Numerical Simulation and Analysis of Centrifuge Model Tests with Nonhomogeneous Materials in Geotechnical Engineering

Abstract

The primary methods are antetype observation and model tests which to check the actual engineering status in geotechnical engineering field. The antetype observation is the best direct and convictive method, but approach miscellaneous and spend hugely. The general model tests can not fulfil the same stress between model and antetype. Geotechnical centrifuge model test can not only minish the measure of model and fulfil the comparability condition, but also can found all kinds of non-symmetrical models and simulation all kinds of complicated engineering. So the geotechnical centrifuge model test is applied widely in the geotechnical engineering. This paper used the RFPA-Centrifuge and recured to the principle of geotechnical centrifuge model test, evaluated the safety of model only by increase the physical strength. Though the numerical calculating in nonhomogeneous models with different scales showed that stress, displacement and failure mode were accord with conform ratio of centrifuge model tests. Showed the advantage that the results of RFPA can be validated each other with results of physical tests. For some specifical complicated items in geotechnical engineering, make a good test model is not only very hard and have to spend much time, but also need expensive test equipment and much money for test materials. It is very good if we can use a method to conquer these shortages. So it is advisable that using the mechod which geotechnical centrifuge tests combine RFPA-Centrifuge numerical simulation analysis method.