Fengtao Liu , Xiwen Zhou , Beibing Dai , Rongtao Yan , Zhenyu Yin , Jianhua Yin
{"title":"Large deformation analysis in geotechnics using the node-based smoothed RPIM and second order cone programming","authors":"Fengtao Liu , Xiwen Zhou , Beibing Dai , Rongtao Yan , Zhenyu Yin , Jianhua Yin","doi":"10.1016/j.compgeo.2025.107514","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.compgeo.2025.107514","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This paper proposes a novel method based on second-order cone programming (SOCP) and node-based smoothed radial point interpolation (NSRPIM) to address the limitations of traditional Newton-type methods in solving elastoplastic boundary value problems, as well as the numerical instability caused by mesh distortion. The displacement field is first discretized using the Radial Point Interpolation Method (RPIM), and the smoothed strain is computed within a node-based smoothing domain, assuming that stress remains constant within the smoothing domain. Based on this framework, the generalized Hellinger–Reissner variational principle is discretized, and by incorporating the flow rule, the elastoplastic boundary value problem is transformed into a second-order cone programming model and solved using a primal–dual interior-point algorithm. Furthermore, the SOCP-based NSRPIM method is applied to the particle method for solving small deformations at each step, enabling large deformation simulations in geotechnical engineering. Numerical analyses of three examples—including cylindrical cavity expansion, rigid footing penetration, and retrogressive failure of layered sensitive clay slopes—demonstrate that the proposed method offers high accuracy, computational efficiency, and is unaffected by mesh distortion. The method inherently satisfies stress objectivity without requiring objective stress rates, as confirmed by rigid-body rotation tests. Additionally, the advantage of NSRPIM lies in that all physical fields are represented by nodes in large deformation problems, eliminating the need for variable mapping. This increases computational precision and reduces computational cost. The analysis of layered sensitive clay landslides reveals that the strength ratio between soil layers is a key factor influencing the failure mode, and the method successfully captures both flow-like and spread-type failure patterns.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55217,"journal":{"name":"Computers and Geotechnics","volume":"187 ","pages":"Article 107514"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-07-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144704328","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Dongya Han , Guojun Sun , Fenghua Nie , Kaihui Li , Wenchen Fan , Jiangteng Li
{"title":"Atomistic-scale sliding friction of fault gouge: Insight from a quartz-kaolinite-quartz system","authors":"Dongya Han , Guojun Sun , Fenghua Nie , Kaihui Li , Wenchen Fan , Jiangteng Li","doi":"10.1016/j.compgeo.2025.107516","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.compgeo.2025.107516","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Fault gouges are ubiquitous, which significantly reduces fault strength and affects earthquake rupture. However, the microscopic frictional behavior of the fault system, when considering the host rock and fault gouge as a coupled dual-interface structure, remains insufficiently understood. This study investigates the atomistic-scale frictional behavior of a quartz-kaolinite-quartz system using molecular dynamics. The interfacial forces during sliding are analyzed, and the effects of normal stress, sliding velocity and quartz crystallographic orientation on nanoscale friction are discussed. Results show that the friction force is positively correlated with the normal stress in the multi-friction surface system, consistent with previous findings of single-interface systems. Normal stress directly affects the slip behavior and the structural integrity of the kaolinite layer. As long as the normal stress does not reach the compressive strength limit of kaolinite, the kaolinite’s morphology always maintains the structural integrity. At lower normal stress, the Si-O plane of kaolinite serves as the primary slip surface. With increasing normal stress, the dominant slip surface gradually shifts to the Al-OH plane until the structural failure of kaolinite occurs. The friction of the quartz-kaolinite-quartz system increases with sliding velocity, showing a logarithmic velocity dependence due to thermal activation effects. Throughout the simulated velocities, the system consistently exhibits velocity-strengthening behavior. The crystallographic orientation of the quartz substrate significantly affects the friction force. This is attributed to differences in the distribution and amplitude of the potential energy ripples on the quartz surface, as well as variations in the dominant slip surfaces with different orientations. These findings could offer insights into the nanoscale mechanisms governing slip of fault gouges.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55217,"journal":{"name":"Computers and Geotechnics","volume":"187 ","pages":"Article 107516"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-07-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144704423","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Lai Wang , Yong Gao , Qiujing Pan , Shuying Wang , Kok-Kwang Phoon
