Search Results (11)

Taking the shield construction of Xiamen Metro Line 2 tunnel side-crossing the Tianzhushan overpass and under-crossing the Shen-Hai Expressway as the engineering background, FLAC3D 6.0 software was used to examine the deformation of adjacent structures based on shield construction parameters in upper-soft and lower-hard strata. The reliability of the numerical simulation results was verified by comparing measured and predicted deformations. The study results indicate that deformation of the pile will occur during the construction of the tunnel shield next to the pile foundation. The shape of the pile deformation curve in the horizontal direction is significantly influenced by the distance from the pile foundation to the adjacent tunnel’s centerline, as well as by soil bin pressure, grouting layer thickness, and stress release coefficient. During the tunnel shield construction beneath the expressway, increasing the soil bin pressure, the grouting layer thickness, and reducing the stress release coefficient can effectively minimize surface deformation and differential settlement on both sides of the deformation joints between the bridge and the roadbed. The practice shows that, by optimizing shield construction parameters in upper-soft and lower-hard strata, the deformation of nearby bridges and pavements can be kept within allowable limits. This is significant for reducing construction time and costs. The findings offer useful references for similar projects. Full article

Roadbeds constructed on soft clay foundations often experience substantial post-construction settlement under long-term traffic loading. To investigate this phenomenon, numerical simulations were conducted to study the vibration response of various roadbed–foundation systems subjected to pavement vibration loads, and the propagation patterns of vibration waves within these systems were analyzed. Vibration reconsolidation tests were performed to examine the reconsolidation behavior of soft clays under vibration loads (cyclic loads without overall compressive or tensile tendencies) following initial consolidation under static loads. The influence of vibration load frequency and amplitude on the reconsolidation effect was briefly analyzed. By combining the analysis of the consolidation mechanism of soft clays under vibration loads, this study investigated the reasons for the large post-construction settlement of roadbed–soft clay foundation systems under traffic vibration loads from both wave propagation and vibration perspectives. Based on the focus on the equilibrium state reached by the soil under vibration loads, the vibration reconsolidation test represents a new research approach. In addition to deepening the understanding of the post-construction settlement phenomenon of foundations under traffic loads, it can also provide guidance for practical engineering applications such as foundation treatment and sludge solidification using vibration loads, generating potential economic benefits. Full article

Jet grouted piles are widely used to reduce post-construction settlement of soft clay roadbeds. Nevertheless, it is easy to cause ground heave due to the jet grouted pile. According to the analytical method and numerical method, a sensitivity analysis of the factors affecting ground heave caused by a single jet grouted pile was performed. It is found that the influence of each parameter on ground heave is in the following order: grout pump pressure > embankment load > soil type (including the cohesion, friction angle, and Young’s modulus) > pile diameter > pile length. Considering the effect of the pump pressure on the ground heave is more significant, based on the analytical method of ground heave caused by a single jet grouted pile combined with the solution of small-deflection bending of a circular thin plate, the calculation method for the suggested limit grout pressure for construction under different embankment heights was established. Suggested values of theoretical grout pump pressure were given to prevent ground heave from harming the pavement of operating highways. This study provides some theoretical basis for the subsequent research on the jet grouted pile. Full article

Black shale, as a type of soft rock, exhibits high strength when freshly exposed. However, it easily disintegrates upon contact with water, making it unsuitable for direct use in roadbed construction. Using it as discarded material not only increases construction costs but also pollutes the environment. Therefore, the reuse and modification of black shale have become particularly important. Based on the theory of composite material equivalent inclusions, this study investigates the strength and water stability characteristics of black shale gravel after being mixed with cement and compacted with clay. The results show that the strength of cemented soil increases linearly with the cement content. The water absorption properties of the modified soils with different amounts of black shale added are similar, with an average water absorption rate of about 2.53%. The strength of black shale modified soil is generally positively correlated with the cement content, although the linear correlation is not significant. The modified black shale soil used in the experiment is suitable for the subgrade of medium- and light-grade secondary roads and below. The recommended mass ratio is M_shale:M_clay:M_cement = 70:21:9. The unconfined compressive strength of the material under 7-day curing is 1.36 MPa. The relationship between the strength of modified soil, clay strength, cement content, and gravel addition has been established, clarifying the physical significance of each parameter. The “drying and soaking” cycle can accelerate the strength degradation of modified soil. It is recommended to strengthen the construction of roadbed drainage facilities during construction to maintain a stable and dry environment for the modified soil as a roadbed filling material. The research results not only provide clear technical indicators for the reuse of discarded black shale in engineering but also serve as a basis for proportion of crushed stone discarded material as roadbed fill. Full article

