Search results for "Geotechnical engineering"

Hydraulic jumps at drop and abrupt enlargement in rectangular channel

2002

The different types of hydraulic jumps that occur in a rectangular channel at an abrupt increase in section are experimentally studied. The abrupt section increase is due to both a drop and an increase in the channel width. Experiments were carried out with three different values of the ratio L/l between the channel widths respectively downstream and upstream of the abrupt section increase. For each L/l value five values of Froude number F1, of the supercritical flow upstream of the section increase were considered, and for each of them live values of the depth y1 of the same flow. The experiments showed that, as the depth y2 of the downstream subcritical flow increases, several types of hy…

Cohesive–frictional interface constitutive model

2009

AbstractIn the framework of numerical analysis of joined bodies, the present paper is devoted to the constitutive modeling, via an interface kinematic formulation, of mechanical behaviour of internal adhesive layers. The proposed interface constitutive model couples a cohesive behaviour, based on the damage mechanics theory, with a frictional one, defined in a non-associative plasticity framework. Namely, the interface formulation follows the transition of the adhesive material from the sound elastic condition to the fully cracked one. This formulation is able to model, by means of a specific interpretation of the damage variable and in a relevant mathematical setting, the interface interme…

Fundamental characterisation of reclaimed asphalts: The importance of testing homogeneous specimens

2013

This study highlights the importance of defining appropriate specimen manufacturing procedures when assessing the fundamental properties of reclaimed asphalt (RA) mixes for further modelling purposes. Two gyratory compactor procedures were used: the first leading to specimens with a non-uniform air voids distribution and the second tailored to obtain homogeneous specimens. The study was performed by using three stone mastic asphalts incorporating up to 30% of RA but designed to have identical properties. A detailed characterisation of the loose mixes and binders, an X-ray computer tomography micro-structural study of the manufactured specimens and a further mechanical characterisation showe…

LABORATORY INSTRUMENTATION TO STUDY CHANGES OF ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY OF ROCKS WITH CHANGES OF FREQUENCY, TEMPERATURE AND PRESSURE*

1983

A laboratory instrument was developed to investigate the electrical properties of rock samples with respect to changes of frequency, temperature and pressure. The instrument can be used to obtain general trends and typical values for geological media. It should be of particular interest in geothermal studies and research in the geophysical properties of rocks. The design intervals for quantities under investigation were 20–300°C, 10 5 -4 × 10 7 Pa and 5 × 10 −4 -10 3 Hz. Certain limitations exist on the simultaneous use of the highest values of temperature and pressure. The main features of the instrument are: analog electrical outputs recorded by an x-y recorder or observed on a scope with…

A cohesive interface model for the structural mechanics of block masonry

1997

Some comments on the paper “Microplane constitutive model and metal plasticity” (Brocca M and Bazˇant ZP, 2000, Appl Mech Rev53(10) 265–281)

2002

Mechanical characterization of dry asphalt rubber concrete for base layers by means of the four bending points tests

2012

The mechanical characterisation of the asphalt concrete in terms of both the fatigue resistance and the stiffness modulus is necessary to use any design method of the flexible road pavements. Even more the determination of these mechanical properties is necessary if the asphalt concrete investigated is an innovative material as a dry asphalt rubber concrete DARC (i.e. a bituminous mixture with rubber via dry process). Such material is less known and investigated than the asphalt rubber concrete via wet process, even if its application implies peculiar economical and environmental advantages such as no specialized equipment or significant plant modifications and large quantity of recycled wa…

On the Improved Current Pulse method for the thermal diffusive characterization of lithiated ceramic pebble beds

2012

Abstract Packed pebble beds are granular systems composed of small particles generally arranged in irregular lattices and surrounded by a gas filling their interstitial spaces. They show non-linear and coupled thermal and mechanical behaviours, which are under theoretical and experimental investigation to set-up a realistic constitutive model to be adopted for design-oriented purposes. At the Department of Nuclear Engineering (DIN) of the University of Palermo a realistic constitutive model of fusion-relevant pebble beds thermo-mechanical behaviour was developed adopting a “continuous” approach, based on the assumption that a pebble bed could be considered as a continuous, homogeneous and i…

The Shielding Effect of Drilling Fluids on Measurement While Drilling Tool Downhole Compasses—The Effect of Drilling Fluid Composition, Contaminants,…

2016

Materials such as added clays, weight materials, drill solids, and metallic wear products in the drilling fluid are known to distort the geomagnetic field at the location of the measurement while drilling (MWD) tool magnetometers that are used to measure the direction of well path. This distortion contributes to substantial errors in determination of azimuth while drilling deviated wells. These errors may result in missing the target of a long deviated 12 ¼ in. section in the range of 1–200 m, representing a significant cost to be mitigated. The error becomes even more pronounced if drilling occurs in arctic regions close to the magnetic north pole (or south pole). The effect on the magneto…

Coupled hydro-mechanical analysis of compacted bentonite behaviour during hydration

2021

Abstract This study analyses the response of compacted bentonites upon hydration based on a coupled hydro-mechanical elasto-plastic framework. As an alternative to multi-porosity interpretation, the framework was selected based on the experimental evidence of adsorbed water behaviour in bentonites and the volumetric response at saturated states, apparently independent of its initial state. Based on these premises, a water retention model was formulated using an explicit distinction between adsorbed water and free water, enabling the postulation of the water properties and behaviour depending on its state. In order to effectively account for the transition between unsaturated to saturated st…