Transportation Geotechnics最新文献

{"title":"The ACUH model: A unified hardening constitutive model for anisotropically consolidated loess considering intermediate principal stress effects","authors":"Runkang Zhao ,&nbsp;Yang-Ping Yao ,&nbsp;Haoyuan Liu ,&nbsp;Fangzhou Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.trgeo.2025.101617","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.trgeo.2025.101617","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>As the main material, loess plays a crucial role in the construction of highways, railways and airfields in the Loess Plateau, China. However, the infrastructure construction in the transport sector in this region is susceptible to flow instability. In this study, a constitutive framework incorporating a unified hardening (UH) parameter is proposed for anisotropically consolidated loess (ACUH). It features a yield surface aligned with the anisotropic consolidation line, and an anisotropy stress ratio is integrated into the UH parameter to account for the effects of anisotropic consolidation on the dilatancy behaviour, strain hardening, and softening of loess. The ACUH model is extended to three-dimensional stress conditions, and the adjustment of nonlinear critical state lines (CSLs) in the <em>e</em>-ln<em>p</em> plane due to changing Lode angle can be estimated with a simple and practical calibration procedure. The model is validated against test data reported in the literature. Constitutive simulations are carried out to evaluate the influence of anisotropic consolidation and the intermediate principal stress on the instability characteristics of a silty loess. The results indicate that these factors significantly affect the peak strength, strength loss, instability stress ratio, and time period between the preceding anisotropy consolidation and the subsequent instability, which can be directly compared and quantified by an index, instability period angle <em>θ</em>, proposed in this study.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56013,"journal":{"name":"Transportation Geotechnics","volume":"54 ","pages":"Article 101617"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-06-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144330012","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Failure mechanism of deep-buried tunnel surrounding rock-lining system: physical model tests and numerical investigation","authors":"Hao Li ,&nbsp;Yuanming Lai ,&nbsp;Lizhou Wu","doi":"10.1016/j.trgeo.2025.101615","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.trgeo.2025.101615","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Lining cracking is a common failure mode in tunnel construction and operation, particularly in regions characterized by unfavorable geological conditions (e.g., weak strata), which poses significant risks to tunnel stability. This study conducted dynamic physical model tests to investigate the failure mechanisms associated with tunnel excavation within weak geological environments. During the excavation process, the deformation of surrounding rocks comprises both instantaneous and creep deformations. Utilizing similarity theory, the time-dependent creep behavior of tunnels under constant loading conditions was examined. A strain acquisition system alongside a digital photogrammetry system was employed to monitor the mechanical responses of both surrounding rocks and linings, thereby elucidating the evolution characteristics of failures during excavation. The test results indicate that stress concentration and redistribution occur in surrounding rocks post-excavation, leading to abrupt changes in strain. Following lining installation, both stress and strain fields within the cavern gradually stabilize. Notably, the rock-lining system significantly contributes to long-term tunnel stability. Subsequently, a nonlinear creep model capable of accurately describing rock creep behavior was proposed, and numerical analysis utilizing finite difference methods was performed to explore deformation mechanisms during excavation processes, revealing that failure characteristics observed in surrounding rocks align well with experimental findings.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56013,"journal":{"name":"Transportation Geotechnics","volume":"54 ","pages":"Article 101615"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-06-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144330011","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Study on spatial distribution of soft soil parameters and settlement deformation law of extension foundation based on CPTU","authors":"Caijin Wang ,&nbsp;Hongjian Zhang ,&nbsp;Liangfu Xie ,&nbsp;Zhiyi Jin ,&nbsp;Guojun Cai ,&nbsp;Annan Zhou ,&nbsp;Xueling Hu ,&nbsp;Tao Zhang ,&nbsp;Songyu Liu ,&nbsp;Zhiming Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.trgeo.2025.101616","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.trgeo.2025.101616","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In view of the subsidence and distortion laws of the subgrades of expansion foundation in the renovation and extension project of old roads, this paper conducts in-situ tests on the soil of the new and old road foundations based on the piezocone penetration test (CPTU). Geostatistics was used to interpolate and predict the tip resistance of the cone penetrometer and friction sleeve resistance within this region; these interpolation results were subsequently verified independently. In line with the interpolation outcomes, the compression modulus and soil layers of the new and old subgrade were categorized. Meanwhile, by leveraging the refined stratification findings of subgrade soil acquired through geostatistics, a discretized element model covering the whole road section was established. The findings demonstrate that the established geostatistics model can accurately predict the