S. P. Gopal Madabhushi

Centrifuge Modeling of Seismic Loading on Tunnels in Sand

The purpose of the work is to provide an experimental benchmark on the seismic behavior of tunnels, with the final aim of calibrating numerical and analytical design methods. A series of plane-strain centrifuge tests with dynamic loading on a model tunnel was, therefore, carried out at the Schofield Centre of the Cambridge University Engineering Department (CUED). Four samples of dry uniform fine sand were prepared at two different densities, in which an aluminum-alloy tube was installed at two different depths. The tube was instrumented with strain gauges to measure hoop forces and bending moments at significant locations. To monitor the amplification of ground motion from the base to the surface, vertical arrays of accelerometers were placed in the soil model and along the box. The instrumentation also included linear variable differential transformers (LVDTs) that measured the soil surface settlement during all test phases. The test procedure and the results are described in this paper, showing the evolution of both accelerations and internal forces along the tunnel lining during the model earthquakes.

Effect of depth on seismic response of circular tunnels

Tunnels in seismically active areas are vulnerable to adverse effects of earthquake loading. Recent seismic events have shown that there is a need to validate current design methods to better understand the deformation mechanisms associated with the dynamic behaviour of tunnels. The research described in this paper consists of physical and numerical modelling of circular tunnels with dynamic centrifuge experiments and complementary finite element simulations. The aim is to develop an understanding of the effects of tunnel depth on the seismic behaviour of tunnels. Tunnels with different depth-to-diameter ratios were tested in dry, loose silica sand. Accelerations around the tunnel and earth pressures on the lining were measured. A high-speed digital camera was used to record soil and lining deformations. Particle image velocimetry analyses were carried out on the recorded images to measure the deformations. Complementary dynamic finite element simulations were also conducted with a code capable of managin...

Centrifuge Modeling of Solid Waste Landfill Systems—Part 2: Centrifuge Testing of Model Waste

This paper presents the use of the model waste developed in the companion paper, “Centrifuge modeling of solid waste landfill systems—Part 1: Development of a model municipal solid waste,” in centrifuge testing. Two centrifuge tests were performed using the model waste to understand the static and dynamic behavior of municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills. First centrifuge test demonstrates the use of model waste to study the settlement profile in a landfill. In the second centrifuge test model earthquake loadings were applied to the model waste to investigate its dynamic behavior. The results were used to obtain shear modulus reduction and damping curves of the model waste. These curves were shown to match with those reported for MSW validating the use of model waste to study the seismic behavior of MSW landfills.

Centrifuge modeling of solid waste landfill systems—part 1: development of a model municipal solid waste

This paper presents the development of a model waste that has physical properties similar to those reported by investigators for municipal solid waste (MSW). The model waste was developed using a mixture of peat, E-grade kaolin clay and fraction-E fine sand. Unit weight, compressibility, and shear strength characteristics of the model waste were experimentally determined and shown to match well with those reported for MSW.

Centrifuge modelling of the seismic performance of soft buried barriers

The paper presents the results of an experimental work carried out in a geotechnical centrifuge at the Schofield Centre of Cambridge University. Two reduced scale models of soft barriers in a sand layer underwent a series of ground shaking. In the first model a thin horizontal layer made of latex balloons filled with a cross-linked gel was created at about mid-height of the sand layer. In the second, the same balloons were deployed to form a V-shaped barrier aimed at isolating a relatively shallow volume of sand. The aim of the study was to get experimental evidence of the capability of such soft barriers to isolate a volume of soil thus reducing amplification of ground motion during severe seismic events. The experimental results were compared with FE numerical analyses of the same models, carried out also in free field to have a benchmark condition. By validating the FE modelling via the comparison with the experimental results, a robust model has been built, aimed at being used for carrying out a wider parametric numerical testing. The experimental results confirm the effectiveness of such soft barriers to reduce amplification in the isolated volumes during seismic events.

Geographically distributed hybrid testing & collaboration between geotechnical centrifuge and structures laboratories

Distributed Hybrid Testing (DHT) is an experimental technique designed to capitalise on advances in modern networking infrastructure to overcome traditional laboratory capacity limitations. By coupling the heterogeneous test apparatus and computational resources of geographically distributed laboratories, DHT provides the means to take on complex, multi-disciplinary challenges with new forms of communication and collaboration. To introduce the opportunity and practicability afforded by DHT, here an exemplar multi-site test is addressed in which a dedicated fibre network and suite of custom software is used to connect the geotechnical centrifuge at the University of Cambridge with a variety of structural dynamics loading apparatus at the University of Oxford and the University of Bristol. While centrifuge time-scaling prevents real-time rates of loading in this test, such experiments may be used to gain valuable insights into physical phenomena, test procedure and accuracy. These and other related experiments have led to the development of the real-time DHT technique and the creation of a flexible framework that aims to facilitate future distributed tests within the UK and beyond. As a further example, a real-time DHT experiment between structural labs using this framework for testing across the Internet is also presented.