Circular Pits Research Articles

Influence of Excavation Radius on Behavior of Circular Foundation Pits Supported by Prefabricated Recyclable Structures: Full-Scale Experimental and Numerical Analysis

A foundation pit’s excavation area, which is determined by its radius in a circular foundation pit, exerts a considerable influence on the pit’s behavior. Using a full-scale experiment on a circular foundation pit retained by a prefabricated recyclable supporting structure (PRSS), this study develops a series of axisymmetric numerical models to systematically investigate the influence of excavation radius on the pit’s deformation, stress, and stability. Furthermore, simulation results from axisymmetric models are compared with those from plane strain models to illustrate the influence mechanism. The results show that at a given excavation depth, the deflection and bending moments of the supporting piles, the earth pressure on the non-excavation side, and ground surface settlement increase with the enlarged excavation radius, but the increase rate progressively decreases. However, the foundation pit’s safety factor decreases with an increasing excavation radius and gradually stabilizes. When the excavation radius exceeds 50 m, its influence on the foundation pit’s behavior significantly diminishes. The axisymmetric model results closely approximate those from the plane strain models, suggesting that the spatial arching effects of the circular foundation pit can be disregarded.

Neoichnology of Rhinella dorbignyi (Bufonidae) burrows: improving the recognition and interpretation of toad burrows

A neoichnological characterization of toad burrows from organic-rich soils is presented in order to establish key ichnological signatures for their recognition in the geological record. Dorbigny’s Toad (Rhinella dorbignyi) produces J-shaped burrows with a single elliptical opening resembling the ichnogenus Macanopsis. The burrow varies from 15 to 20 cm in length and has a constant diameter along the shaft, enlarged in the chamber. The shaft is elliptical with a diameter of 2.5-3.0 cm in the major axis and 1.0–1.5 cm in the minor axis. The chamber is semicircular, with a distinct floor, and an average diameter of 5 cm in the major axis. A thick (3–5 mm), compacted, smooth, and uniform inorganic lining made of soil covers the burrow throughout its length. Surficial features, such as horizontal and vertical millimeter-scale striations and ridges, occur in the burrow surface and are produced by keratinized granules and spikes on the skin of R. dorbignyi. Those surficial features are generated during the toad’s movements inside the burrow as well as anchoring during ambush predation behavior. The main distinct features observed on the burrow surface are well-developed circular pit impressions produced by the keratinized tubercles present in the toad’s ankles during climbing activity. These characteristics encompass useful ichnotaxobases for recognition and distinguishing toad burrows from J-shaped, Macanopsis-like burrows produced by other soil-dwelling animals. The burrow architecture of R. dorbignyi suggests that J-shaped burrows are efficient structures for ambush predatory behavior in terrestrial ecosystems, as observed in spiders and scorpions.

Discrimination of dislocation in highly doped n-type 4H–SiC by combining electrochemical reaction and molten alkali etching

This work proposes an effective etching method for highly doped n-type 4H–SiC by combining electrochemical reactions and molten alkali etching. By employing our developed method, threading mixed dislocation (TMDs) and threading screw dislocations (TSDs) can be distinctly visualized as hexagonal etching pits of varying sizes. The slightly smaller threading edge dislocations (TEDs) appear as roughly circular etching pits, while basal plane dislocations (BPDs) are revealed as characteristic seashell-shaped pits. Additionally, we provide a reaction equation that elucidates the mechanism of the electrochemical etching process, thus sparking a new investigation into the discrimination of dislocations under molten alkali conditions. By applying a positive voltage to the wafer, we ensure a continuous supply of holes crucial for the reaction, thereby maintaining both the etching rate and the selectivity towards defects. This approach not only enhances the efficiency of the etching process but also provides a more accurate and reliable method for characterizing and understanding the dislocation properties of highly doped n-type 4H–SiC wafers.

