{"title":"A unified predictive approach for conical object penetration","authors":"Huan Zhao , Yinghui Tian , Antonio Gens","doi":"10.1016/j.compgeo.2025.107187","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.compgeo.2025.107187","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This paper investigates the penetration of conical objects with varying apex angles in clayey soils, drawing inspiration from biological adaptations observed in nature. Using large deformation numerical modelling, a systematic series of analyses were conducted to explore the effects of apex angle, soil rigidity, interface roughness, and penetration depth on the penetration resistance to the conical base. The results were characterised using a dimensionless bearing factor, <em>N</em><sub>c</sub>, which was decomposed into a normal component <em>N</em><sub>c</sub><sup>n</sup> and a shear component <em>N</em><sub>c</sub><sup>s</sup>. The study revealed that <em>N</em><sub>c</sub><sup>n</sup> is influenced by apex angle, interface roughness, soil rigidity and penetration depth while <em>N</em><sub>c</sub><sup>s</sup> is predominantly dependent on apex angle and interface roughness. A unified predictive approach for soil resistance to the conical base was developed from the comprehensive analyses. A series of application case studies were conducted, exploring soil resistance to different conical footings in geotechnical engineering, following a brief demonstration of an example from the natural domain. By deepening the understanding of conical object penetration, this study offers insights for practical engineering solutions including potential bioinspired design.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55217,"journal":{"name":"Computers and Geotechnics","volume":"183 ","pages":"Article 107187"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143610244","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Alessandra Rosati , Augusto Desideri , Sebastiano Rampello
{"title":"A 1-D model to describe the suction anchor–soil plug interaction under sustained uplift loads","authors":"Alessandra Rosati , Augusto Desideri , Sebastiano Rampello","doi":"10.1016/j.compgeo.2025.107175","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.compgeo.2025.107175","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>We present a one-dimensional model, based on displacement compatibility and continuity of the water mass equations, to describe the mechanical and hydraulic interaction at the contact between the caisson lid and the soil plug during the uplift process of a suction caisson. The model has been specifically conceived as an alternative to the technique based on the use of a layer of poroelastic FE, widely presented in the literature and referred to as water elements. The proposed model, which depends on two parameters having a clear physical meaning, has been encoded in a Fortran-based UAMP subroutine and used in an incremental FE procedure to simulate the progressive sliding failure of a caisson under sustained loads. The results, which are in very good agreement with previous numerical studies based on the use of the water elements, are also compared with those obtained from a simplified numerical approach, in which a bonded lid–plug contact is considered. The comparison is presented to further assess the effectiveness of the proposed 1-D model and to highlight the limitations of the simplified method, clarifying the extent to which these simplifications can be deemed acceptable for engineering purposes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55217,"journal":{"name":"Computers and Geotechnics","volume":"183 ","pages":"Article 107175"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143591868","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Chengwen Wang , Xiaoli Liu , Nan Hu , Enzhi Wang , Wenli Yao , Zhihui He
{"title":"Construction responses and interaction of mechanized twin tunnels considering layout forms: Insights from refined three-dimensional numerical modeling","authors":"Chengwen Wang , Xiaoli Liu , Nan Hu , Enzhi Wang , Wenli Yao , Zhihui He","doi":"10.1016/j.compgeo.2025.107203","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.compgeo.2025.107203","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The mechanized twin-tunnel construction induces ground surface settlements and structural responses in tunnels. An in-depth understanding of twin-tunnel interactions is of great significance for advancing tunnel design and formulating construction regulations. With the large-scale, rapid development of urban underground spaces, their layout has become increasingly complex. Previous researches have primarily focused on side-by-side and stacked twin tunnels, with limited attention to offset-arrangement twin tunnels. This study employs a series of numerical models to analyze the construction responses and interaction of twin tunnels, considering their layout forms. A refined three-dimensional numerical model was developed to simulate the construction process of mechanized twin tunnels, with the shield-soil interaction simulated via an equivalent layer method that accounts for conicity. An improved superposition method was proposed to characterize the ground surface settlement trough of twin tunnels and provide high-precision predictions for tunnels with varying layout forms. The influence of layout forms, including offset angle and spacing distance, on twin-tunnel interactions is analyzed in detail. An increasing in offset angle and a decreasing in spacing distance significantly amplify ground surface settlements and lining deformation. Additionally, increases in offset angle and spacing distance resulted in significant structural load transfer. These findings serve as a crucial reference for the design and construction of two tunnels with varying layout forms.