Arching Development in Transparent Soil during Multiple Trapdoor Movement and Surface Footing Loading
Publication: International Journal of Geomechanics
Volume 21, Issue 3
Abstract
Soil arching exists in many earth structures, such as pile-supported embankments, tunnels, buried pipes, and retaining walls. These earth structures are sometimes subjected to surface footing loading. Limited studies showed that surface footing loading weakened active soil arching formed in backfill material; however, this effect has not been well considered in the current design. In this study, two-dimensional (2D) trapdoor tests with transparent soil were carried out to investigate the development of active soil arching under static surface footing loading. The particle image velocimetry (PIV) technique was adopted to monitor the deformations of soil particles due to multiple trapdoor movements and surface footing loadings. Soil arches with a triangular expanding pattern and a tower-shaped development pattern were observed in the cases with different fill heights. Under the surface footing load, soil arching first degraded locally (at its crown) and then gradually expanded to both sides of the arch with an increase of load magnitude until full degradation of soil arching globally. The model tests with active soil arching resulted in a larger surface settlement under a footing load than that without soil arching due to the volumetric expansion of the soil during the formation of soil arching. Two analytical methods were compared with the experimental results before local degradation and after global degradation of soil arching.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Acknowledgments
The authors appreciate the financial support provided by the Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) (Grant Nos. 51478349, 41772281, and 51508408) and the Key Research and Development Project of the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology (Grant No. 2016YFE0105800). This study was also financially supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (Grant No. 22120180106). This paper was prepared while the second author studied at the University of Kansas as a visiting Ph.D. student, sponsored by the China Scholarship Council.
References
Adrian, R. J. 1991. “Particle-imaging techniques for experimental fluid mechanics.” Annu. Rev. Fluid Mech. 23 (1): 261–304. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.fl.23.010191.001401.
Al-Naddaf, M., J. Han, S. Jawad, G. Abdulrasool, and C. Xu. 2017. “Investigation of stability of soil arching under surface loading using trapdoor model tests.” In Proc., 19th Int. Conf. on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, 889–892. London, UK: International Society of Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering.
Al-Naddaf, F., J. Han, C. Xu, S. Jawad, and G. Abdulrasool. 2019a. “Experimental investigation of soil arching mobilization and degradation under localized surface loading.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 145 (12): 04019114. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0002190.
Al-Naddaf, M., J. Han, C. Xu, and S. M. Rahmaninezhad. 2019b. “Effect of geofoam on vertical stress distribution on buried structures subjected to static and cyclic footing loads.” J. Pipeline Syst. Eng. Pract. 10 (1): 04018027. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)PS.1949-1204.0000355.
Bhandari, A., and J. Han. 2018. “Two-dimensional physical modelling of soil displacements above trapdoors.” Geotech. Res. 5 (2): 68–80. https://doi.org/10.1680/jgere.18.00002.
Chevalier, B., G. Combe, and P. Villard. 2012. “Experimental and discrete element modeling studies of the trapdoor problem: Influence of the macro-mechanical frictional parameters.” Acta Geotech. 7 (1): 15–39. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11440-011-0152-5.
De Guzman, E. M. B., and M. C. Alfaro. 2018. “Laboratory-scale model studies on corduroy-reinforced road embankments on peat foundations using transparent soil.” Transp. Geotech. 16: 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trgeo.2018.05.002.
Dewoolkar, M. M., K. Santichaianant, and H. Y. Ko. 2007. “Centrifuge modeling of granular soil response over active circular trapdoors.” Soils Found. 47 (5): 931–945. https://doi.org/10.3208/sandf.47.931.
Ferreira, J. A., and J. G. Zornberg. 2015. “A transparent pullout testing device for 3D evaluation of soil–geogrid interaction.” Geotech. Test. J. 38 (5): 20140198. https://doi.org/10.1520/GTJ20140198.
Han, G., Q. Gong, and S. Zhou. 2014. “Soil arching in a piled embankment under dynamic load.” Int. J. Geomech. 15 (6): 04014094. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GM.1943-5622.0000443.
Han, J., and M. A. Gabr. 2002. “Numerical analysis of geosynthetic-reinforced and pile-supported earth platforms over soft soil.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 128 (1): 44–53. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)1090-0241(2002)128:1(44).
