Computers and Geotechnics最新文献

{"title":"Modeling fracture propagation in hydrate bearing sediments using phase field method","authors":"Fanbao Cheng ,&nbsp;Huangwu Lyu ,&nbsp;Weiguo Liu ,&nbsp;Xiang Sun ,&nbsp;Zeshao You ,&nbsp;Yanghui Li ,&nbsp;Yinghui Tian","doi":"10.1016/j.compgeo.2025.107532","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.compgeo.2025.107532","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Fracture development in natural gas hydrate reservoirs plays a critical role in enhancing permeability for gas production while potentially triggering geomechanical hazards due to hydrate dissociation. This study presents a fully coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical-chemical phase-field model to simulate fracture propagation in hydrate-bearing sediments. The model integrates thermal effects, two-phase flow, hydrate phase change and poroelastic deformation. Fracture evolution is governed by a diffusion-type phase-field variable, driven by maximum positive stored energy considering the strain energy, pore pressure and water/gas saturation, with its growth modulated by hydrate saturation and fracture energy release rate function. Fracture-induced alterations in permeability, porosity, and Biot’s coefficient; along with hydrate dissociation-induced variation in bulk modulus, permeability, and heat/mass source, are systematically incorporated to account for coupled multiphysics processes. The model is numerically implemented within a finite element framework using a fully coupled direct solver with damped Newton-Raphson scheme to efficiently solve the strongly nonlinear coupled multiphysics problem. Model validation is encompasses three benchmarks: 1) comparison with analytical Sneddon’s fracture displacement solution, 2) Numerical benchmarking against unsaturated fracture flow simulations, and 3) Experimental calibration using hydrate sediment breakdown pressure data. These validations confirm the model capability, and suitability in capturing THMC-coupled responses. An application simulating hot water injection into hydrate-bearing sediments further illustrates the model’s ability to capture fracture evolution and reservoir response. This work presents a framework for optimizing injection parameters (e.g., temperature, rate) and fracture geometry control, along with geotechnical risk assessment (e.g., wellbore instability), to support commercial hydrate exploitation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55217,"journal":{"name":"Computers and Geotechnics","volume":"188 ","pages":"Article 107532"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2025-08-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144858323","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":"Probabilistic analysis of slopes designed by the partial material factor approach","authors":"Yuting Li ,&nbsp;Xiaobin Chen ,&nbsp;Pengpeng He ,&nbsp;Gordon A. Fenton ,&nbsp;D.V. Griffiths","doi":"10.1016/j.compgeo.2025.107572","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.compgeo.2025.107572","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Traditional slope stability design typically relies on a single global factor of safety to account for various sources of uncertainties. However, the same global factor of safety may lead to different levels of reliability for different site conditions and slope configurations. This study probabilistically calibrated the partial material factors used for slope stability design within the partial factor method design framework using the Random Finite Element Method (RFEM). Drained and undrained soil conditions were separately considered. The slope height was first designed using the partial factor method, followed by RFEM to estimate the failure probability of the design slope. The results show that a worst-case correlation length exists for all of the cases, suggesting that the worst-case correlation length can be used for conservative design when insufficient data is available for accurate estimates of the soil correlation length. In addition, the sampling location significantly influences the estimated failure probability and the required partial material factor. For drained soil conditions, lower cross correlation coefficients between <span><math><msup><mi>c</mi><mo>′</mo></msup></math></span> and <span><math><msup><mi>ϕ</mi><mo>′</mo></msup></math></span> result in lower estimated failure probabilities, indicating that an assumption of independence between <span><math><msup><mi>c</mi><mo>′</mo></msup></math></span> and <span><math><msup><mi>ϕ</mi><mo>′</mo></msup></math></span> is conservative. Overall, this study provides probabilistic insights into slope design practices and can guide the calibration of partial material factors for more reliable slope design.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55217,"journal":{"name":"Computers and Geotechnics","volume":"188 ","pages":"Article 107572"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2025-08-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144858384","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":"Investigation of frozen sand–concrete interface behaviour based on shear properties","authors":"Jian Chang ,&nbsp;Weiwei Niu ,&nbsp;Jiankun Liu ,&nbsp;Fuyou Yan ,&nbsp;Zhifeng Ren ,&nbsp;Wenxue Wang ,&nbsp;Yankun Liang","doi":"10.1016/j.compgeo.2025.107569","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.compgeo.2025.107569","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The mechanical properties of the frozen sand–structure interface plays a crucial role in determining the overall mechanical behavior of building structural systems. The analysis of the normal mechanical characteristics at the frozen interface is limited, and existing