tip resistance of the cone penetrometer and friction sleeve resistance of new and old subgrade soil. Moreover, the correlation coefficient <em>R</em>² of the independently verified results is greater than 0.87. The compression modulus (<em>E</em>_S) is primarily distributed between 0 and 20 MPa, and increases with increases in the depth. Overall, the <em>E</em>_S of the old subgrade exceeds that of the new subgrade. The differential settlement of new and old subgrades is large, and the maximum differential settlement is 727.17 mm. Based on the finite element model of the subgrades of both extension foundation created using geostatistical soil classification, the horizontal displacement and subsidence of the new and old subgrades were analysed. The maximum ground subsidence of the old subgrade is 280 mm, following the completion of the old road. After the old road has been in operation for 20 years, the maximum pavement settlement reached 680 mm. There is an evident differential subsidence of the extension foundation of the whole line, ranging between 234 mm and 529 mm in the 15 years after the renovation and extension project. In renovation and extension projects, it is of great significance for controlling the settlement of subgrades for both extension foundations to analyze and study their settlement and distortion laws by applying geostatistics based on limited exploration data.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56013,"journal":{"name":"Transportation Geotechnics","volume":"54 ","pages":"Article 101616"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-06-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144330010","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Investigating the particle size effect of calcareous sand using a critical state-based model with the covariance matrix adaptation evolutionary strategies algorithm optimization","authors":"Xing Wang ,&nbsp;Zhen-Yu Yin ,&nbsp;Yin-Fu Jin ,&nbsp;Mao-Zhu Peng ,&nbsp;Jie Cui","doi":"10.1016/j.trgeo.2025.101613","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.trgeo.2025.101613","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The particle size of natural calcareous sands (CSs) varies significantly. It is of great interest for engineering practice if the mechanical behaviours of coarse-grained CSs can be easily extended from behaviours of fine-grained CSs using a constitutive model, for which the size effect is the key issue. For this purpose, consolidation-drained triaxial shear test results on CSs with five varying particle sizes were first re-interpreted to reveal this effect. The critical state-based constitutive model of sand (SIMSAND model) considering particle breakage effect was adopted for describing the mechanical behaviours of CSs. The optimization theory with the algorithm of covariance matrix adaptation evolutionary strategies (CMA-ES) was integrated with SIMSAND for identifying model parameters of five CSs. The applicability of the SIMSAND model to CS and the rationality of the CMA-ES algorithm in determining model parameters were thus verified. Then, six size-dependent parameters were selected according to the model parameter analysis of five CSs. Six relationships between the size-dependent parameters and the particle size were proposed based on three CSs, together with which the SIMSAND model can consider both particle size and breakage effects. The model’s rationality was further validated by simulating tests of another two CSs (one for interpolation and the other for extrapolation). The findings can lay a foundation for the prediction of mechanical behaviours in CSs with varying particle sizes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56013,"journal":{"name":"Transportation Geotechnics","volume":"54 ","pages":"Article 101613"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-06-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144322468","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effect of Shape Discrepancies on Strength of Binary Soils","authors":"Yang Xiao,&nbsp;Haoran Yang,&nbsp;Qingyun Fang,&nbsp;Yuyang Ling,&nbsp;Hanlong Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.trgeo.2025.101609","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.trgeo.2025.101609","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The properties of host sand dominate the soil structure at a low fines content and thus affect the overall mechanical behavior of binary soils. We performed a series of drained triaxial shear tests under different effective confining pressures and fines contents to investigate the stress-dilatancy behavior of sand-silt mixtures by mixing three types of host sand with a given non-plastic silt. We found that the presence of fine particles generated a variable effect on the drained strength, volumetric strain, peak-state friction angle, maximum dilation angle, and critical-state friction angle, contingent on the disparity in shape between the sand particles and the fine particles. Furthermore, we proposed a modified stress-dilatancy equation. In this equation, the slope was independent, while the intercept was incorporated with the combined effects of the host sand shape and the fines content.