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55217,"journal":{"name":"Computers and Geotechnics","volume":"183 ","pages":"Article 107203"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143591867","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}
F.A. Campos Montero , B. Zuada Coelho , E. Smyrniou , R. Taormina , P.J. Vardon
{"title":"SchemaGAN: A conditional Generative Adversarial Network for geotechnical subsurface schematisation","authors":"F.A. Campos Montero , B. Zuada Coelho , E. Smyrniou , R. Taormina , P.J. Vardon","doi":"10.1016/j.compgeo.2025.107177","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.compgeo.2025.107177","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Subsurface schematisations are a crucial geotechnical problem which generally consists of filling substantial gaps in subsurface information from the limited site investigation data available and relying heavily on the engineer’s experience and occasionally geostatistical tools. To address this, schemaGAN, a conditional Generative Adversarial Network (GAN) to generate geotechnical subsurface schematisations from site investigation data is introduced. This novel method can learn complex underlying rules that govern the subsurface geometries and anisotropy from a big database of training cross-sections, and can produce subsurface schematisations from Cone Penetration Tests (CPT) in an insignificant timeframe. To test and demonstrate the performance of schemaGAN, a database of 24,000 synthetic geotechnical cross-sections with their corresponding CPT data was created, including spatial variability and gradually spatially varying layers. After training, the effectiveness of schemaGAN was compared against several interpolation methods, and it is seen that schemaGAN outperforms all other methods, with results characterised by clear layer boundaries and an accurate representation of anisotropy within the layers. SchemaGAN’s superior performance was confirmed through a blind survey, and in two real case studies in the Netherlands, where the model demonstrates better predictive accuracy for known CPT data.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55217,"journal":{"name":"Computers and Geotechnics","volume":"183 ","pages":"Article 107177"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143591869","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Yunhan Huang , Zhongling Zong , Peipei Wang , Ying Lai
{"title":"Experimental and numerical investigation of cyclic behavior in single-helix anchors embedded in clay under vertical uplift loading","authors":"Yunhan Huang , Zhongling Zong , Peipei Wang , Ying Lai","doi":"10.1016/j.compgeo.2025.107199","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.compgeo.2025.107199","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study investigates the cyclic behavior of single-helix anchors embedded in clay to address the expanding use of helical anchors in transmission tower foundations and submerged pipelines within clay. Laboratory model tests were conducted to assess the effect of the helical anchor configurations on the ultimate uplift capacity, specifically examining the influences from the anchor shaft diameter and helix plate embedment depth. Additionally, this study evaluated the effects of mean load, cyclic load amplitude, and cyclic number on vertical displacement accumulation. Complementing the laboratory experiments, finite element simulations using elastoplastic bounding surface theory were utilized to model the cyclic response of single-helix anchors. Findings from laboratory and numerical simulations indicated that increasing embedment depth and shaft diameter could improve uplift capacity under monotonic loading and reduce displacement accumulation under cyclic loading. A series of cyclic interaction diagrams were generated through finite element simulations for different helical anchor configurations and cyclic loads. By performing regression analysis with the Randional2D function, the cyclic interaction diagrams were transformed from discrete data points into a continuous map, offering a predictive framework for assessing helical anchor stability under cyclic loading and practical insights into the application of helical anchors.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55217,"journal":{"name":"Computers and Geotechnics","volume":"183 ","pages":"Article 107199"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143592654","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}
Jinghan Yin , Zhen Cui , Qian Sheng , Xin Sun , Maochu Zhang