constitutive models fail to account for the influence of these normal mechanical properties. This paper first investigates the variations in shear stress and normal displacement of the frozen sand–concrete interface (FSCI), considering the effects of temperature and initial normal stress under constant normal height boundary condition. The critical state theory in geomechanics is then applied to describe the mechanical behavior of the FSCI. Additionally, within the framework of the bounding surface plasticity constitutive model of soil–structure interface developed by Saberi (2017, 2019) and Lashkari (2012, 2013), this study introduces the pore ice isothermal compression coefficient to simulate the variation in normal displacement during the shear process. The modified constitutive model is capable of capturing the shear dilatancy, strain softening, and stress path dependency of the frozen interface.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55217,"journal":{"name":"Computers and Geotechnics","volume":"188 ","pages":"Article 107569"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2025-08-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144852273","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":"Theoretical analysis for dynamic response of helical pipe pile based on helix-modified impedance transfer method","authors":"Wenbing Wu ,&nbsp;Cheng Liu ,&nbsp;M. Hesham El Naggar ,&nbsp;Hao Liu ,&nbsp;Zhiqing Zhang ,&nbsp;Xin Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.compgeo.2025.107557","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.compgeo.2025.107557","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A helix-modified impedance transfer (HIT) method is proposed in this paper to accurately simulate the dynamic interaction between the helix fixed along the helical pipe pile and surrounding soil. The single normal Voigt model and multiple tangential Voigt models are applied to take account of the dynamic resistance acting on the helix along the normal and tangential directions, respectively. By virtue of the Laplace transform and variable separation method, a theoretical model for the vertical vibration of the helical pipe pile embedded in layered soil is developed based on the HIT method. Analytical solutions for the dynamic response of the helical pipe pile are deduced. Reasonable values for stiffness and damping coefficients between adjacent soil layers are also determined. The rationality and superiority of the proposed theoretical model are validated through comparisons with previous theoretical models and field experimental data. Extensive arithmetic examples are then conducted by utilizing the developed theoretical model and solutions to decipher the significant influence of the characteristics of helices on the dynamic response of the helical pipe pile in both frequency and time domains. Conclusions attained herein can serve to formulate guidelines for dynamic design and facilitate the evaluation of pile performance in practical applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55217,"journal":{"name":"Computers and Geotechnics","volume":"188 ","pages":"Article 107557"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2025-08-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144842437","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":"Tunnel face stability based on the method of infinitesimally thin slices incorporating slurry infiltration","authors":"Jianxin Ning,&nbsp;Maosong Huang,&nbsp;Jian Yu","doi":"10.1016/j.compgeo.2025.107571","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.compgeo.2025.107571","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Slurry infiltration compromises face support effectiveness in the construction of slurry shield tunnels. In this study, a coupled slurry–soil interaction model is established based on the law of mass conservation to characterize particle transport in porous media during slurry infiltration. The model effectively captures the temporal and spatial evolution of the excess pore water pressure during slurry infiltration. The excess pore water pressure ahead of the tunnel face exhibits a bubble-shaped distribution, which diminishes progressively with increasing infiltration time. A quantitative correlation between pore pressure dissipation and effective infiltration distance facilitates the assessment of seepage forces within the soil. Based on the hydromechanical framework, this study develops a novel limit equilibrium model using the infinitesimally thin slice method, which eliminates a priori assumptions of the vertical stress distribution in failure wedges. Compared with the classical wedge model, the proposed method yields results that more closely align with those from the finite element analyses. The support pressure required to maintain tunnel face stability decreases asymptotically with infiltration time, converging with membrane model solutions after prolonged infiltration. Elevated slurry concentrations accelerate particle-induced pore clogging and increase excess pore water pressure dissipation, improving tunnel face stability.