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Advanced Numerical Simulations in Geotechnical Engineering II
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Advanced Numerical Simulations in Geotechnical Engineering II

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Earth Sciences".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 November 2023) | Viewed by 8278

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Susana Lopez-Querol

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering, University of London, London WC1E 7HU, UK
Interests: soil dynamics; soil–structure interaction; liquefaction; ground improvement; offshore wind turbines foundations; landslides
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Pedro Navas

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Continuum Mechanics and Structures, ETS Ingenieros de Caminos, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
Interests: computational mechanics; solid dynamics; mathematical modeling and computing; meshfree methods; geotechnical engineering
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Soils are very complicated materials. They are formed by particles that have different properties, sizes, and shapes, which interact with each other mechanically and chemically. Moreover, the voids left by the particles can be filled with a combination of fluids and gases, which highly affect the overall mechanical soil behaviour. Different approaches to simulate soil performance when subject to loads can be adopted, including from macro- to micro-structural analyses. All of these possible numerical models pose challenges that need to be addressed in order to balance stability, accuracy, and efficient simulations.

This Special Issue is open to advanced numerical simulations in soil mechanics and geotechnical engineering. We aim at publishing contributions on novel numerical schemes, including new constitutive models, particulate soil mechanics, unsaturated media, and soil dynamics. Practical applications of these advanced approaches to real civil engineering problems are particularly welcome.

Dr. Susana Lopez-Querol
Dr. Pedro Navas
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Applied Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • meshfree methods
  • DEM
  • time integration schemes
  • soil–structure interaction
  • soil–structure interface
  • constitutive modelling
  • construction sequences
  • Biot’s equations
  • modelling of unsaturated soil mechanics
  • large deformation modelling