{"title":"Coupled geological modeling using multi-source data: A K-dimensional tree-graph convolutional neural process approach","authors":"Lai Wang , Yong Gao , Qiujing Pan , Shuying Wang , Kok-Kwang Phoon","doi":"10.1016/j.compgeo.2025.107509","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.compgeo.2025.107509","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Building a reliable geological model is essential for optimizing construction costs and mitigating risks from unforeseen ground conditions. Existing methods fail to couple soil types (geological structure) with their properties and lack the integration of multi-source data. This paper presents a novel deep-learning method using the K-Dimensional Tree-Graph Convolutional Neural Process (KDTree-GCNP) for structure–property coupled geological modeling. The KDTree is firstly proposed to efficiently generate graph nodes and edges in the Graph Convolutional Network (GCN) using the neighboring nodes aggregation procedure in the three-dimensional (3D) domain. Subsequently, the proposed GCNP aggregates the soil types and the properties for each graph node based on its adjacent nodes, followed by the message updating within the Neural Process (NP) so as to admit uncertainty quantification in geotechnical property predictions. Multi-source data including borehole logs, laboratory tests, in-situ tests, and geological profiles, are fused to the geological model. The proposed KDTree-GCNP method is verified using a benchmark study and applied to a tunnel project in Nanjing City. The results demonstrate that the proposed method is powerful in 3D coupled geological modeling, achieving high accuracy with coefficient of determination (R<sup>2</sup>) values of 0.82–0.97 for geotechnical property predictions and 97% accuracy for soil type classification. Finally, the current challenges and future opportunities are discussed in depth, including methodological insights on graph convolution in the spectral domain, physics-informed constraints, and uncertainty quantification challenges.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55217,"journal":{"name":"Computers and Geotechnics","volume":"187 ","pages":"Article 107509"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-07-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144704329","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Yi Tang , Hang Lin , Rihong Cao , Yixian Wang , Yanlin Zhao
{"title":"Real-time slope stability quantification: Emergent framework coupling landslide displacement with damage mechanics and renormalization group theory","authors":"Yi Tang , Hang Lin , Rihong Cao , Yixian Wang , Yanlin Zhao","doi":"10.1016/j.compgeo.2025.107515","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.compgeo.2025.107515","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Empirical observations have revealed the dynamic evolution of slope stability with landslide displacement, yet existing methods lack a rigorous mechanical framework to characterize this time-dependent process. To address the theoretical limitations of conventional early warning systems that depend on kinematic parameters (e.g., velocity and acceleration), this study develops a multiscale modeling framework integrating damage mechanics and renormalization group theory. We propose a shear constitutive model incorporating progressive rock damage and establish critical state criteria through renormalization group theory, deriving a displacement-coupled dynamic safety factor equation. Validation via field data from a slope engineering project and the finite difference method (FDM) simulations demonstrates two critical advancements: (1) The non-uniformity of overburden normal stress across the slip surface leads to spatially varying shear constitutive curves in different regions; (2) Slope stability displays nonlinear evolutionary phases (elastic–plastic transition → accelerated degradation → residual state) directly linked to displacement progression. This framework pioneers a physics-based mapping between displacement monitoring and slope stability states, establishing mechanistic foundations for intelligent early landslide warning systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55217,"journal":{"name":"Computers and Geotechnics","volume":"187 ","pages":"Article 107515"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-07-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144704326","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ying Lai , Shusen Xiong , Han Wu , Xianhao Xiu , Yunhan Huang
{"title":"A plasticity‑based upper‑bound prediction model incorporating shank effects for drag embedment anchor behavior in layered clay seabed","authors":"Ying Lai , Shusen Xiong , Han Wu , Xianhao Xiu , Yunhan Huang","doi":"10.1016/j.compgeo.2025.107507","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.compgeo.2025.107507","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The installation of drag embedment anchors (DEAs) in layered seabeds presents significant challenges for predicting embedment trajectory and bearing capacity. This paper develops an analytical upper‑bound plasticity model that explicitly incorporates yield mechanisms of both fluke and shank, as well as transition zones between adjacent soil layers. The prediction model of anchor motion, rotation, and capacity are validated against full‑scale field tests in the Gulf of Mexico and Liuhua platform, as well as laboratory and numerical data for layered profiles in the South China Sea and Bass Strait. A comprehensive parametric study is conducted to assess the influence of stiff‑layer strength ratio, layer thickness, and fluke–shank angle on the ultimate embedment depth and load capacity. Key findings include: (1) a critical strength ratio (<span><math><msub><mi>s</mi><mrow><mi>u</mi><mo>,</mo><mi>r</mi><mi>a</mi><mi>t</mi><mi>i</mi><mi>o</mi></mrow></msub></math></span>≈7.45) beyond which penetration fails; (2) while layer thickness does not control penetrability, it linearly increases ultimate embedment depth when the stiff layer is penetrable and moderately thick; and (3) an optimal fluke-shank angle exists that balances tip stress concentration for penetration with adequate bearing area for capacity. These findings provide practical design guidance for the effective deployment of DEAs in stratified seabed.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55217,"journal":{"name":"Computers and Geotechnics","volume":"187 ","pages":"Article 107507"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-07-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144702356","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Stefano Collico , Giovanni Spagnoli , Lluís Monforte
