Submerged floating tunnels (SFTs) are novel structures for transportation across long- and deep-strait regions. Owing to severe wave and current excitation as well as the effects of underwater structures and corrosion, the risk of local anchor cable failure is high, which can result in the progressive failure of the entire structure. In this study, experimental and numerical investigations are conducted to analyze the dynamic behavior of an SFT with different mooring styles under local cable failure. A custom-designed cable failure device and the birth-and-death element method are used to simulate cable failure (i.e., progressive failure) via experiments and numerical simulation, respectively. A physical-scale segmental model of an SFT with different mooring styles under anchor cable failure is developed in this study. A segmental and entire-length mathematical model is developed using the ANSYS program to perform the numerical simulation. The results of the segmental numerical and experimental models indicate good agreement. The dynamic response of an SFT with different mooring styles under cable failure is comprehensively investigated by investigating the effects of key parameters (wave period, buoyant weight ratio, and cable failure mechanism). Moreover, the progressive failure of the SFT under cable failure is investigated via a segment model test and a numerical simulation of its entire length. The present study can serve as a reference for the safer designs of the SFT mooring style.
Aerodynamic instability owing to aerostatic and flutter-related failures is a significant concern in the wind-resistant design of long-span suspension bridges. Based on the dynamic characteristics of suspension bridges with spans ranging from 888 to 1991 m, we proposed fitted equations for increasing spans and base frequencies. Finite element models of suspension bridges with increasing span from 1000 to 5000 m were constructed. The structural parameters were optimized to follow the fitted tendencies. To analyze the aerodynamic instability, streamlined single-box section (SBS), lattice truss section (LTS), narrow slotted section (NSS), and wide slotted section (WSS) were considered. We performed three-dimensional (3-D) full-mode flutter analysis and nonlinear aerostatic instability analysis. The flutter critical wind speed continuously decreases with span growth, showing an unlimited approaching phenomenon. Regarding aerostatic instability, the instability wind speed decreases with span to approximately 3000 m, and increases when the span is in the range of 3000 to 5000 m. Minimum aerostatic instability wind speed with SBS or LTS girder would be lower than observed maximal gust wind speed, indicating the probability of aerostatic instability. This study proposes that suspension bridge with span approximately 3000 m should be focused on both aerostatic instability and flutter, and more aerodynamic configuration optimistic optimizations for flutter are essential for super long-span suspension bridges with spans longer than 3000 m.
Based on significant improvements in engineering materials, three advanced engineering measures have been proposed—super anchor cables, high-strength concrete anti-fault caverns, and grouting modification using high-strength concrete-to resist fault dislocation in the surrounding rock near tunnels crossing active strike-slip faults. Moreover, single- or multiple-joint advanced engineering measures form the local rock mass-anti-fault (LRAF) method. A numerical method was used to investigate the influence of LRAF methods on the stress and displacement fields of the surrounding rock, and the anti-fault effect was evaluated. Finally, the mechanism of action of the anchor cable was verified using a three-dimensional numerical model. The numerical results indicated that the anchor cable and grouting modification reduced the displacement gradient of the local surrounding rock near the tunnels crossing fault. Furthermore, anchor cable and grouting modifications changed the stress field of the rock mass in the modified area. The tensile stress field of the rock mass in the modified anchor cable area was converted into a compressive stress field. The stress field in the modified grouting area changed from shear stress in the fault slip direction to tensile stress in the axial tunnel direction. The anti-fault cavern resisted the dislocation displacement and reduced the maximum dislocation magnitude, displacement gradient, and shear stress. Among the three advanced engineering measures, the anchor cable was the core of the three advanced engineering measures. An anchor cable, combined with other LRAF measures, can form an artificial safety island at the cross-fault position of the rock mass to protect the tunnel. The research results provide a new supporting idea for the surrounding rock of tunnels crossing active strike-slip faults.
This paper presents a case study of the clogging of a slurry-shield tunnel-boring machine (TBM) experienced during tunnel operations in clay-rich argillaceous siltstones under the Ganjiang River, China. The clogging experienced during tunneling was due to special geological conditions, which had a considerably negative impact on the slurry-shield TBM tunneling performance. In this case study, the effect of clogging on the slurry-shield TBM tunneling performance (e.g., advance speed, thrust, torque, and penetration per revolution) was fully investigated. The potential for clogging during tunnel operations in argillaceous siltstone was estimated using an existing empirical classification chart. Many improvement measures have been proposed to mitigate the clogging potential of two slurry-shield TBMs during tunneling, such as the use of an optimum cutting wheel, a replacement cutting tool, improvements to the circulation flushing system and slurry properties, mixed support integrating slurry, and compressed air to support the excavation face. The mechanisms and potential causes of clogging are explained in detail, and the contributions of these mitigation measures to tunneling performance are discussed. By investigating the actual operational parameters of the slurry-shield TBMs, these mitigation measures were proven to be effective in mitigating the clogging potential of slurry-shield TBMs. This case study provides valuable information for slurry-shield TBMs involving tunneling in clay-rich sedimentary rocks.