Han, J., F. Wang, M. Al-Naddaf, and C. Xu. 2017. “Progressive development of two-dimensional soil arching with displacement.” Int. J. Geomech. 17 (12): 04017112. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GM.1943-5622.0001025.
Hewlett, W. J., and M. F. Randolph. 1988. “Analysis of piled embankment.” Ground Eng. 21: 12–18.
Hong, W. P., J. H. Lee, and K. W. Lee. 2007. “Load transfer by soil arching in pile-supported embankments.” Soils Found. 47 (5): 833–843. https://doi.org/10.3208/sandf.47.833.
Iglesia, G. R. 1991. “Trapdoor experiments on the centrifuge: A study of arching in geomaterials and similitude in geotechnical models.” Ph.D. thesis, Dept. of Civil Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Iglesia, G. R., H. H. Einstein, and R. V. Whitman. 2011. “Validation of centrifuge model scaling for soil systems via trapdoor tests.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 137 (11): 1075–1089. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0000517.
Iskander, M. 2010. Modelling with transparent soils: Visualizing soil structure interaction and multi phase flow, non-intrusively. Berlin: Springer.
Iskander, M. G., S. Sadek, and J. Liu. 2002. “Optical measurement of deformation using transparent silica gel to model sand.” Int. J. Phys. Modell. Geotech. 2 (4): 13–26. https://doi.org/10.1680/ijpmg.2002.020402.
Jenck, O., D. Dias, and R. Kastner. 2007. “Two-dimensional physical and numerical modeling of a pile-supported earth platform over soft soil.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 133 (3): 295–305. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)1090-0241(2007)133:3(295).
Kempfert, H. G., C. Göbel, D. Alexiew, and C. Heitz. 2004. “German recommendations for reinforced embankments on pile-similar elements.” Proc., EuroGeo3-3rd European Geosynthetics Conf., Geotechnical Engineering with Geosynthetics, 279–284. Munich, Germany: Deutsche Gesell schaft fur Geotechnik.
King, D. J., A. Bouazza, J. R. Gniel, R. K. Rowe, and H. H. Bui. 2017. “Serviceability design for geosynthetic reinforced column supported embankments.” Geotext. Geomembr. 45 (4): 261–279. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geotexmem.2017.02.006.
Liu, J. 2003. “Visualization of 3-D deformations using transparent “soil” models.” Ph.D. thesis, Dept. of Civil Engineering, Polytechnic Univ.
Marston, A., and A. Anderson. 1913. The theory of loads on pipes in ditches: And tests of cement and clay drain tile and sewer pipe. Ames, IA: Iowa State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts.
McNulty, J. W. 1965. An experimental study of arching in sand. Technical Rep. No. 1-674. Vicksburg, MS: Army Engineer Waterways Experiment Station.
Meguid, M. A., O. Saada, M. A. Nunes, and J. Mattar. 2008. “Physical modeling of tunnels in soft ground: A review.” Tunnelling Underground Space Technol. 23 (2): 185–198. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tust.2007.02.003.
Miao, L., F. Wang, J. Han, and W. Lv. 2014. “Benefits of geosynthetic reinforcement in widening of embankments subjected to foundation differential settlement.” Geosynth. Int. 21 (5): 321–332. https://doi.org/10.1680/gein.14.00019.
Milovic, D. M., and J. P. Tournier. 1971. “Stresses and displacements due to rectangular load on a layer of finite thickness.” Soils Found. 11 (1): 1–27. https://doi.org/10.3208/sandf1960.11.1.
Ni, Q., C. C. Hird, and I. Guymer. 2010. “Physical modelling of pile penetration in clay using transparent soil and particle image velocimetry.” Géotechnique 60 (2): 121–132. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.8.P.052.
Rui, R., J. Han, S. J. M. van Eekelen, and Y. Wang. 2019. “Experimental investigation of soil arching evolution in unreinforced and geosynthetic-reinforced pile-supported embankments.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 145 (1): 04018103. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0002000.
Rui, R., A. F. Van Tol, Y. Xia, S. J. M. Van Eekelen, and G. Hu. 2016. “Investigation of soil-arching development in dense sand by 2D model tests.” Geotech. Test. J. 39 (3): 415–430.