{"title":"Automating site characterization from pile field data","authors":"Stefano Collico , Giovanni Spagnoli , Lluís Monforte","doi":"10.1016/j.compgeo.2025.107498","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.compgeo.2025.107498","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Metamodeling techniques are increasingly applied to soil–structure interaction and geotechnical design due to their capacity to achieve high predictive performance and adaptability with significantly reduced computational demand. Focus is given on updating site-specific geotechnical parameters from monitoring information. However, depending on project site heterogeneity, anisotropy and constitutive model selected, the dimensionality of the calibration problem can increase substantially. For such scenarios, the quality of surrogate prediction might be prohibitive in terms of performance. In addition, an often-neglected aspect is metamodel application to simplified geological-based ground models over mechanical soil behavioral profiles computed from available in-situ testing. This study introduces two Bayesian practice-oriented methodologies to update geotechnical constitutive model parameters from limited pile field data and eliciting error propagations within heterogenous CPT-based ground models: a surrogate-based approach and a hybrid-adaptive workflow. An adaptive Differential Evolutional Transitional Markov Chain Montecarlo is proposed to assess the asymptotical convergence toward high dimensional posterior distribution. These methodologies are applied on a drilled-and-grouted pile, embedded in a natural soil deposit, subjected to static and cyclic tensile loading. The proposed workflows are designed to leverage standard features of commercial geotechnical software and established constitutive models, enabling practical implementation. The two methods propose optimization frameworks capable of jointly updating high dimensional geotechnical parameters using limited site-specific pile field test data.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55217,"journal":{"name":"Computers and Geotechnics","volume":"187 ","pages":"Article 107498"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-07-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144702355","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Yong He , Huan He , Yuanhang Li , Guojun Cai , Man Li
{"title":"A unified framework for morphological and intra-particle pores reconstruction in calcareous sand using spherical harmonics and random field methods","authors":"Yong He , Huan He , Yuanhang Li , Guojun Cai , Man Li","doi":"10.1016/j.compgeo.2025.107510","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.compgeo.2025.107510","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study presents a high-fidelity digital reconstruction framework for calcareous sand particles, which enables large-scale stochastic generation of particle morphologies and intra-particle pore structures with controllable statistical properties. By integrating spherical harmonic decomposition and gaussian random field modeling, the proposed method decomposes particle geometry into macro-scale shape, micro-scale roughness, and intra-particle porosity components. The spherical harmonic–based controllable scale morphological reconstruction approach is developed to separately reconstruct global morphology and surface roughness, with the latter generated via high-order perturbations and random field techniques. A principal component analysis–based shrinkage–reversion strategy is introduced to mitigate shape distortion in anisotropic particles. For intra-particle pore modeling, a spectral random field method is employed, coupled with multi-scale gaussian filtering and error-feedback optimization to regulate pore size distributions and spatial correlations. Morphological evaluations show that the generated particles maintain deviations within ± 10 % in shape descriptors and ± 20 % in roughness parameters, while preserving statistical features such as intra-particle porosity and fractal dimension. The method enables the generation of statistically diverse particle sets based on limited CT samples, offering scalable and realistic geometric inputs for discrete element modeling and multi-physics simulations in porous granular media.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55217,"journal":{"name":"Computers and Geotechnics","volume":"187 ","pages":"Article 107510"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-07-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144696494","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Unraveling particle crushing: A DEM exploration of shape effects on fracture behaviour","authors":"Xiaoqiang Gu , Yuzhen Liang , Jing Hu","doi":"10.1016/j.compgeo.2025.107508","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.compgeo.2025.107508","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The mechanical behaviour of granular materials is affected by particle crushing, which remains insufficiently understood due to the complexity of particle shape. This paper presents a discrete element investigation on the effect of particle shape on the particle crushing behaviour. The crushable particles are generated by combining a Fourier shape descriptor-based method with the random field theory and reconstructed in DEM using tetrahedrons as the bonded