A novel anchorage for long-span suspension bridges, called pile-caisson composite structures, was recently proposed by the authors in an attempt to reduce the construction period and costs. This study aims to investigate the displacement and force behavior of piles in a pile-caisson composite structure under eccentric inclined loading considering different stratum features. To this end, both 1g model tests and three-dimensional numerical simulations were performed. Two groups of 1g model tests were used to validate the finite-element (FE) method. Parametric studies were then performed to investigate the effects of groundwater level, burial depth of the pile-caisson composite structure, and distribution of soil layers on the performance of the pile-caisson composite structure. The numerical analyses indicated that the influence of the groundwater level on the stability of the caisson was much greater than that of the piles. In addition, increasing the burial depth of the pile-caisson composite structure can assist in reducing the displacements and improving the stability of the pile-caisson composite structure. In addition, the distribution of soil layers can significantly affect the stability of the pile-caisson composite structure, especially the soil layer around the caisson.
Using an in situ lunar regolith as a construction material in combination with 3D printing not only reduces the weight of materials carried from the Earth but also improves the automation of lunar infrastructure construction. This study aims to improve the printability of a geopolymer based on a BH-1 lunar regolith simulant, including the extrudability, open time, and buildability, by controlling the temperature and adding admixtures. Rheological parameters were used to represent printability with different water-to-binder ratios, printing temperatures, and contents of additives. The mechanical properties of the hardening geopolymer with different filling paths and loading directions were tested. The results show that heating the printed filaments with a water-to-binder ratio of 0.32 at 80 °C can adjust the printability without adding any additive, which can reduce the construction cost of lunar infrastructure. The printability of the BH-1 geopolymer can also be improved by adding 0.3% Attagel-50 and 0.5% polypropylene fiber by mass at a temperature of 20 °C to cope with the changeable environmental conditions on the Moon. After curing under a simulated lunar environment, the 72-h flexural and compressive strengths of the geopolymer specimens reach 4.1 and 48.1 MPa, respectively, which are promising considering that the acceleration of gravity on the Moon is 1/6 of that on the Earth.
This paper proposes an innovative column composed of a core column (including both reinforced concrete (RC) and plain concrete (PC) columns) and a prefabricated textile-reinforced fine concrete (TRC) shell. To study the confinement properties of TRC shells on this novel type of concrete column, 20 circular specimens, including 12 PC columns and 8 RC columns, were prepared for axial compressive tests. Four key parameters, including the column size, reinforcing ratio of the carbon textile, concrete strength, and stirrup spacing, were evaluated. The results indicated that the compressive properties of the columns were improved by increasing the reinforcing ratio of the textile layers. In the case of TRC-confined PC columns, the maximum improvement in the peak load was 56.3%, and for TRC-confined RC columns, the maximum improvement was 60.2%. Based on the test results, an analytical model that can be used to calculate the stress–strain curves of prefabricated TRC shell-confined concrete columns has been proposed. The calculated curves predicted by the proposed model agreed well with the test results.
The deterioration of the microscopic pore structure of concrete under external sulfate attack (ESA) is a primary cause of degradation. Nevertheless, little effort has been invested in exploring the temporal and spatial development of the porosity of concrete under ESA. This study proposes a mechanical–chemical model to simulate the spatiotemporal distribution of the porosity. A relationship between the corrosion damage and amount of ettringite is proposed based on the theory of volume expansion. In addition, the expansion strain at the macro-scale is obtained using a stress analysis model of composite concentric sphere elements and the micromechanical mean-field approach. Finally, considering the influence of corrosion damage and cement hydration on the diffusion of sulfate ions, the expansion deformation and porosity space−time distribution are obtained using the finite difference method. The results demonstrate that the expansion strains calculated using the suggested model agree well with previously reported experimental results. Moreover, the tricalcium aluminate concentration, initial elastic modulus of cement paste, corrosion damage, and continuous hydration of cement significantly affect concrete under ESA. The proposed model can forecast and assess the porosity of concrete covers and provide a credible approach for determining the residual life of concrete structures under ESA.
Fiber-reinforced polymers (FRPs) have received considerable research attention because of their high strength, corrosion resistance, and low weight. However, owing to the lack of ductility in this material and the quasi-brittle behavior of concrete, FRP-reinforced concrete (FRP-RC) beams, even with flexural failure, do not fail in a ductile manner. Because the limited deformation capacity of FRP-RC beams depends on the ductility of their compression zones, the present study proposes using a precast confined concrete block (PCCB) in the compression zone to improve the ductility of the beams. A control beam and four beams with different PCCBs were cast and tested under four-point bending conditions. The control beam failed due to shear, and the PCCBs exhibited different confinements and perforations. The goal was to find an appropriate PCCB for use in the compression zone of the beams, which not only improved the ductility but also changed the failure mode of the beams from shear to flexural. Among the employed blocks, a ductile PCCB with low equivalent compressive strength increased the ductility ratio of the beam to twice that of the control beam. The beam failed in pure flexure with considerable deformation capacity and without significant stiffness reduction.
A frequency error estimation is presented for the isogeometric free vibration analysis of Kirchhoff–Love cylindrical shells using both quadratic and cubic basis functions. By analyzing the discrete isogeometric equations with the aid of harmonic wave assumption, the frequency error measures are rationally derived for the quadratic and cubic formulations for Kirchhoff–Love cylindrical shells. In particular, the governing relationship of the continuum frequency for Kirchhoff–Love cylindrical shells is naturally embedded into the frequency error measures without the need of explicit frequency expressions, which usually are not trivial for the shell problems. In accordance with these theoretical findings, the 2nd and 4th orders of frequency accuracy are attained for the isogeometric schemes using quadratic and cubic basis functions, respectively. Numerical results not only thoroughly verify the theoretical convergence rates of frequency solutions, but also manifest an excellent magnitude match between numerical and theoretical frequency errors for the isogeometric free vibration analysis of Kirchhoff–Love cylindrical shells.