Study on the mixed lubrication of rough planar extrusion considering surface texture

Surface texture plays a crucial role in fluid dynamic lubrication. The non-Newtonian thermal elastohydrodynamic lubrication problem involving rough surfaces with texture has not been investigated to date. In this paper, a model for non-Newtonian thermal elastohydrodynamic lubrication incorporating rough surfaces and texture morphology is developed, focusing on the problem of mixed lubrication in planar extrusion with texture. The model builds upon the Reynolds equation with flow factor introduced. It considers the effects of rough surface texture, thermal effects, and non-Newtonian effects. The Reynolds equation is numerically solved using the Semi-System method to calculate the oil film pressure in full film region and contact pressure in dry contact area. The DC-FFT algorithm is employed to calculate surface elastic deformation. Comparing the calculated friction coefficient of the present model with the measured values in literature experiments, the average error is only 6.94%. Furthermore, the study investigates the effects of texture, temperature, and non-Newtonian on interfacial lubrication performance under mixed lubrication conditions. It’s found that compared to untextured surface, the average film thickness of textured surface increased by a maximum of 10.8%, and the friction coefficient decreased by a maximum of 67.4%; Compared to Newtonian fluids, shear thinning fluids reduce temperature by 0.18%, and shear thickening fluids are more conducive to improving mixed lubrication performance. A stepped pit texture is designed based on the dynamic pressure mechanism of the texture, indicating that the circular stepped pit texture has the best load-bearing capacity improvement.

A Sarmatian necropolis discovered in the Răut river basin (Republic of Mol¬dova), through non-invasive research

Field research with non-invasive methods completes the database of archaeological sites in the Prut-Dniester interfluve. is also the case of a new discovery made in the Răut river basin, near the locality of Cașunca (Florești district), where as a result of magnetometric prospecting of a series of tumuli a flat necropolis from the Sarmatian period was discovered. The necropolis contains 23 square ritual structures and 63 circular and oval grave pits. It is worth mentioning that such works have never been done before in the Răut river basin and the new discovery completes the database with information on the presence of Sarmatian communities in the North Pontic region.

Mallomonas uralensis sp. nov. (Chrysophyceae, Synurales), a new species of the genus Mallomonas from the section Torquatae

This paper describes a new species of Mallomonas, discovered in small ephemeral waterbodies of Southern Urals (Russia). The species description is based on scale morphology studied using scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Mallomonas uralensis sp. nov. belongs in section Torquatae and is most similar to representatives of the series Mangoferae. The main distinctive features of the new species are papillae and small circular pits located on the surface of the shield; a raised, wide anterior submarginal rib, covered with several parallel rows of minute papillae and surrounded on the outer and inner sides by rows of depressions; narrow anterior flanges bearing one row of minute papillae; and the presence of spines on the most of the body scales.

Friction-Wear and Noise Characteristics of Friction Disks with Circular Texture.

The reduction of friction-induced noise is a crucial research area for enhancing vehicle comfort, and this paper proposes a method based on circular pit texture to achieve this goal. We conducted a long-term sliding friction test using a pin-on-disc friction and a wear test bench to verify the validity of this method. To compare the friction noise of different surfaces, texture units with varying line densities were machined on the surface of friction disk samples. The resulting friction-wear and noise characteristics of the samples were analyzed in conjunction with the microscopic morphology of the worn surfaces. The results indicate that surfaces with textures can delay the onset of squeal noise, and the pattern of its development differs from that of smooth surfaces. The noise reduction effect is most evident due to the proper distribution of textures that can form furrow-like wear marks at the wear interface. The finite element results demonstrate that this morphology can improve pressure distribution at the leading point and reduce the tendency of system instability.

Study on the Wettability and Abrasion Resistance of Ultrafast-Laser-Textured Ti Surface

Titanium (Ti) materials are highly valued in the medical field for their outstanding biocompatibility and corrosion resistance. However, challenges such as suboptimal wettability and wear resistance can impact the tribological properties of titanium implants, potentially leading to implant failure. This study explores the application of ultrafast pulsed laser processing to create two distinct structures, circular pits and grooves, on the surface of titanium materials. The samples underwent low-surface-energy treatment, after which the wettability and wear resistance of the textured surfaces were evaluated. The findings indicate that the textured surfaces exhibit improved hydrophobic properties and reduced surface wear. Specifically, the textured surfaces demonstrated a remarkable 73.68% reduction in wear compared to the untextured surfaces. These results underscore the potential of etching textured structures onto titanium surfaces to enhance their wear resistance, thereby offering promising implications for the improvement of titanium implant performance.