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55217,"journal":{"name":"Computers and Geotechnics","volume":"188 ","pages":"Article 107571"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2025-08-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144842436","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":"DEM analysis of granular materials undergoing cyclic liquefaction under wave loading","authors":"Baojian Li ,&nbsp;Yan Wang ,&nbsp;Sai Fu ,&nbsp;Qixin Wu","doi":"10.1016/j.compgeo.2025.107565","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.compgeo.2025.107565","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The stress state of seabed soil elements under wave loading is primarily simulated by rotating principal stresses purely while maintaining their magnitudes constant. This simplification is not realistic by assuming an infinite thickness of the seabed and ignoring the effects of the phase difference angle between the normal and shear stress components. This investigation uses DEM to examine cyclic liquefaction in granular materials subjected to diverse wave loading paths characterized by different phase difference angle (<em>β</em> = 0°, 30°, 60°, 90°) between shear and normal stresses. In addition to cyclic shear stress ratio and specimen density, we integrate the intermediate principal stress ratio (<em>b</em> = 0, 0.5, and 1.0) into our analysis. Granular specimens demonstrate significantly greater resistance to cyclic liquefaction at <em>b</em> = 0 compared to <em>b</em> = 0.5 and 1.0 under identical conditions. The research explores the interaction between internal structure and external loading, providing insights for constructing mesomechanics-based constitutive models for granular soils.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55217,"journal":{"name":"Computers and Geotechnics","volume":"188 ","pages":"Article 107565"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2025-08-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144829425","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":"Reliability-based design of laterally loaded tapered offshore piles in spatially variable clay","authors":"Jian-Hong Wan ,&nbsp;Zexiong Wu ,&nbsp;Shui-Hua Jiang ,&nbsp;Xue-You Li","doi":"10.1016/j.compgeo.2025.107567","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.compgeo.2025.107567","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Design of pile foundations for offshore structures is increasingly challenges due to the need for higher bearing capacities in spatially variable soil. Tapered piles, with their non-uniform cross-section, offer a potential alternative to conventional straight piles under specific soil conditions, providing enhanced load bearing capacity. However, the performance of tapered pile under the lateral loading is affected by soil spatial variability, which is often neglected in conventional pile design. This study conducts a reliability-based analysis to evaluate the behavior of laterally loaded tapered piles in spatially variable clay. Non-intrusive random Finite Element (FE) method combined with Monte Carlo (MC) simulation is employed to assess the effects of the spatial variability of undrained shear strength (<em>S_u</em>), taper angle, embedment depth, and shallow soil on the performance of tapered pile. Deterministic analysis reveals that tapered piles with a larger taper angle can achieve up to 19.6% higher lateral allowable load capacity compared to straight piles in shallow soil with high <em>S_u</em>. An optimal taper angle can be identified with equivalent length and material volume. For partial embedded piles, the straight pile performs better in the shallow soil with low <em>S_u</em>. Probabilistic analysis results reveal that increased soil variability amplifies the uncertainty in the pile capacity, particularly for tapered piles. Although tapered piles offer enhanced lateral resistance due to their geometry, they are highly sensitive to high spatial variability of soils, requiring careful optimization of the pile geometry for specific sites. Reliability analysis indicates that the design factor of safety (<em>FS_d</em>) must exceed 2.0 in the presence of high soil variability to maintain acceptable probabilities of failure for tapered piles, which illustrates the inadequacy of current design codes for such soils.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55217,"journal":{"name":"Computers and Geotechnics","volume":"188 ","pages":"Article 107567"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2025-08-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144814023","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":"Reducing lateral earth pressure of expansive soils on retaining walls using EPS geofoam inclusions: Field study and estimation approaches","authors":"Weilie Zou ,&nbsp;Qi Xiang ,&nbsp;Qiuyang Pei ,&nbsp;Zhong Han ,&nbsp;Yanfeng Zhuang ,&nbsp;Yuliang Lin ,&nbsp;Hao Zhang ,&nbsp;Zhiren Dai ,&nbsp;Hongri Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.compgeo.2025.107533","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.compgeo.2025.107533","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Placing EPS inclusions between retaining walls and expansive soil backfill has been proven effective in reducing the lateral earth pressure on the walls, particularly during the swelling of expansive soils upon infiltration. However, two critical knowledge gaps remain: (i) case studies and field-monitored data are desired to further illustrate the performance of this technique, and (ii) the absence of specific approaches for estimating and modeling the lateral earth pressure. This study presents two case studies of retaining wall projects backfilled with expansive soils in Guangxi and Hubei, China. The distribution and evolution of lateral earth pressure of different test sections were monitored. It is demonstrated that: (i) EPS inclusions can effectively reduce the lateral earth pressure exerted by expansive soil backfills on retaining walls by more than 50 %, significantly outperforming bagged gravel inclusions; (ii) EPS inclusions induce a “homogenizing effect”, producing a more uniform distribution of lateral earth pressure along the wall height. Combining field observations and laboratory test results, this study proposes theoretical and numerical approaches for estimating the lateral earth pressure for the “retaining wall-EPS inclusion-expansive soil” system. The proposed approaches were validated against the data obtained from the presented case study.