{"title":"Equivalent mechanical parameters and representative elementary volume of rock masses material using a modified fabric tensor","authors":"Jinghan Yin , Zhen Cui , Qian Sheng , Xin Sun , Maochu Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.compgeo.2025.107172","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.compgeo.2025.107172","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The roughness and spatial distribution of fractures are fundamental to the study of the equivalent strength and deformation characteristics of complex fractured rock masses. Traditional fabric tensor models often approximate fractures as planar surfaces, which introduces certain limitations, while natural fractures typically exhibit rough and undulating surfaces. Thus, this study improves upon the existing fabric tensor model and develops a method for calculating the mechanical parameters of rough discrete fracture networks (RDFN). Besides, example models are constructed to accurately quantify fracture roughness, and a comparative analysis is conducted between planar discrete fracture networks (DFN) and RDFN. According to the research results, the RDFN model generating by the W-M fractal function, exhibits significant roughness characteristics. Compared to the DFN model, the inherent roughness of RDFN significantly affects the equivalent elastic mechanical parameters, with an influence ranging from 5% to 15%. Further, the numerical solutions of the simple model closely match the analytical solutions, with minimal error. While the increase in fracture roughness significantly influences the mechanical properties, it has a relatively small impact on the representative elementary volume (REV) of the rock mass. The findings provide valuable insights into the analysis of the equivalent behavior of fractured rock masses with rough fractures.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55217,"journal":{"name":"Computers and Geotechnics","volume":"183 ","pages":"Article 107172"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143577684","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":"Small-strain shear modulus of granular materials and its dependence on stress states and fabric","authors":"Mingjin Jiang, Jun Yang","doi":"10.1016/j.compgeo.2025.107183","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.compgeo.2025.107183","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This paper presents a comprehensive study on the evolution of the small-strain shear modulus (<em>G</em>) of granular materials during hydrostatic compression, conventional triaxial, reduced triaxial, and <em>p</em>-constant triaxial tests using 3D discrete element method. Results from the hydrostatic compression tests indicate that <em>G</em> can be precisely estimated using Hardin’s equation and that a linear correlation exists between a stress-normalized <em>G</em> and a function of mechanical coordination number and void ratio. During the triaxial tests, the specimen fabric, which refers to the contact network within the particle assembly, remains almost unchanged within a threshold range of stress ratio (<em>SR</em>). The disparity between measured <em>G</em> and predicted <em>G</em>, as per empirical equations, is less than 10% within this range. However, once this threshold range is exceeded, <em>G</em> experiences a significant <em>SR</em> effect, primarily due to considerable adjustments in the specimen’s fabric. The study concludes that fabric information becomes crucial for accurate <em>G</em> prediction when <em>SR</em> threshold is exceeded. A stiffness-stress-fabric relationship spanning a wide range of <em>SR</em> is put forward by incorporating the influences of redistribution of contact forces, effective connectivity of fabric, and fabric anisotropy into the empirical equation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55217,"journal":{"name":"Computers and Geotechnics","volume":"183 ","pages":"Article 107183"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143577682","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}
Xian Liu , Xueyou Li , Guotao Ma , Mohammad Rezania
{"title":"Characterization of spatially varying soil properties using an innovative constraint seed method","authors":"Xian Liu , Xueyou Li , Guotao Ma , Mohammad Rezania","doi":"10.1016/j.compgeo.2025.107184","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.compgeo.2025.107184","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Soil properties are naturally varying in space. Random field model provides a powerful method for characterizing spatially varying soil properties, but it may not match the actual values at the measured locations since the spatial location information of site data is not fully utilized. This paper proposes an innovative Constraint Seed Method (CSM) for efficiently generating the conditional random field of soil properties based on available site data. It incorporates site data information to constrain the random seeds, which in return constrains the random fields. The obtained conditional random field are generally consistent with the observed values at the measured locations, and most observed and unobserved data