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56013,"journal":{"name":"Transportation Geotechnics","volume":"54 ","pages":"Article 101609"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-06-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144338840","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Critical Role of Borehole Orientation in Governing the Mechanical Degradation and Microstructural Evolution of Red Sandstone in Cold Regions","authors":"Pengyi Zhang ,&nbsp;Qingzhi Wang ,&nbsp;Xianwei Zhang ,&nbsp;Dongmei Zhang ,&nbsp;Zhongkai Huang ,&nbsp;Jiankun Liu ,&nbsp;Jianhong Fang ,&nbsp;Zhifeng Ren","doi":"10.1016/j.trgeo.2025.101611","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.trgeo.2025.101611","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The stability of tunnel-surrounding rock in high-altitude and cold regions is severely affected by extreme low temperatures and frequent freeze–thaw cycles. These conditions facilitate the expansion of cracks, reduce rock strength, and accelerate the progressive degradation of its microstructure, ultimately intensifying the failure process. Triaxial compression tests and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis are utilized in this study to comprehensively assess how hole orientation influences the physical, mechanical, and microscopic characteristics of red sandstone under different cycles. The results demonstrate that temperature fluctuations significantly accelerate the physical deterioration of red sandstone, as evidenced by a progressive reduction in mass and wave velocity, coupled with a gradual increase in volume. The mechanical properties of red sandstone, such as elastic modulus, cohesion, internal friction angle, and compressive strength, are significantly compromised by freeze–thaw cycles. The orientation of boreholes is a critical factor influencing the degree of deterioration, with specimens containing axial boreholes exhibiting substantially greater strength reductions compared to those with longitudinal boreholes or complete samples. The interplay between temperature variations and confining pressure introduces complexity to the failure mechanisms of the rock. NMR analysis shows that freeze–thaw processes enlarge micropores and mesopores, enhance pore connectivity, and accelerate microcrack growth, ultimately compromising the rock’s structural integrity. Energy evolution analysis highlighted that low confining pressures and the presence of boreholes increase energy dissipation and reduce total energy storage, highlighting the synergistic effect of borehole orientation and freeze–thaw cycles in driving energy loss and structural degradation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56013,"journal":{"name":"Transportation Geotechnics","volume":"54 ","pages":"Article 101611"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-06-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144298267","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Geocell-Reinforced Pourable Geopolymeric Clayey Waste Slurry: Performance as a Roadway Layer under Cyclic Loading","authors":"Xiaohui Sun ,&nbsp;Ming Zhang ,&nbsp;Ishfaq Rashid Sheikh ,&nbsp;Changqing Chen ,&nbsp;Junpei He ,&nbsp;Foci Chen ,&nbsp;Xiangsheng Chen ,&nbsp;Jun Guan ,&nbsp;Silin Wu ,&nbsp;Zijun Dong","doi":"10.1016/j.trgeo.2025.101610","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.trgeo.2025.101610","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study proposes and validates the feasibility of using geopolymer-stabilized waste slurry cast into geocells as an innovative and sustainable roadway layer. The inclusion of geocells addresses the significant limitations of using geopolymer-stabilized slurry alone as a roadway material. Compared to unreinforced geopolymer-stabilized slurry, geocell-reinforced geopolymer-stabilized slurry maintains higher stress levels even at strains exceeding 5%, demonstrating enhanced toughness and crack resistance. Additionally, geocells significantly improve the mechanical performance of low-strength geopolymer-stabilized slurry, increasing unconfined compressive strength by 19.38–126.66% and reducing cumulative plastic strain. These findings highlight that incorporating geocells provides greater safety margins and better construction quality control for utilizing geopolymer-stabilized slurry as a roadway material. Furthermore, the surface characteristics of geocells influence the performance of geopolymer-stabilized slurry in a manner that deviates from conventional understanding. While embossed geocells typically enhance the performance of unbonded granular materials, they cause considerable cumulative plastic strain in geopolymer-stabilized slurry due to damage induced at the interface. In contrast, smooth geocells are found to prevent such damage and are therefore recommended for use in these applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56013,"journal":{"name":"Transportation Geotechnics","volume":"54 ","pages":"Article 101610"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-06-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144291467","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Utilisation of construction and demolition waste and recycled glass for sustainable flexible pavements: A critical review","authors":"Piyush Punetha,&nbsp;Sanjay Nimbalkar","doi":"10.1016/j.trgeo.2025.101612","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.trgeo.2025.101612","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The heightened pressure on natural resources, coupled with unprecedented levels of waste and pollution, has created an urgent need for sustainable construction practices in the road industry. To this end, the use of recycled aggregates in pavement construction has gained significant attention due to their environmental, economic, and social benefits. However, despite their immense potential, the application of recycled materials in flexible pavements remains limited due to concerns over their long-term performance, variability in properties, environmental impacts and inconsistent specifications. This article provides a critical analysis of the current state of knowledge on the use of recycled aggregates, particularly recycled concrete aggregate (RCA), recycled crushed brick (RCB) and recycled crushed glass (RCG), for sustainable flexible pavement construction. By examining key laboratory and field investigations, this study evaluates the physical and mechanical characteristics of recycled materials and their blends and assess their suitability for use in pavements. While previous studies have demonstrated that recycled aggregates can be effectively used in pavements, their performance is influenced by factors, such as source, composition, gradation, age, degree of compaction, moisture content, and loading conditions. This study also assesses the suitability of predictive models in evaluating the resilient modulus and cumulative permanent deformation of recycled aggregates and their blends under cyclic loading, which could be used in the design of flexible pavements incorporating these materials. The main objective of this review is to promote wider adoption of aggregates derived from construction and demolition waste, as well as waste glass, in flexible pavements.