Dynamic Response and Failure Process of a Counter-Bedding Rock Slope under Strong Earthquake Conditions

There are massive landslides and potential landslides along the Three Rivers Basin in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, which pose a serious threat to the Sichuan–Tibet Railway. A normal shaking table model test was conducted to study the dynamic characteristics and dynamic response of a symmetrical counter-bedding rock slope based on the Zongrong Village landslide. The influences of the dynamic parameters, seismic wave type, and a weak intercalated layer on the slope’s dynamic response were considered. The results showed symmetry between the growth trend of the acceleration amplification factor and other research results. When the input wave amplitude was constant, the acceleration amplification factor increased at first and then decreased as the frequency increased. When the input frequency was near the slope’s natural frequency, the acceleration amplification factor increased at first and then decreased with an increase in the input amplitude and reached the maximum value at 0.3 g. The acceleration amplification factor increased linearly with height in the vertical direction inside the slope but increased slowly at first and then sharply along the slope surface, reaching the maximum value at the slope’s top and exhibiting an obvious “elevation effect”. When sinusoidal waves, Wolong waves, and Maoxian waves with the same amplitude were input, the slope’s amplification effect on the bedrock wave was more obvious. The weak intercalated layer showed the phenomenon of “thin layer amplification” and “thick layer attenuation” in response to the input seismic wave. The slope’s failure process can be roughly divided into three stages: (1) the formation of tensile cracks at the top and shear cracks at the toe; (2) the extension of cracks and the sliding of the slope-surface block; (3) the formation of the main sliding surface.

Numerical Analysis of the Seismic Response of Tunnel Composite Lining Structures across an Active Fault

The mechanical properties of high-toughness engineering cementitious composites (ECC) were tested, and a damage constitutive model of the materials was constructed. A new aseismic composite structure was then built on the basis of this model by combining aseismic joints, damping layers, traditional reinforced concrete linings, and ECC linings. A series of 3D dynamic-response numerical models considering the composite structure-surrounding rock-fault interaction were established to explore the seismic response characteristics and aseismic performance of the composite structures. The adaptability of the structures to the seismic intensity and direction was also discussed. Results showed that the ECC material displays excellent tensile and compressive toughness, with respective peak tensile and compressive strains of approximately 300- and 3-fold greater than those of ordinary concrete at the same strength grade. The seismic response law of the new composite lining structure was similar to that of the conventional composite structure. The lining in the fault zone and adjacent area showed obvious acceleration amplification responses, and the stress and displacement responses were fairly large. The lining in the fault zone was the weak part of the composite structures. Compared with the conventional aseismic composite structure, the new composite lining structure effectively reduced the acceleration amplification and displacement responses in the fault area. The damage degree of the new composite structure was notably reduced and the damage area was smaller compared with those of the conventional composite structure; these findings demonstrate that the former shows better aseismic effects than the latter. The intensity and direction of seismic waves influenced the damage of the composite structures to some extent, and the applicability of the new composite structure to lateral seismic waves is significantly better than that to axial waves. More importantly, under the action of different seismic intensities and directions, the damage degree and distribution area of the new composite structure were significantly smaller than those of the conventional composite lining structure.

Comparative Study of Seismic Acceleration Amplification Models for RC Frame Structures

As the current aspect, the nonstructural components (NSCs) linked with the structures are more affected during the seismic motion. It causes not only loss of the economy but also affected life. The various codal provision has been available for minimizing the damages of primary components, but for NSCs, a minimal requirement is functional. So that more investigation is required for understating the behavior of NSCs during the seismic motion. The research aims to understand the behavior of acceleration demand on NSCs in a building. Structures subjected to inertia forces due to earthquakes experience damage of nonstructural components (NSC). The inertia force acting the NSCs are related to acceleration amplification factor. For obtaining the peak horizontal floor acceleration with respect to tectonic ground motion, these factors are used. In this paper, mathematical models of the acceleration amplification factor defined as the peak floor acceleration with respect to peak ground acceleration, given by previous researchers, has been compared. For this 2,4,6,8 and 10 storey moment-resisting frame models considering 29 ground motion data ranging between 0.1g to 0.2g, is analyzed using linear time history method. The supports of the models are considered fixed. The ETABS software is used for the analysis of the models. To analyses the models, the modal mass participation ratio plays a significant role. ASCE 7-05 defines that the structure should be investigated and designed when the model mass participation ratio is equal to or more than 90 per cent. Based on the results, a comparison of the reported models is made. There is a strong need for further research to refine the models for the realistic prediction of acceleration amplification factor.