Rui, R., Y. Zhai, J. Han, S. J. M. Van Eekelen, and C. Chen. 2020. “Deformations in trapdoor tests and piled embankments.” Geosynth. Int. 27 (2): 219–235. https://doi.org/10.1680/jgein.19.00014.
Shen, P., C. Xu, and J. Han. 2020. “Centrifuge tests to investigate global performance of geosynthetic-reinforced pile-supported embankments with side slopes.” Geotext. Geomembr. 48 (1): 120–127. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geotexmem.2019.103527.
Stanier, S. A., J. Blaber, W. A. Take, and D. J. White. 2016. “Improved image-based deformation measurement for geotechnical applications.” Can. Geotech. J. 53 (5): 727–739. https://doi.org/10.1139/cgj-2015-0253.
Terzaghi, K. 1936. “Stress distribution in dry and in saturated sand above a yielding trap-door.” In Vol. I of Proc., 1st Int. Conf. on Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering, 307–311. Cambridge, MA: Harvard Univ.
Terzaghi, K. 1943. Theoretical soil mechanics. London: Chapman & Hall.
Van Eekelen, S. J., A. Bezuijen, H. J. Lodder, and A. F. van Tol. 2012a. “Model experiments on piled embankments. Part I.” Geotext. Geomembr. 32: 69–81. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geotexmem.2011.11.002.
Van Eekelen, S. J., A. Bezuijen, H. J. Lodder, and A. F. van Tol. 2012b. “Model experiments on piled embankments. Part II.” Geotext. Geomembr. 32: 82–94. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geotexmem.2011.11.003.
Van Eekelen, S. J. M., A. Bezuijen, and A. F. van Tol. 2013. “An analytical model for arching in piled embankments.” Geotext. Geomembr. 39: 78–102. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geotexmem.2013.07.005.
Van Eekelen, S. J. M., and J. Han. 2020. “Geosynthetic-reinforced pile-supported embankments: State of the art.” Geosynth. Int. 27 (2): 112–141. https://doi.org/10.1680/jgein.20.00005.
Wang, H.-L., and R.-P. Chen. 2019. “Estimating static and dynamic stresses in geosynthetic-reinforced pile-supported track-bed under train moving loads.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 145 (7): 04019029. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0002056.
Xu, C., S. Song, and J. Han. 2016. “Scaled model tests on influence factors of full geosynthetic-reinforced pile-supported embankments.” Geosynth. Int. 23 (2): 140–153. https://doi.org/10.1680/jgein.15.00038.
Xu, C., X. Zhang, J. Han, and Y. Yang. 2019. “Two-dimensional soil-arching behavior under static and cyclic loading.” Int. J. Geomech. 19 (8): 0401909. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GM.1943-5622.0001482.
Yun-min, C., C. Wei-ping, and C. Ren-peng. 2008. “An experimental investigation of soil arching within basal reinforced and unreinforced piled embankments.” Geotext. Geomembr. 26 (2): 164–174. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geotexmem.2007.05.004.
Zaeske, D. 2001. Zur Wirkungsweise von unbewehrten und bewehrten mineralischen Tragschichten über pfahlartigen Gründungselementen. Fachgebiet u. Versuchsanst. Geotechnik, Univ. Gh Kassel, Kassel, Germany.
Zhang, Z., F. Tao, J. Han, G. Ye, B. Cheng, and L. Liu. 2020a. “Influence of surface footing loading on soil arching above multiple buried structures in transparent sand.” Can. J. Civ. Eng. 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1139/cjce-2019-0352.
Zhang, Z., F. Tao, J. Han, G. Ye, and L. Liu. 2020b. “Numerical analysis of geosynthetic-reinforced pile-supported embankments subjected to different surface loads.” In Proc., Geo-Congress 2020: Engineering, Monitoring, and Management of Geotechnical Infrastructure, 70–79. Reston, VA: ASCE.
Zhang, Z., F. Tao, G. Ye, J. Han, C. Xu, and L. Liu. 2018. “Physical models to investigate soil arching phenomena under cyclic footing loading using transparent soil.” In Proc., GeoShanghai International Conf., 792–801. Singapore: Springer.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Copyright
© 2020 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Apr 15, 2020
Accepted: Sep 5, 2020
Published online: Dec 17, 2020
Published in print: Mar 1, 2021
Discussion open until: May 17, 2021
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.