Effect of microtexture morphology on the tribological properties of PI/EP-PTFE-WS2 coating under starved oil and dry sliding wear

The limited wear resistance of aluminum alloys constrained their applications and longevity. Surface microtexture combined with polymer coating technology can prolong the service life of aluminum alloy materials under extreme conditions of aerospace. A370 aluminum specimens were textured with three types of microtexture surfaces including circular pits, rectangular grooves and cross grids. A PI/EP-PTFE/WS2 coating was designed and prepared on the surfaces of these textures by liquid spraying to improve the tribological properties of A370 aluminum under starved oil and dry sliding wear. The influences of different micro-texture morphology on the tribological performances of these coatings were experimented. The results indicated that the surface qualities of the micro-textures are improved by coating deposition on their surfaces. The friction coefficients of the coated surfaces on all micro-texture are effectively reduced under the relatively stable wear stage compared to the sample without micro-texture coating. The coating on the pitted texture exhibits superior performance in friction tests, reducing average coefficients and wear rate by 13.58% and 35.34% in dry sliding wear, and by 16.18% and 83.98% under the starved oil lubrication compared to the non-textured substrate, respectively. This is followed by the coating on cross-mesh texture and the rectangular groove texture. The reason is that the pitted texture facilitates the local stress release of coating during the process of coating deposition due to its smaller spacing between pits and higher density of pits per unit area. The bearing capacity of the pitted texture is highest and its deformation is the lowest. The wear debris created in the friction process is more easily accumulated in the pit units, which results in a reduction in wear.

Unraveling the effect of Al2O3-MnS complex inclusion on the pitting corrosion behavior of dual phase steel

Pitting corrosion behavior of dual phase steel triggered by Al2O3-MnS complex inclusion in NaCl solution was investigated. Results indicated that neither micro-defects nor strain fields existed around the insulating Al2O3-MnS inclusion, but an open circular pit was immediately initiated around the inclusion and grew in diameter approaching 200 μm in several minutes. The preferential dissolution of unstable MnS part created local acidic electrolytes promoting the dissolution of Al2O3 part and adjacent matrix. The radial diffusion and hydrolysis of Al3+ acidified the pit solution, resulting in the propagation of circular pit. Finally, the pitting propagation decelerated with the depletion of inclusion.

Prediction model of loess immersion settlement based on improved K-G model

Loess is a problematic type of soil with a worldwide distribution due to its collapsibility. The temporal discontinuity and spatial nonuniformity of its collapsibility can bring severe damage to building foundations, roads and water pipelines. In this study, the relationship between the saturation and K-G model parameters is established based on indoor compression tests and collapsible tests; the deformation characteristics of loess immersed in water are studied via a large-scale trial immersion pit test. The test site is a circular pit with a diameter of 10 m. The loess is immersed for 46 days; the variation in its accumulated settlement over time is recorded for 60 days, and its deformation process is simulated using a self-designed programme. Results show that for the stress–strain relationship of unsaturated loess, the relationship between equivalent suction and saturation can be obtained through the principle of deformation equivalence and fitted using the exponential function. The maximum vertical displacements calculated in the simulation and on-site immersion pit experiment are 0.036 m and 0.032 m, respectively. Such relatively good consistency indicates that the proposed method can reasonably predict the collapse behaviour of loess due to immersion. This research provides a reliable method for the numerical simulation of loess immersion deformation, and the parameters in the model only need to be determined by conventional experiments.

Can the seismic wave attenuation characteristics of various soils be identified using distributed acoustic sensing?

Seismic waves exhibit distinct attenuation characteristics that are contingent upon the medium they traverse. The attenuation characteristics can be employed to monitor engineering activities, such as detecting gas pipeline leaks and third-party intrusions, by the utilization of Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) technology. This study aims to explore the feasibility of identifying the seismic wave attenuation characteristics of different soils using DAS. A circular experimental pit with a diameter of 1 m was designed to measure the responses of various soils. Seismic waves were recorded while propagating through sand and clay under different overlying pressure conditions, encompassing both dry and wet states. The waveform data, collected at various distance from the point of excitation, were analyzed using Power Spectral Density (PSD), Continuous Wavelet Transform (CWT), and quality factor analysis. The energy attenuation amplitude of seismic waves shows an opposite pattern in sand and clay as water content increased. By utilizing the seismic wave attenuation characteristics, it is possible to issue timely warnings for identifying third-party intrusions around urban underground tunnels and pipelines to mitigate potential damage to underground infrastructure.