points fall within the 95% confidence intervals due to spatial correlation. The standard deviations of updated predictions at the measured location can gradually converges to the standard deviations of measurement error, while the standard deviations of updated predictions at the unmeasured location also reduced due to the spatial correlation. Four geotechnical examples are utilized to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed CSM. The CSM performs well across four geotechnical engineering problems that account for real site data, non-stationary characteristics, and geological uncertainties. The results indicate that the CSM can significantly reduce the global uncertainty of the site, especially with increasing observed data. Compared to other available methods, the CSM displays greater uncertainty reduction and higher accuracy while requiring less computational time. With the CSM, a more accurate characterization of soil properties can be obtained, which is essential for the geotechnical design and construction.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55217,"journal":{"name":"Computers and Geotechnics","volume":"183 ","pages":"Article 107184"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143577683","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":"Micropolar hypoplasticity modeling of localized deformation in mixtures of face mask chips and sand","authors":"Yu-Qi He, Zhen-Yu Yin","doi":"10.1016/j.compgeo.2025.107173","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.compgeo.2025.107173","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This paper presents a novel micropolar-based hypoplastic model to reproduce the stress–strain relationship of face mask chips-sand mixtures (MSMs) and their localized deformation. Based on a critical state hypoplastic model, a non-polar hypoplastic model for MSMs is first developed with modifications and new features: (1) the cohesion induced by face mask chips is considered by introducing an additional stress tensor into the Cauchy stress tensor; (2) the initial stiffness variation in MSMs is described with a modified tangential modulus; and (3) the effective skeleton void ratio concept is introduced to capture the initial and critical void ratio variations in MSMs. The model is then extended to its micropolar terms by incorporating the micropolar theory, which includes an internal length parameter and a couple stress induced by particle rotation, with the advantage of overcoming the mesh dependency problem in the conventional finite element method (FEM) based simulations. Moreover, the new micropolar hypoplastic formulations are implemented into a FEM code. The onset and evolution of shear bands in MSMs are investigated by simulating a series of biaxial tests on both pure sand and MSMs. Numerical results are also compared to experimental observations, demonstrating that the developed micropolar hypoplastic model can adeptly capture the shear band propagation in MSMs and their mechanical responses.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55217,"journal":{"name":"Computers and Geotechnics","volume":"183 ","pages":"Article 107173"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143562529","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Guizhong Xu , Yifei Liu , Junjun Ni , Yupeng Cao , Sifang Deng
{"title":"Influence of soil crack on large-deformation consolidation of dredged clay under vacuum preloading: A numerical solution","authors":"Guizhong Xu , Yifei Liu , Junjun Ni , Yupeng Cao , Sifang Deng","doi":"10.1016/j.compgeo.2025.107161","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.compgeo.2025.107161","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The presence of cracks in dredged clay can influence its consolidation behavior under vacuum preloading. Existing large-strain consolidation models do not consider crack effects. This study proposes a new large-strain consolidation model considering cracks (LSCC) that, for the first time, incorporates the influence of cracks on the permeability and vacuum transmission characteristics of dredged clay. The LSCC model can accurately calculate the consolidation behavior of cracked dredged clay under vacuum preloading. The model divides the soil around the prefabricated vertical drain (PVD) into a cracked area and an undisturbed area. Finite difference methods are employed to solve the model numerically. Validation against a physical model test demonstrates the effectiveness of the proposed approach. Parametric studies investigate the impact of crack formation time and the reduction in permeability due to crack closure under vacuum. Results indicate that cracks accelerate consolidation in the early stages but do not affect the final settlement if sufficient time is allowed. This work provides new insights into the consolidation mechanisms of dredged clay with cracks and offers a practical numerical model for vacuum preloading design.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55217,"journal":{"name":"Computers and Geotechnics","volume":"183 ","pages":"Article 107161"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143549374","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}