Evaluation of Ground Motion Amplification Effects in Slope Topography Induced by the Arbitrary Directions of Seismic Waves

The incident directions of seismic waves can change the ground motions of slope topography. To elaborate on the influences of the directions of seismic waves, a dynamic analysis of the slope topography was performed. Seismic waves were input using an equivalent nodal force method combined with a viscous-spring artificial boundary. The amplification of ground motions in double-faced slope topographies was discussed by varying the angles of incidence. Meanwhile, the components of seismic waves (P waves and SV waves), slope materials and slope geometries were all investigated with various incident earthquake waves. The results indicated that the pattern of the amplification of SV waves was stronger than that of P waves in the slope topography, especially in the greater incident angels of the incident waves. Soft materials intensely aggravate the acceleration amplification, and more scattered waves are produced under oblique incident earthquake waves. The variations in the acceleration amplification ratios on the slope crest were much more complicated at oblique incident waves, and the ground motions were underestimated by considering only the vertical incident waves. Therefore, in the evaluation of ground motion amplification of the slope topography, it is extremely important to consider the direction of incident waves.

Study of Seismic Performance of Chinese-Style Single-Layer Suspended Ceiling System by Shaking Table Tests

During some recent earthquakes, the suspended ceiling system (SCS) in buildings suffered severe damage. The seismic performance of SCS attracted more attention from researchers. In this study, full-scale shaking table tests on two Chinese-style single-layer SCSs with different boundary conditions are conducted. The seismic damage and earthquake responses, including acceleration, displacement, and strain responses, are compared. The effect of the boundary condition on the seismic performance of the SCS is studied. It is found that the seismic performance of the SCS is significantly affected by the boundary condition. Compared with the SCS with the free condition at the boundary, the damage to the SCS installed with seismic clips at the boundary is much slighter. Compared with the SCS with the free condition, the median of acceleration amplification factor (AAF), the peak displacement (PD), and maximum strain of the SCS installed with seismic clips are reduced by up to 63%, 99%, and 84%, respectively. At the end of the tests, the SCS with the free condition at the boundary completely collapsed with 68% of the panels falling, while only 15% of panels fell in the SCS installed with seismic clips. The seismic clips could avoid the falling of the grids from the peripheral support and ensure the integrity of the SCS. With the help of seismic clips installed at the boundary, the responses of the ceiling, such as acceleration, displacement, and strain, decrease significantly, and thereof, the collapse resistance capacity is improved.

Evaluation of the Floor Acceleration Amplification Demand of Instrumented Buildings

The floor acceleration amplification (FAA) factor is one of the most critical parameters in computing the equivalent seismic force of nonstructural component (NC). To evaluate the heightwise FAA distribution profile, the recorded acceleration response of the instrumented buildings was analyzed using the California Strong Motion Instrumentation Program (CSMIP) database. The FAA demands for three groups of buildings consisting of reinforced concrete, steel, and masonry buildings were analyzed. In each group, the buildings were classified into four subgroups according to their heights. Parabolic distribution profiles were suggested that could envelop most of the FAA data, as demonstrated by the processed results. An earthquake experience-based importance factor was suggested in terms of the percentage of the enveloped records. The obtained FAAs at the roof were generally larger than those in other levels. The percentile distributions of the roof acceleration amplification (RAA) were computed. The results showed that the roof FAA was underestimated in ASCE 7-16. The magnitudes of the FAA and the RAA correlated to the fundamental period of the building, which was considered by classifying the buildings according to the period ranges. The RAA profile against the period was obtained from a regression analysis. The developed FAA profile is expected to be useful in the seismic design of NCs, and it is expected to be adopted in future code provisions.