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55217,"journal":{"name":"Computers and Geotechnics","volume":"188 ","pages":"Article 107533"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2025-08-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144814024","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":"Dynamic sealing mechanisms of drilling fluid in fractured coalbed methane formations: a coupled CFD-DEM numerical study","authors":"Zichen Han ,&nbsp;Xianyu Yang ,&nbsp;Ni Ren ,&nbsp;Jiwei Song ,&nbsp;Meng Zhao ,&nbsp;Man Xue ,&nbsp;Mengjia Liang ,&nbsp;Xinmin Yan ,&nbsp;Chunzheng Jin ,&nbsp;Guosheng Jiang ,&nbsp;Jihua Cai","doi":"10.1016/j.compgeo.2025.107560","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.compgeo.2025.107560","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Lost circulation prevention and control remain significant challenges in coalbed methane (CBM) drilling operations. To enhance the understanding of sealing mechanisms in fractured formations and improve the operational efficiency of CBM drilling, a lost circulation fracture sealing model was established based on CFD-DEM theory. This model investigated the influence of particle size, concentration, gradation, friction coefficient, and shape of lost circulation materials (LCMs) on the sealing efficiency of lost circulation fractures, partially elucidating the underlying sealing mechanisms. The research results indicate: (1) The bridging efficiency of LCMs in lost circulation fractures determines the overall sealing efficiency. Increasing the particle friction coefficient and surface smoothness enhances the bridging efficiency of LCMs. (2) Both particle size and concentration exhibit critical lower thresholds for effective sealing. Below these thresholds, sealing cannot be achieved. Above them, sealing efficiency improves, but further increasing particle concentration beyond 20 % yields only marginal improvements (&lt;1%), while increasing viscosity and cost. (3) Under conditions where larger particles establish stable bridging frameworks, smaller particles in the gradation fill inter-bridging voids, reducing the permeability of the sealing layer. Replacing 3 % of the LCMs mass fraction with particles one-quarter of the original size reduces the leakage rate by 96.2 % and increases particle packing density by 21.6 %, forming a denser sealing layer. This study quantifies the impact of LCMs properties on the sealing of lost circulation fractures, providing a theoretical foundation for lost circulation prevention and control in CBM drilling operations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55217,"journal":{"name":"Computers and Geotechnics","volume":"188 ","pages":"Article 107560"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2025-08-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144814026","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":"Investigation of the bearing capacity and failure envelope of novel umbrella suction anchor foundations in silty soil based on local scour conditions","authors":"Yichi Zhang ,&nbsp;Mingyue Zhao ,&nbsp;Peng Yu ,&nbsp;Hang Yin ,&nbsp;Qi Yang","doi":"10.1016/j.compgeo.2025.107566","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.compgeo.2025.107566","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Offshore wind energy is expanding into deeper waters, increasing the need for reliable foundation designs under harsh marine conditions. Bucket foundations offer high bearing capacity and environmental benefits, and a novel umbrella suction anchor foundation (USAF) with hinged anchor branches may further improve bearing capacity and scour resistance. This study investigates USAF-soil interactions under varying scour depths using a<!--> <!-->three-dimensional finite element model<!--> <!-->in ABAQUS. The structural components are modeled as<!--> <!-->linear elastic, while the soil follows the<!--> <!-->Mohr-Coulomb constitutive model. Combined vertical, horizontal, and torsional loads are applied to assess the bearing performance and construct failure envelopes in H-V, H-T, and V-T loading planes. Results show that scour depth markedly reduces lateral and torsional capacity. Under pure horizontal loading, ultimate capacity drops by 11.1 %, 21.4 %, and 31.5 % for dimensionless scour depths of 0.125D, 0.25D, and 0.375D. Under pure torsion, torque capacity decreases by 7.4 %, 12.1 %, and 15.7 %. In contrast, vertical capacity is far less affected, with reductions of 0.37 %, 2.64 %, and 4.80 % for the same scour depths. Under combined loading, failure envelopes contract as scour depth increases, most sharply along the horizontal and torsional axes, while elongating along the less-impacted axes (vertical and torsion). This shift indicates a move from bearing-dominated to sliding-dominated failure modes. These findings suggest that conventional design approaches may underestimate the vulnerability induced by scour. The significant losses in horizontal and torsional capacity under realistic scour conditions underscore the need for mitigation strategies and updated design guidelines for USAF foundations in offshore wind projects. This study provides numerical insights and envelope-based tools to enhance stability assessment and the design of suction anchor foundations in scouring environments.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55217,"journal":{"name":"Computers and Geotechnics","volume":"188 ","pages":"Article 107566"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2025-08-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144814007","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}