elements. Single particle crushing tests for the two particle groups with different particle elongation and irregularity were conducted. DEM results demonstrate that the proposed modeling approach and calibrated parameters reasonably capture the crushing behaviour of physical particles. Load-displacement curves, fracture modes and Weibull parameters are different for the two particle groups. Four fracture modes, including local crushing, chipping, splitting, and explosive, concerning the number of fragments and the volume percentage of the largest fragments can be identified using linear discriminant analysis. The relationship between the particle strength and the fracture mode has then been investigated. The particle shape parameters were measured to study their effect on the crushing strength. An XGBoost model was trained to predict the crushing strength. A feature importance analysis revealed that the crushing strength is highly sensitive to the shape factor. The model concerning shape factor, local roundness and breakage characteristic was developed for predicting particle crushing strength. The study provides insights into the mechanical property of crushable granular particles of complex shapes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55217,"journal":{"name":"Computers and Geotechnics","volume":"187 ","pages":"Article 107508"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-07-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144696495","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Bayesian updating for improving long-term performance prediction of composite liners in landfills with temporally variable leachate head","authors":"Cheng Chen , Liang-Tong Zhan , Hai-Jian Xie , Yun-Min Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.compgeo.2025.107511","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.compgeo.2025.107511","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Predicting the long-term performance of landfill composite liners remains challenging due to temporally variable leachate heads combined with various sources of uncertainties. This study proposes a Bayesian updating framework to enhance the prediction of composite liner performance by systematically integrating field observations with prior knowledge. The framework addresses uncertainties in key parameters—including wrinkle length, hole frequency, hydraulic conductivity, and interface transmissivity—while accounting for model bias and measurement errors. An illustrative example of a geomembrane/geosynthetic clay liner/attenuation layer (GM/GCL/AL) system under high leachate head conditions demonstrates the method’s effectiveness. Results show that iterative Bayesian updating significantly improves leakage rate predictions across different landfill operational stages and refines estimates of contaminant breakthrough time (BTT), reducing prediction errors to within − 10 % to + 5 %, outperforming approaches that partially address uncertainties. Parametric studies further reveal that higher prior coefficients of variation (COVs) for model parameters and model bias lead to more stable predictions. This approach provides a dynamic and adaptable tool for optimizing landfill liner design and maintenance, offering improved accuracy in long-term environmental risk assessment.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55217,"journal":{"name":"Computers and Geotechnics","volume":"187 ","pages":"Article 107511"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-07-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144680339","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jianqi Zhuang , Jie Wang , Jing Wu , Yi Zhu , Jie Dou , Jianbing Peng
{"title":"Vibration effects of particle size and volume and their influence on landslide mobility via the discrete element method","authors":"Jianqi Zhuang , Jie Wang , Jing Wu , Yi Zhu , Jie Dou , Jianbing Peng","doi":"10.1016/j.compgeo.2025.107491","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.compgeo.2025.107491","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Particle shear vibration frictional weakening is a major cause of high-speed and long-distance landslides. To reveal the mechanism of shear vibration frictional weakening during landslide movements, a flume simulation model was established using the discrete element method (DEM), and the effects of volume and particle size on particle vibration, basal stress and particle fluidity were studied. With increasing volume, the Arias intensity and dominant frequency of the basal vibration (stress) increase. However, the particle size is positively correlated with the Arias intensity of the basal vibration and is negatively correlated with the dominant frequency. The evolution trend of the average basal normal stress exhibited three stages: rising, slow decay and rapid decay. Both the average basal normal stress and the basal fluctuating stress are positively correlated with volume. An increase in particle size not only delays the occurrence of the average basal normal stress peak but also promotes an increase in the basal fluctuation stress. The volume and particle size of a particle significantly affect its fluidity. An increase in volume and particle size will lead to a decrease in the effective friction coefficient and apparent viscosity of the particle flow; the velocity profile of the particle flow will exhibit a nonlinear distribution of decreases from top to bottom, and the velocity gradient will also increase with increasing volume and particle size.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55217,"journal":{"name":"Computers and Geotechnics","volume":"187 ","pages":"Article 107491"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-07-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144680340","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}