Shaking Table Study on the Seismic Performance of Geogrid Reinforced Soil Retaining Walls

This study presents experimental results from shaking table tests on a reduced-scale geogrid reinforced soil retaining wall (RSRW) to investigate the seismic response of the fundamental frequency, acceleration amplification, face displacement, backfill surface settlement, and reinforcement strain under different peak accelerations and durations. The fundamental frequency is in good agreement with the predicted values. The root mean square (RMS) acceleration amplification factors increase nonlinearly with the wall height and decrease with increasing seismic load, which is not regarded as a constant value. The distributions of the peak displacement are consistent with those of the residual displacement. The combination of the sliding and rotation is observed as the predominant mode of displacement, and the rotation mode is dominant. The positions near the face (35 cm) and the ends of the reinforcement (140 cm) demonstrated larger settlement than that of the central position (70 cm and 105 cm). The reinforcement strain increased with increasing peak acceleration and maximum values measured at the central layers. The trends of the potential failure surface are similar to those of the 0.3H bilinear failure surface. The friction coefficient is nonlinearly distributed along with the reinforcements, and the maximum friction coefficient appears at the top layer (F11).

Research on Seismic Dynamic Response Characteristics of Weak Surrounding Rock Slope With Double-Arch Tunnel

Through the shaking table test, Wenchuan wave (WC) was used as the excitation wave of the shaking table test. The vibration was excited in three directions: horizontal (x), vertical (z), and horizontal and vertical (xz) and the dynamic response characteristics of rock slopes was studied. The results show:(1) The acceleration amplification factor of each measuring point of the slope shows a nonlinear increasing trend with the increase of the slope height.The slope changes the frequency spectrum of the loaded seismic wave.The slope has a filtering effect on the high frequency band of the seismic wave.(2) Under the unidirectional cyclic loading of Wenchuan wave, the slope acceleration amplification factor increases with the increase of the peak value of the seismic wave. Under the bi-directional excitation of Wenchuan wave, the slope acceleration amplification coefficient generally decreases with the increase of the peak value of the seismic wave.The slope acceleration amplification factor presents the characteristics of first increasing and then decreasing with the increase of the relative height of the slope.(3) The dynamic displacement response characteristics of the tunnel slope with double-arch tunnel are mainly affected by the seismic wave in the same direction and the peak value of the dynamic displacement response increases with the increase of the seismic wave peak value.(4) The peak dynamic displacement response of the double-arch tunnel slope shows a non-linear change trend with the increase of slope height. The dynamic displacement peak growth rate is slower below the rock interface and the dynamic displacement peak increases rapidly above the interface and Maximum displacement occurred at the top of the slope.

Field Measurement and Numerical Simulation of Train-Induced Vibration from a Metro Tunnel in Soft Deposits

Train-induced vibration is increasingly attracting people’s concern nowadays. In the coastal areas, many metro tunnels are built in the soft deposits, so the train-induced vibration effect is more serious. Nevertheless, the existing research studies mainly focus on the dynamic responses in the tunnel or on the ground surface while vibration characteristics in the ground are seldom studied. In this paper, a comprehensive field measurement was performed by installing accelerometers in the tunnel and soil layers and on the ground surface to capture the response characteristics of the track-tunnel-ground system. Elastoplastic numerical simulation considering the soil-water coupling was conducted to reveal the responses of acceleration, dynamic displacement, and excess pore water pressure using FE code DBLEAVES. Measurement results indicate that high-frequency contents (>500 Hz) attenuate rapidly in the propagation process; the dominant frequency of the rail concentrates in the middle- and high-frequency bands, about 25–400 Hz and 1000–1500 Hz, while the frequencies of the track bed, soil layers, and ground surface drop to below 400, 200, and 100 Hz, respectively. The vertical ground acceleration decreases like an arc in the transverse direction while there is transverse acceleration amplification phenomenon at a distance from the upper haunch and lower haunch of the tunnel. Overall, the area affected by train vibration in the soft deposits is about 30 m away from the metro tunnel. Numerical simulation based on soil-water coupled analysis is feasible to model the vibration characteristics in the soft deposits and confirms that there is acceleration amplification in the ground. Moreover, numerical results indicate that excess pore water pressure can be accumulated during each train vibration, so the train-induced settlement will be a potential problem in the long term for the metro tunnel.