Estimations of the Jacking Forces of Large-Sized Rectangular Jacking Pipes Based on a Displacement Control Method

In the present study, based on previous research results, a finite element method that considered the grouting pressure and displacement control of the tube-soil side friction coefficients was established for the purpose of estimating the jacking forces of large sections of rectangular pipe jacking. Furthermore, the pipe jacking project of Zhong-Zhou Avenue was taken as an example in this study, in which the rectangular pipe jacking models A1 and B1 under silty clay geological conditions were established. The two estimation models were verified using the pipe jacking cases A2 and B2, respectively. The estimation model can effectively estimate the jacking force, and the rectangular jacking force is distributed as a logarithmic function with the jacking distance. The shallow buried rectangular pipe jacking has some common characteristics in buried depth, grouting pressure, the length-width ratio of outer diameter, construction geological conditions, and so on. The main independent factors that affect the jacking force are the buried depth and the outer perimeter of the jacking pipe. Based on the numerical model of case A1 and case B1, the logarithmic functions of jacking force of case A1 and case B1 with jacking distance were obtained by changing the buried depth. The calculation formula of the jacking force can reflect the variation law of the jacking force to some extent.

Suggested Qualification Test Procedure to Secure Splitting Resistance in Pretensioned Concrete Members

Prestressed concrete ties could develop end-splitting cracks along tendons due to lateral bursting stresses. The lateral bursting stresses can form due to Hoyer effect (change in diameter of the prestressing tendons due to Poisson’s ratio), the jacking force in the tendons, geometrical features and indent characteristics of the prestressing tendons. End-splitting cracks can occur immediately after de-tensioning procedure in some cases, but they also can be developed during the first weeks after de-tensioning procedure due to sustained lateral stresses exerted by the prestressing tendons. The ability of concrete to resist these bursting stresses without cracking is primarily the function of the thickness of concrete cover, the type of concrete mixture used and the maximum compressive strength of the concrete. Qualification test will be great tool for prestressed concrete tie manufacturers to identify tie designs that may be susceptible to end-splitting cracks. This test was formally adopted as section 4.2.4 in Chapter 30 of the 2021 AREMA Manual for Railway Engineering.

Proposed Qualification Test Procedure to Identify Prestressed Concrete Ties That May Be Susceptible to End-Splitting Cracks

Prestressed concrete ties could develop end-splitting cracks along tendons due to lateral bursting stresses. The lateral bursting stresses can form due to Hoyer effect (change in diameter of the prestressing tendons due to Poisson’s ratio, the jacking force in the tendons, geometrical features, and indent characteristics of the prestressing tendons. End-splitting cracks can occur immediately after de-tensioning procedure in some cases, but they also can be developed during the first weeks after de-tensioning procedure due to sustained lateral stresses exerted by the prestressing tendons. The ability of concrete to resist these bursting stresses without cracking is primarily the function of the thickness of concrete cover, the type of concrete mixture used and the maximum compressive strength of the concrete. The test purpose was to identify tie designs that may be susceptible to end-splitting cracks. The Qualification test will be great tool to identify tie designs that have ability to form end-splitting cracks. The System Qualification Test involves six pre-tensioned concrete prisms with the same prestressing tendons and concrete mixture that is used in the concrete ties, except that the edge distance for the prisms is reduced by approximately 25 percent. If this reduction in edge distance results in longitudinal splitting cracks along the prestressing tendons, then the system (tie design and material selection) may be susceptible to concrete end-splitting cracks. In this case, changes to the design and/or material selection should be made prior to mass production of ties.

Prediction of Jacking Force in Vertical Tunneling Projects Based on Neuro-Genetic Models

The vertical tunneling method is an emerging technique to build sewage inlets or outlets in constructed horizontal tunnels. The jacking force used to drive the standpipes upward is an essential factor during the construction process. This study aims to predict the jacking forces during the vertical tunneling construction process through two intelligence systems, namely, artificial neural networks (ANNs) and hybrid genetic algorithm optimized ANNs (GA-ANNs). In this paper, the Beihai hydraulic tunnel constructed by the vertical tunneling method in China is introduced, and the direct shear tests have been conducted. A database composed of 546 datasets with ten inputs and one output was prepared. The effective parameters are classified into three categories, including tunnel geometry factors, the geological factor, and jacking operation factors. These factors are considered as input parameters. The tunnel geometry factors include the jacking distance, the thickness of overlaying soil, and the height of overlaying water; the geological factor refers to the geological conditions; and the jacking operation factors consist of the dead weight of standpipes, effective overburden soil pressure, effective lateral soil pressure, average jacking speed, construction hours, and soil weakening measure. The output parameter, on the other hand, refers to the jacking force. Performance indices, including the coefficient of determination (R2), root mean square error (RMSE), and the absolute value of relative error (RE), are computed to compare the performance of the ANN models and the GA-ANN models. Comparison results show that the GA-ANN models perform better than the ANN model, especially on the RMSE values. Finally, parametric sensitivity analysis between the input parameters and output parameter is conducted, reaching the result that the height of overlaying water, the average jacking speed, and the geological condition are the most effective input parameters on the jacking force in this study.

Experimental Research Based on the Optical Fiber Sensing Technology for a Jacked PHC Pipe Pile Penetration Process

The aim of this work is to explore the influence of the end resistance and shaft resistance regarding the mechanism for jacked pile penetration and the load-transfer rule during the penetration process. A full-scale field test was conducted in an actual project located in Dongying, Shandong Province, China. In this test, the axial strain experienced by two closed Prestressed High-strength Concrete (PHC) pipe piles during jacking into layered soil was monitored successfully using Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) sensors mounted on the pile shaft. The experimental results show that FBG sensors have a good stability, strong antijamming performance, and can effectively monitor the pile stress. The variation law of the jacking force reflects the distribution of the soil layer, and the hardness of the soil layer at the pile end limits the pile force. When the pile end enters the silt layer from the clay layer, the jacking force and shaft resistance increase by 2.5 and 1.7, respectively. The shaft resistance accounted for 44.99% of the jacking force. The end resistance is affected by the mechanical properties of soil, and the end resistance of the silt layer is approximately twice that of the clay layer. The end resistance of the silt layer accounted for 59.84% of the jacking force. When the pile end enters the soft soil layer from the hard soil layer, the impact of the pile driving speed and the tangential force on the surface of the pile body must both be considered. During the pile penetration process, as the penetration depth increases, the radial stress on the pile side at a given depth is gradually released, while the shaft resistance at the pile side degrades significantly.