Soil-rock mixtures (SRM) are extensively utilized as filling materials in engineering slopes and roadbeds. A comprehensive understanding of the crushing characteristics of SRM during compaction is essential for precisely controlling its mechanical properties, particularly when dealing with SRM comprising soft rock blocks. This study conducted heavy compaction and screening tests to investigate the crushing and compaction behaviors of soil-soft rock mixture (SSRM) with varying coarse particle content (P5 content), the primary focus was primarily on analyzing the double fractal characteristics of coarse and fine particles. The research findings are as follows: with the increase of P5 content, the maximum dry density of SSRM initially rises and then declines, reaching its peak when P5 content is 70%. Soft rock blocks in SSRM exhibit extreme fragility during compaction, the crushing index of coarse particles exhibits a linear increase with the rise in P5 content, whereas the crushing index of fine particles displays a “double peak” characteristic. After compaction, a linear positive correlation is observed between the fractal dimension and the crushing index of coarse and fine particles. With the increase in P5 content, the slope of the relationship curve between the fractal dimension and the crushing index of coarse particles remains relatively constant, while the intercept gradually decreases. Moreover, the fractal dimension of fine particles effectively reflects the compaction characteristics of SSRM, and the relationship between the fractal dimension of fine particles and dry density aligns with the compaction curve of SSRM. Full article

Post-construction settlement in embankments is a crucial quality indicator and a significant factor influencing the long-term stability of roadbeds. Especially for the mixed-fill materials, by considering the uncertainty of composition and mechanical properties, it is important to predict and take construction measures to control post-construction settlement. In this paper, taking the construction of high-fill embankments with red bed soft rock mixture as the background, the deformation characteristics of mixed-fill materials were revealed first. Then, a dynamic–static coupling method for roadbed filling was proposed, and corresponding control parameters were provided. Finally, by employing ABAQUS 2016 for long-term settlement numerical simulations and conducting load-bearing preloading tests, the deformation patterns of the high embankment with red bed soft rock mixture fill roadbed were revealed. Full article

The bearing capacity of silt soft soil is poor, making it difficult for it to be used as a subgrade material in foundation engineering, and the use of traditional Portland cement curing agents causes environmental pollution. In this study, a new soft soil curing agent, CSP (ceramic powder–slag–phosphorus slag), was prepared using ceramic powder, slag, and phosphorus slag. The unconfined compressive strength of 7-day was determined via an orthogonal test, and the optimal ratio of the curing agent was determined. The effects of the initial water content, curing agent content, admixture type, and admixture content on the mechanical properties of solidified soil were investigated via a uniaxial compression test. The microstructure characteristics of the solidified soil were analyzed via XRD and SEM-EDS, and the mechanism by which ceramic powder–slag–phosphorus slag acted as a curing agent to increase the strength of the soft soil was explored. The results show that the optimal ratio of the curing agent for the inorganic binder is ceramic powder/slag/phosphorus slag = 3:2:1, the best water glass modulus is 1 mold, the best water glass content is 26%, and the 7-day compressive strength can reach 2.382 MPa; the strength of the solidified soil decreases with an increase in the water content and increases with an increase in the curing agent content. When the water content is 35% and the curing agent content is 14%, the strength of the solidified soil can meet the requirements of relevant specifications. When the content of triisopropanolamine was 2.0% and 1.5%, the compressive strength of the 7-day and 28-day solidified soil specimens increased most significantly. The ceramic powder–slag–phosphorus slag can promote the formation of aggregates and amorphous hydration products (C-S-H, C-A-H), be distributed on the surface of the soil and fill the pores, and enhance the cementation between the particles, improving the compactness of the soil structure. In terms of the macroscopic performance, the mechanical properties of the solidified soil were significantly improved. Therefore, CSP curing agents can be promoted and applied as green, economical, environmentally friendly, and low-carbon curing materials in soft soil roadbed engineering. Full article