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

28 pages, 11097 KiB  
Article
Soil–Structure Interaction Analysis Using the Finite Element Method in Thin-Walled Steel Pipes Buried under Haul Roads
by Nicher Saul Vilca, Ana María Gómez-Amador and Juan José Jiménez de Cisneros Fonfría
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(1), 167; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14010167 - 24 Dec 2023
Viewed by 814
Abstract
This paper addresses the challenges associated with steel pipes used for transporting liquid fluids within buried sections of mining facilities, specifically in areas with heavy mining vehicles. While existing design standards, such as AW-WA M11, and manufacturer recommendations largely consider loads from vehicles [...] Read more.
This paper addresses the challenges associated with steel pipes used for transporting liquid fluids within buried sections of mining facilities, specifically in areas with heavy mining vehicles. While existing design standards, such as AW-WA M11, and manufacturer recommendations largely consider loads from vehicles like the AASHTO HS20 or Cooper E-80, both weighing below 35 tons, these guidelines inadequately represent the actual loads experienced on certain mining roads, notably those accommodating heavy vehicles, like haul roads. The research presented here focuses on the interaction between soil and buried steel pipes under the substantial loads exerted by mining vehicles with a maximum gross load of up to 612 tons, inclusive of hauled material weight. Utilizing a parametric study with the finite element method, the paper identifies critical variables influencing efforts and deflections calculations in these facilities. The analysis of 108 models, varying parameters related to trench pipe installation conditions, offers insights that empower designers to refine soil trench parameters in mining facilities, mitigating pipe failures and optimizing installation costs. Ultimately, the key influential variables affecting pipe deflection and stress are identified as the trench backfill height and the elasticity modulus of the trench lateral fill. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Numerical Simulations in Geotechnical Engineering II)
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23 pages, 6117 KiB  
Article
A Numerical Study of the Behavior of Micropile Foundations under Cyclic Thermal Loading
by Arianna Lupattelli, Peter J. Bourne-Webb, Teresa M. Bodas Freitas and Diana Salciarini
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(17), 9791; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13179791 - 30 Aug 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 897
Abstract
Micropiles are small-diameter foundation elements that are widely used in building refurbishment to reinforce existing foundations or provide new foundations where access for construction is difficult. Thermally-activated (TA) micropiles could be useful as an efficient means of providing cost-effective ground-coupling when shallow geothermal [...] Read more.
Micropiles are small-diameter foundation elements that are widely used in building refurbishment to reinforce existing foundations or provide new foundations where access for construction is difficult. Thermally-activated (TA) micropiles could be useful as an efficient means of providing cost-effective ground-coupling when shallow geothermal energy systems are considered in building rehabilitation. It is well-established that thermal activation of pile foundations results in thermo-mechanical interactions between the pile and the surrounding soil. These thermally-induced effects need to be examined to ensure that they do not adversely impact the load transfer function of the micropile. Numerical analysis is able to produce reliable predictions of thermo-mechanical behavior of TA piles, and this study applied this technique to examine the cyclic thermal behavior of micropiles, isolated and in groups. For the situations considered in this study, it is shown that during cyclic thermal activation, irrecoverable movements are unlikely to be significant in design terms, if the initial mobilization of the shaft resistance is low. Though stable, cyclic thermal movement amplitudes are large enough that they should be considered in design. The study highlights that large changes in thermal stress can develop and be locked-in to the response of long flexible piles, and that these should be verified in design. Further, as pile spacing reduces, thermal interference results in a loss of heat exchange capacity per pile, which has to be considered in the design of large groups of TA micropiles. Therefore, TA micropiles can offer an efficient and secure means of providing ground coupling in shallow geothermal energy systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Numerical Simulations in Geotechnical Engineering II)
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16 pages, 6334 KiB  
Article
Study on Shielding Effect of the Pile Group in a Soft-Soil Foundation
by Chengyuan Lin, Lebin Huang, Shangyong Chen, Mengshuang Huang, Ruyi Wang and Qinwen Tan
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(16), 9478; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13169478 - 21 Aug 2023
Viewed by 857
Abstract
Pile groups are frequently employed to reinforce soft soil foundations, while the piling process frequently disturbs the adjacent foundation. The shielding effect, which prevents the transmission of disturbances from pile installation, is indispensable for minimizing engineering disturbances and optimizing pile group construction techniques. [...] Read more.
Pile groups are frequently employed to reinforce soft soil foundations, while the piling process frequently disturbs the adjacent foundation. The shielding effect, which prevents the transmission of disturbances from pile installation, is indispensable for minimizing engineering disturbances and optimizing pile group construction techniques. However, current research focuses predominantly on characterizing the phenomenon of shielding, with a limited exploration of the mechanism. To eliminate the limitation, a numerical investigation of the shielding mechanism of pile groups in a pile–soil system is performed this study. Using the finite difference program FLAC3D and the cavity expansion theory, a three-dimensional numerical model of a pile–soil foundation was created. During the sequential penetration of piles, the response characteristics of the soil surrounding the piles were investigated. Displacement field was first investigated to determine the presence of shielding effects in the pile group and then highlighted the effective role of the existing piles in controlling deformation. Furthermore, through a combined analysis of the stress and strain fields during piling, the mechanism of the shielding effect induced by pile construction is proposed, which is attributed to the direct obstruction effect of piles and the “soil arching effect” created by the soil between piles. The former is reflected by the direct barrier of the existing pile to the soil displacement induced via the installation of the new piles. The latter is reflected by the obstruction of soil between two existing piles to the displacement of soil passing through the two existing piles. This research provides a comprehensive understanding of the mechanical behavior of the pile–soil system and has practical implications for controlling disturbances and optimizing construction techniques in piling engineering projects. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Numerical Simulations in Geotechnical Engineering II)
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25 pages, 37274 KiB  
Article
Study on Disturbance Mechanism of Squeezed and Non-Squeezed Soil Piles on Soft Soil Foundation
by Chengyuan Lin, Ruyi Wang, Mengshuang Huang, Lebin Huang and Qinwen Tan
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(13), 7757; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13137757 - 30 Jun 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 992
Abstract
The construction process of pile foundations can significantly disrupt the soil. Therefore, it is necessary to limit the degree of soil disturbance caused by pile foundation construction to an acceptable level. This paper examines the disturbance effects of pile driving on soft soil [...] Read more.