Characterization and chronology of charcoal found in the volcanic ashfall that impacted a late Valdivia community in coastal Ecuador

Several samples of fossilized wood (charcoal) were collected in the Papayita archaeological site, in coastal Ecuador. This carbonized material was encountered inside a layer of volcanic ash that sealed the site. The ash-sized tephra was produced by a sub-Plinian eruption from the Guagua Pichincha volcano contemporaneous with the late Valdivia phases during the Formative Period. Each of the samples was sectioned into 10 to 15 subsamples and examined under a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), producing high-resolution images with a large depth of field where the anatomical structures and their geochemical composition were vividly discernible. Each sample corresponds to organic matter of vegetable origin, that is, carbonized wood in the form of small rocks, whose appearance is that of carbonized woody tree trunks and or branches. We were able to observe vascular structures, specifically bundles of xylem. It was possible to conclude that these tracheids underwent a physicochemical transformation typical of petrification processes, leaving the molds intact. This allowed us to determine structural elements that support the identification of the group of plants to which these samples belong, through the methodology of comparison of the anatomical components of current species. The fossilized wood structures are three-dimensional and present characteristics that correspond to the group of higher plants, Gymnosperms, of the Podocarpaceae group. Among them, quadrangular tracheids, circular hole-shaped pits in the vascular system, and absent resin canals stand out. Central to the analysis is the presence of transverse parenchyma, which can be ascertained to correspond to vegetation from climates that are temperate or cold.

Analytical Solution for the Steady Seepage Field of an Anchor Circular Pit in Layered Soil

An analytical study was carried out on an anchored circular pit with a submerged free surface in layered soil. The seepage field around the anchor circular pit was divided into three zones. Separate variable method was used to obtain the graded solution forms of head distribution in the column coordinate system for each of the three regions. Combined with the continuity condition between the regions the Bessel function orthogonality was used to obtain the explicit analytical solution of the seepage field in each region, and the infiltration line was determined. Comparison with the calculation results of Plaxis 2D 8.5 software verified the correctness of the analytical solution. Based on the analytical solution, the influence of the radius of the pit and the distance of the retaining wall from the top surface of the impermeable layer on the total head distribution on both sides of the retaining wall was analyzed. And the variation in the infiltration line was determined with the above parameters. The results show that as the pit radius, r, decreased, the total head on both sides of the retaining wall gradually increased, and the height of the submerged surface drop also increased. As the distance, a, between the retaining wall and the impermeable boundary at the bottom increased, the hydraulic head on the outer side of the retaining wall decreased and the head on the inner side increased. The height of the submerged surface drop increased with decreasing depth of insertion of the retaining wall. The depth of insertion of the retaining wall had a greater influence on the degree of diving surface drop than the pit radius.

Analytical Solutions of Water Inflow for Foundation Pit in Confined Water Stratum

This paper is aimed at the problem of inaccurate calculation of the water inflow of a foundation pit with a suspended water-proof curtain in a confined water stratum. According to the groundwater hydraulics principle, the theoretical model of the seepage field of the foundation pit is established, and the analytical formula of the water inflow for the circular, strip, and rectangular foundation pits is deduced. The seepage path influence coefficient α related to the water-proof curtain insertion ratio, the thickness of the confined aquifer, and the radius of the foundation pit is proposed and obtained by the positive and negative analysis of numerical simulation. The coefficient is used to correct the equivalent seepage length in the pit and directly affect the calculation result of water inflow. Finally, based on the calculation results of the analytical solution of water inflow, the relationship between the scale of the foundation pit and the water control effect is discussed. The research results show that the theoretical analysis results in this paper are in good agreement with the numerical results and the measured data in the field: when the size of the foundation pit is too large, it is not suitable to use the suspended water-proof curtain as the water control measure.

Quantitative examination of the anatomy of the juvenile sugar maple xylem.

New methodologies have enabled viable sap yields from juvenile sugar maple trees. To further improve yields, a better understanding of sap exudation is required. To achieve this, the anatomy of the xylem must first be fully characterised. We examine juvenile maple saplings using light optical microscopy (LOM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), looking at sections cut along differing orientations as well as macerations. From this we measure various cell parameters. We find diameter and length of vessel elements to be 28 ± 8 μm and 200 ± 50 μm, for fibre cells 8 ± 3 μm and 400 ± 100 μm, and for ray parenchyma cells 8 ± 2 μm and 50 ± 20 μm. We also examine pitting present on different cell types. On vessel elements we observe elliptical bordered pits connecting to other vessel elements (with major axis of 2.1 ± 0.7 μm and minor 1.3 ± 0.3 μm) and pits connecting to ray parenchyma (with major axis of 4 ± 2 μm and minor 2.0 ± 0.7 μm). We observe two distinct pit sizes on fibres with circular pits 0.7 ± 0.2 μm in diameter and ellipsoidal pits 1.6 ± 0.4 μm by 1.0 ± 0.3 μm. We do not observe distinct pitting patterns on different fibre types. The various cell and pit measurements obtained generally agree with the limited data available for mature trees, with the exception of vessel element and fibre length, both of which were significantly smaller than reported values.