In the southeastern coastal regions of China, thick layers of marine soft soil are widely distributed, exhibiting characteristics such as high compressibility, high porosity, low strength, high sensitivity, and easy thixotropy, and these viscoelastic behaviors of foundation soil have significant implications for elastic compression bending bar, as evidenced by issues such as post-construction settlement of roadbeds and long-term operation deviation of bridge pile foundations. In this study, a mechanical model of an elastic bar embedded in an elastic and viscoelastic medium, fixed at the base and free at the top, is established based on the Winkler foundation assumption. The deflection function of a bar subjected to both axial force and locally distributed horizontal load is derived using the Rayleigh-Ritz method. Utilizing the elastic-viscoelastic correspondence principle, the viscoelastic medium surrounding the bar is modeled as an elastic medium in which the ground reaction coefficient varies within phase space formulation. This study provides a robust theoretical foundation for soft soil foundation engineering projects and fills a significant gap in the literature by offering a comprehensive framework for understanding displacement in elastic bars within viscoelastic media. Drawing upon the derivation of the deformation function for elastic rods within a viscoelastic medium, the findings of this research hold significant applicability across a range of domains. These include, but are not limited to, the expansion of roadways in regions characterized by coastal soft soil, as well as the monitoring of deformation and lifespan in bridge pile foundations. Full article

In order to study the feasibility and superiority of foam lightweight concrete (FLC) for existing buried high-pressure gas pipeline section under soft soil roadbed, this paper takes the buried existing high-pressure gas pipeline section under the second phase of the Foqingcong Expressway project as the engineering background, and designs two soft soil roadbed treatment schemes, the pile composite foundation method, and the foam lightweight concrete (FLC). Through bearing capacity and settlement calculations, it was confirmed that FLC is feasible for soft soil roadbeds in the existing buried high-pressure gas pipe section, and the three major aspects of analysis, namely the safety benefits, economic benefits and ecological benefits based on the LCA carbon emission calculation, showed that the FLC soft soil roadbed treatment method can reduce the cost by 12% compared with the pile composite foundation treatment method, which is about 1.07 million RMB, and the carbon emission is reduced by about one third. This is a clear benefit advantage. Finally, the feasibility of FLC for buried high-pressure gas pipe sections under both soft soil roadbeds was further verified by field measurements of settlement and earth pressure, which has broad application prospects. Full article

The deformation characteristics of a raised and widened old Chinese roadway on a soft soil foundation are investigated in this study via finite element numerical simulation. The rules of ground surface settlement, slope foot lateral displacement, and ground surface settlement evolution of the roadbed under three modes (one-time construction of an eight-lane expressway, widened four-lane expressway, and raised/widened four-lane expressway) are compared. The ground surface settlement process of the eight-lane road foundation, which is formed by first widening and then raising the road, is highly complex. The ground surface settlement curve under the old road foundation increases and then decreases. The lateral displacement of the slope foot also interacts with the widening and raising of the eight-lane roadbed foundation. The range of lateral displacement is 70.05, 42.58, 124.81, 104.54 mm. Fifteen years after construction, the total settlement of the raised and widened roadbed is much larger than that of the one built directly. The total settlement values at the center of the two roadbeds are 297.05 and 234.85 mm, respectively. This manuscript provides data support for the reconstruction and expansion of roads on soft soil foundations, for choosing appropriate construction methods to build roads, and for avoiding major road damage, which is of great significance to the construction of road infrastructure in the future. Full article

A series of dynamic large-scale model tests and three-dimensional finite element analyses were conducted to investigate the dynamic response of track embankment and XCC pile-raft composite foundation in soft soil for a ballastless high-speed railway under moving train loads. The results indicate that the vibration velocity obtained from the FE numerical simulation agrees well with that from the model test in vibration waveform, amplitude, and frequency characteristics. The peak values corresponding to the passing frequency of train carriage geometry (lc = 25 m), bogie (lab = 7.5 m), and axle distance (lwb = 2.5 m) respectively reflect the characteristic frequencies of the train compartment, adjacent bogie, and wheel load passing through. The peak velocity significantly depends on the distance from the track center in the horizontal direction, of which the attenuation follows the exponential curve distribution. The vibration velocities decrease rapidly within embankment, show a vibration enhancement region from raft to the 1 m depth of foundation soil, then decreases gradually along the subsoil foundation, to a very low level at the bottom of the subsoil, which is much lower than that at the track slab and roadbed. The pile-raft composite foundation can reduce the vibration level effectively and improve the safety of trains running in soft soil areas. Full article