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56013,"journal":{"name":"Transportation Geotechnics","volume":"54 ","pages":"Article 101612"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-06-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144322467","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Sustainable fill solutions: recycling EPS waste in shredded EPS-clayed soil composites for improved mechanical and compaction behaviour","authors":"Muhammad Haseeb ,&nbsp;Zain Maqsood ,&nbsp;Muhammad Baqir ,&nbsp;Sofia Sarwar ,&nbsp;Badee Alshameri ,&nbsp;Waqas Hassan ,&nbsp;Abbas Haider ,&nbsp;Lin Wenli ,&nbsp;Mehtab Alam ,&nbsp;Jiren Xie ,&nbsp;Liu Ang ,&nbsp;Muhammad Umar","doi":"10.1016/j.trgeo.2025.101614","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.trgeo.2025.101614","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The disposal and recycling of expanded polystyrene (EPS) waste pose significant challenges. Although previous research has explored the engineering characteristics of coarse-grained soils mixed with EPS waste for lightweight fill materials, limited attention has been given to fine-grained clayey soils. This study investigates the compaction, strength, and deformation behavior of three types of clayey soils with varying plasticity, mixed with 0.5% to 3.0% shredded EPS content. Experimental results indicate that the addition of shredded EPS to all three clayey soils significantly reduced the maximum dry density (MDD), making them suitable for lightweight fill applications. Direct shear tests revealed a decrease in cohesion and an increase in the angle of internal friction as the shredded EPS content increased. The unconfined compressive strength (UCS) initially increased with EPS content, then decreased after reaching an optimal EPS proportion. The addition of shredded EPS also enhanced the workability of the clayey soils, as evidenced by a reduction in their plasticity indices. Based on these findings, a framework is proposed to determine the optimum shredded EPS content, which provides the best balance between strength and reduced unit weight for different clayey soils. This research highlights the potential of EPS waste as a sustainable additive for improving the properties of clayey soils, making them more efficient and eco-friendly for construction purposes, particularly in transportation geotechnics for road embankments and subgrade stabilization.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56013,"journal":{"name":"Transportation Geotechnics","volume":"54 ","pages":"Article 101614"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-06-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144338839","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Investigating the seepage-thermal interaction process on the thermal stability of highway embankments in permafrost regions adjacent to thermokarst lakes","authors":"Binhua Hu ,&nbsp;Long Jin ,&nbsp;Yanhui Niu ,&nbsp;Liguo Zhao ,&nbsp;Xu Li","doi":"10.1016/j.trgeo.2025.101608","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.trgeo.2025.101608","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The hydrological process of a thermokarst lake plays a pivotal role in the thermal stability of nearby embankments through its considerable influence on thermal in permafrost areas. However, simply treating a thermokarst lake as a heat source has hindered the understanding of the seepage effect during thermal erosion. Moreover, the mechanism by which the seepage process affects the thermal state of permafrost remains uncertain. Here, we conducted an investigation and collected monitoring data at an embankment–thermokarst lake comprehensive observation site on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau. The monitoring data indicate that the geotemperature distribution in the embankment exhibited remarkable asymmetrical characteristics. Notably, the proximity of the ground to the thermokarst lake resulted in greater geotemperatures and higher water contents. A puzzling phenomenon was observed whereby the embankment away from the thermokarst lake exhibited a deeper permafrost table, demonstrating a deviated thawing bowl below the embankment. We employed a seepage–thermal coupling model to demonstrate that the seepage process profoundly affects the geotemperature distribution pattern. The simulation results reveal that the convection heat flux from water flow dominated the total flux, gradually causing a deeper permafrost table along the flow path. Hence, the permafrost table decreased during seepage, which is consistent with the monitoring data, generating a deviated thawing bowl away from the thermokarst lake. It is important to consider the seepage–thermal coupling effect to assess the thermal stability of embankments beyond thermokarst lakes accurately.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56013,"journal":{"name":"Transportation Geotechnics","volume":"54 ","pages":"Article 101608"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-06-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144291468","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}