifies the reason of the stable slope prior to Typhoon Morakot. In addition, during the ring shear tests, it is observed that the excess pore pressure is generated by the shear contractions of the sliding surface. The remolded landslide gouge, sheared under the high normal stress, rendered results associated with high shear strength, small shear contraction, low hydraulic conductivity, and continuous excess pore pressure. The excess pore pressure feedback at the sliding surface may have accelerated the landslide.


2018 ◽  
Vol 783 ◽  
pp. 46-50
Author(s):  
Yu Cong Gao ◽  
Rong Chen ◽  
Dong Xue Hao ◽  
Myoung Soo Won

Geosynthetics–reinforced structures are widely used in embankments and walls. This paper presents the simulation of the embankment under load in order to compare the behavior of clay embankment with and without wrapping-facing-geosynthetics-reinforcement using finite element method (FEM) and to analyse the variation of behavior included of displacement and excess pore pressure under the different over-consolidation ratios (OCR). The calculation results show that embankment with higher OCR showing lower displacement compare to embankment with lower OCR. However, OCR isn’t very sensitive to the dissipation of excess pore pressure. Geosynthetics-reinforcements could reduce the displacement of embankment and accelerate dissipation of excess pore pressure after construction and surcharge. Gravel, geosynthetics-reinforcement and clay soil are properly combined, clayey soil is expected to be useful as embankment material.


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