Failure analysis of convection section tube in an ethylene cracking furnace due to metal dusting

To study the failure in the convection section tubes of an ethylene cracking furnace, macroscopic inspections, chemical composition analysis, metallographic microscopy, hardness testing, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) analysis are performed. The experiments confirmed the reason for metal dusting occurrence of 304H austenitic stainless steel that the inner wall Cr2O3 protective film was destroyed by overheating. There were dense circular corrosion pits on the fire side inside the furnace tubes, loose metal oxides and carbide particles were filled in the corrosive pits. Severe carburization occurred on the surface of the pits, the furnace tube experienced metal dusting. The metal dusting resulted in the decomposition of the surface layer of the metal alloy into metal particles and graphite to thin the wall thickness. Then the furnace tube cracked because of the stress concentration appeared in the furnace tube with reduced wall thickness. Finally, some suggestions and countermeasures on the failure of metal dusting of the furnace tube were proposed.

Quasi-In Situ Localized Corrosion of an Additively Manufactured FeCo Alloy in 5 Wt Pct NaCl Solution

FeCo alloys are important materials used in pumps and motors in the offshore oil and gas drilling industry. These alloys are subjected to marine environments with a high NaCl concentration, therefore, corrosion and catastrophic failure are anticipated. So, the surface dissolution of additively manufactured FeCo samples is investigated in a quasi-in situ manner, in particular, the pitting corrosion in 5.0 wt pct NaCl solution. The local dissolution of the same sample region is monitored after 24, 72, and 168 hours. Here, the formation of rectangular and circular pits of ultra-fine dimensions (less than 0.5 µm) is observed with increasing immersion time. In addition, the formation of a corrosion-inhibiting surface layer is detected on the sample surface. Surface dissolution leads to a change in the surface structure, however, no change in grain shape or grain size is noticed. The surface topography after local dissolution is correlated to the grain orientation. Quasi-in situ analysis shows the preferential dissolution of high-angle grain boundaries (HAGBs) leading to a change in the fraction of HAGBs and low-angle grain boundaries fraction (LAGBs). For the FeCo sample, a potentiodynamic polarisation test reveals a corrosion potential (Ecorr) of − 0.475 V referred to the standard hydrogen electrode (SHE) and a corrosion exchange current density (icorr) of 0.0848 A/m2. Furthermore, quasi-in situ experiments showed that grains oriented along certain crystallographic directions are corroding more compared to other grains leading to a significant decrease in the local surface height. Grains with a plane normal close to the langle {1}00rangle direction reveal lower surface dissolution and higher corrosion resistance, whereas planes normal close to the langle {11}0rangle direction and the langle {111}rangle direction exhibit a higher surface dissolution.

Effect of the surface peak-valley features on droplet splash dynamics

In this study, we fabricated two types of functional surfaces with the same roughness (Sa) but entirely opposite surface morphological features, which are defined as the positively skewed surface filled with protruding cylinder array (Ssk > 0) and the negatively skewed surface filled with circular pit array (Ssk < 0). The effect of surface morphology peak-valley features on droplet splash is analyzed, and the formation mechanism of the prompt splash and corona splash is also indicated based on the Kelvin–Helmholtz instability. Our results demonstrate that, under the same roughness conditions of Sa, the interaction between the liquid lamellae and the thin air layer is much stronger on the negatively skewed surface, which would inhibit droplet spreading and promote the generation of droplet splash. Increasing the depth of microstructures, resulting in more pronounced peak-valley features, has been found to facilitate both prompt and corona splash phenomena to some extent. Additionally, it is found that the ease of splash formation on each surface is related to the initial spreading speed variation, with the degree of reduction in the initial spreading speed indirectly reflecting the instability of the liquid lamellae. The findings from our study contribute to the development of advanced surface engineering strategies for controlling droplet splash and enhancing the performance of various industrial applications.

Supersized Potholes Discovered off South African Coast

Curious circular pits off South Africa’s Eastern Cape coast are larger than any similar feature previously recorded. Their origin remains a morphological mystery.