{"title":"Numerical investigations of the mechanical properties and energy characteristics of sandy cobble strata considering its internal stochastic structures","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/j.compgeo.2024.106867","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Investigating the mechanical properties of sandy cobble strata is essential for optimizing the design and construction of urban tunnels, thereby controlling ground deformation and ensuring tunnel stability. This paper aims to comprehensively investigate the mechanical properties and energy characteristics of heterogeneous sandy cobble strata. Numerical simulations are employed to examine the stress–strain behavior and energy evolution mechanism in scenarios with and without interfaces between the soil matrix and blocks. Subsequent analysis focuses on elucidating the effects of the internal stochastic structures, which characterize heterogeneity, on the overall strength and energy characteristics. The results indicate that the presence of interfaces significantly compromises the overall strength, while exacerbating the occurrence of a tortuous plastic zone around blocks. The volumetric block proportion (<em>VBP</em>), which represents the volumetric content of cobbles, has a significant impact on the overall mechanical behaviour. In the context of high <em>VBP</em>, block sizes, counts and orientations play substantial roles. Finally, the discussion reveals that when blocks are modelled using the elastic model, the overall strength is significantly overestimated compared to the strain-softening and Mohr-Counlomb models, especially in scenarios with high <em>VBP</em> and in-situ stress. It provides an unsafe evaluation (i.e., overestimation) of tunnel stability.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55217,"journal":{"name":"Computers and Geotechnics","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":5.3000,"publicationDate":"2024-10-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Computers and Geotechnics","FirstCategoryId":"5","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0266352X24008061","RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"COMPUTER SCIENCE, INTERDISCIPLINARY APPLICATIONS","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Investigating the mechanical properties of sandy cobble strata is essential for optimizing the design and construction of urban tunnels, thereby controlling ground deformation and ensuring tunnel stability. This paper aims to comprehensively investigate the mechanical properties and energy characteristics of heterogeneous sandy cobble strata. Numerical simulations are employed to examine the stress–strain behavior and energy evolution mechanism in scenarios with and without interfaces between the soil matrix and blocks. Subsequent analysis focuses on elucidating the effects of the internal stochastic structures, which characterize heterogeneity, on the overall strength and energy characteristics. The results indicate that the presence of interfaces significantly compromises the overall strength, while exacerbating the occurrence of a tortuous plastic zone around blocks. The volumetric block proportion (VBP), which represents the volumetric content of cobbles, has a significant impact on the overall mechanical behaviour. In the context of high VBP, block sizes, counts and orientations play substantial roles. Finally, the discussion reveals that when blocks are modelled using the elastic model, the overall strength is significantly overestimated compared to the strain-softening and Mohr-Counlomb models, especially in scenarios with high VBP and in-situ stress. It provides an unsafe evaluation (i.e., overestimation) of tunnel stability.
期刊介绍:
The use of computers is firmly established in geotechnical engineering and continues to grow rapidly in both engineering practice and academe. The development of advanced numerical techniques and constitutive modeling, in conjunction with rapid developments in computer hardware, enables problems to be tackled that were unthinkable even a few years ago. Computers and Geotechnics provides an up-to-date reference for engineers and researchers engaged in computer aided analysis and research in geotechnical engineering. The journal is intended for an expeditious dissemination of advanced computer applications across a broad range of geotechnical topics. Contributions on advances in numerical algorithms, computer implementation of new constitutive models and probabilistic methods are especially encouraged.