The construction process of pile foundations can significantly disrupt the soil. Therefore, it is necessary to limit the degree of soil disturbance caused by pile foundation construction to an acceptable level. This paper examines the disturbance effects of pile driving on soft soil foundations, specifically analyzing the squeezing effect of squeezed soil piles and the unloading effect of non-squeezed soil piles. To investigate these effects, two typical squeezed soil piles, a hydrostatic pile, and a bag grouting pile, as well as a typical non-squeezed soil pile (a bored pile) are selected. Specifically, a novel construction method for numerical models, which simulates the mechanical processes of different pile types under standard grids, is proposed. Three crucial indicators—soil displacement field, stress field, and disturbance influence range—are chosen to compare the disturbance effects of three types of piles on the soil. Results indicate that the two types of squeezed soil piles cause significant disturbance to the soil displacement field, especially in the horizontal direction, while causing a relatively slight disturbance to the soil stress field. Among the two of them, the disturbance magnitude and range of the hydrostatic pile are greater than those of the bag grouting pile. For the non-squeezed soil pile, the soil displacement field changes minimally and the stress field remains basically unchanged during the pile driving process of the bored pile. To compare and quantify the disturbance effects of three types of piles on soil, the soil disturbance range in the horizontal direction of each pile is normalized by its radius. Results indicate that the horizontal disturbance values of maximum horizontal stress for all three types of piles are approximately 1/5 of the pile length above the pile tip, with normalized values of 7.6, 5.5, and 3.5, respectively. The maximum horizontal deformation disturbance range in the horizontal direction occurs near the ground surface and has normalized values of 15.2, 7.5, and 1.1 for the three types of piles, respectively. Therefore, the hydrostatic pile has the greatest disturbance effect, followed by the bag grouting pile and the bored pile. However, within the allowable range of disturbance in practical engineering, the optimal piling method can be selected by comprehensively considering factors such as the construction difficulty and economic costs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Numerical Simulations in Geotechnical Engineering II)
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16 pages, 1663 KiB  
Article
Prediction of the Bearing Capacity of Composite Grounds Made of Geogrid-Reinforced Sand over Encased Stone Columns Floating in Soft Soil Using a White-Box Machine Learning Model
by Husein Ali Zeini, Nabeel Katfan Lwti, Hamza Imran, Sadiq N. Henedy, Luís Filipe Almeida Bernardo and Zainab Al-Khafaji
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(8), 5131; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13085131 - 20 Apr 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1275
Abstract
Stone columns have been extensively advocated as a traditional approach to increase the undrained bearing capacity and reduce the settlement of footings sitting on cohesive ground. However, due to the complex interaction between the soil and the stone columns, there currently needs to [...] Read more.
Stone columns have been extensively advocated as a traditional approach to increase the undrained bearing capacity and reduce the settlement of footings sitting on cohesive ground. However, due to the complex interaction between the soil and the stone columns, there currently needs to be a commonly acknowledged approach that can be used to precisely predict the undrained bearing capacity of the system. For this reason, the bearing capacity of a sandy bed reinforced with geogrid and sitting above a collection of geogrid-encased stone columns floating in soft clay was studied in this research. Using a white-box machine learning (ML) technique called Multivariate Polynomial Regression (MPR), this work aims to develop a model for predicting the bearing capacity of the referred foundation system. For this purpose, two hundred and forty-five experimental results were collected from the literature. In addition, the model was compared to two other ML models, namely, a black-box model known as Random Forest (RF) and a white-box ML model called Linear Regression (LR). In terms of R2 (coefficient of determination) and RMSE (Root Mean Absolute Error) values, the newly proposed model outperforms the two other referred models and demonstrates robust estimation capabilities. In addition, a parametric analysis was carried out to determine the contribution of each input variable and its relative significance on the output. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Numerical Simulations in Geotechnical Engineering II)
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26 pages, 11706 KiB  
Article
Simulation of Cross-Correlated Random Fields for Transversely Anisotropic Soil Slope by Copulas
by Xinlong Zhou, Yueyang Sun and Henglin Xiao
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(7), 4234; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13074234 - 27 Mar 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1212
Abstract
Multi-source uncertainties yielded by randomness, spatial variability and cross-correlation of soil parameters severely affect the realization of random fields. However, current studies rarely account for these simultaneously, leading to inevitable bias in random field simulation and subsequent structure analysis. In this paper, copula-based [...] Read more.
Multi-source uncertainties yielded by randomness, spatial variability and cross-correlation of soil parameters severely affect the realization of random fields. However, current studies rarely account for these simultaneously, leading to inevitable bias in random field simulation and subsequent structure analysis. In this paper, copula-based cross-correlated random fields for transversely anisotropic soil slope are proposed. Firstly, based on the traditional probabilistic method and random field theory, the effect of the cross-correlation of soil parameters on the random field is comprehensively analyzed. Then copulas, which mainly characterize the dependent structures of random variables, are further expanded to connect multivariate random fields. Four special algorithms associated with Gaussian, Frank, Plackett and No. 16 copulas are subsequently developed. At last, the performance and effectiveness of copula-based cross-correlated random fields are illustrated by means of assumed and engineering slope cases. The results show that the proposed method is amenable to characterizing spatial variability comprising multiple cross-correlated soil parameters of transversely anisotropic slope. Soil profiles can be represented with a relatively high accuracy. Moreover, the performance of copula-based CCRF is simultaneously governed by margins, cross-correlated coefficients and copulas. The proper selection of these crucial factors can considerably reduce multi-source uncertainties. Overall, the proposed method could provide a useful guideline for accurately modeling cross-correlation random fields of soil slope. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Numerical Simulations in Geotechnical Engineering II)
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13 pages, 11862 KiB  
Article
Segregation Modeling in Stockpile Using Discrete Element Method
by René Gómez, Krzysztof Skrzypkowski, Manuel Moncada, Raúl Castro and Rodrigo Lazo
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(23), 12449; https://doi.org/10.3390/app122312449 - 05 Dec 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1482
Abstract
During stockpile feeding, the small particles migrate to the center of the stock while large particles end up around the edges. This phenomenon influences how the mineral is fragmented in the subsequent stages of size reduction. In this study, the primary variables involved [...] Read more.
During stockpile feeding, the small particles migrate to the center of the stock while large particles end up around the edges. This phenomenon influences how the mineral is fragmented in the subsequent stages of size reduction. In this study, the primary variables involved in this phenomenon were studied using the discrete element to simulate particle segregation. Results show that the ratio between coarse and fine particles strongly affects particle segregation. The segregation phenomenon was not observed when there were fewer coarse particles in the mix. The feeding height was also found to influence segregation and to affect the angles of repose and dumping. Finally, the rounded polyhedral shape of particles generated the simulation performance most similar to actual particle segregation based on a case study analyzed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Numerical Simulations in Geotechnical Engineering II)
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