Physical Modelling In Geotechnics Research Articles

Intrinsic permeabilities of transparent soil under various aqueous environmental conditions

This study investigates the intrinsic permeability of two water-based transparent soil surrogates (Aquabeads and hydrogel beads) in various aqueous environments. To maximise the efficiency of seepage tests for different solutes (salt and a surfactant) at different concentrations, a rapid approach was established to estimate the intrinsic permeabilities of these water-based granular polymers. Due to the geometric similarity of the pore structures formed by the packing of granular polymer beads of different sizes, the Kozeny–Carman permeability estimation can be directly applied to study the permeability (K), which primarily varies with the effective diameter (de). A systematic sieving analysis of these polymers was conducted to determine the values of both deand K. The experimental results showed that both parameters monotonically decrease with increasing solute concentration. The critical shrinkage concentrations for salt and the surfactant were identified as 5–7 ppt and 0·02% (mass/volume), respectively. This study represents the first contribution to providing a sound understanding of the intrinsic permeabilities of these surrogate soils when saturated with various solutions. This study contributes to the physical modelling in geotechnics when using those materials.

International Journal of Physical Modelling in Geotechnics: Referees 2019

<i>International Journal of Physical Modelling in Geotechnics</i>: Referees 2019

International Journal of Physical Modelling in Geotechnics: Referees 2018

<i>International Journal of Physical Modelling in Geotechnics</i>: Referees 2018

International Journal of Physical Modelling in Geotechnics: Referees 2017

International Journal of Physical Modelling in Geotechnics: Referees 2017

Physical Modelling of Geotechnical Structures in Ports and Offshore

Abstract The physical modelling of subsoil behaviour and soil-structure interaction is essential for the proper design of offshore structures and port infrastructure. A brief introduction to such modelling of geoengineering problems is presented and some methods and experimental devices are described. The relationships between modelling scales are given. Some examples of penetration testing results in centrifuge and calibration chamber are presented. Prospects for physical modelling in geotechnics are also described.

Session report: shallow and deep foundations

The session ‘Shallow and Deep Foundations’ of the 8th International Conference on Physical Modelling in Geotechnics 2014 featured a large variety of foundations for onshore and offshore structures with an emphasis on single piles. With a total number of 37 papers, the session was the largest of the conference. In the scope of the session report, the papers are classified into different categories, namely ‘Foundation types and structures’, ‘Modelling techniques’ and ‘Load level and load type’.

Session report: dams, embankments and slope stability

This session report discusses 13 papers that were presented at the 8th International Conference on Physical Modelling in Geotechnics 2014 in the session ‘Dams, Embankments and Slope Protection’. It concentrates on whether scaling is possible and what the consequences of scaling are in the various papers. Some tests do not really appear to be scaled model tests, because it is difficult to define a prototype that behaves as the model. However, such models can still be useful to study mechanisms that are relevant in prototype.

Session report: ground improvements, reinforcements and geohazards

This session report highlights the significant contributions of the papers of the session of the 8th International Conference on Physical Modelling in Geotechnics 2014 dedicated to ‘Ground improvements, reinforcements and geohazards’. The session report refers to all of the reviewed papers in order to provide a balanced overview of the entire technical session. It discusses the latest developments and current researches in the field of ground improvements, reinforcements and geohazard works; other references on the topics are also included.

Session report: similitude, scaling and education

The session on ‘Similitude, scaling and education’ at the 8th International Conference on Physical Modelling in Geotechnics 2014 contained papers covering history of centrifuge modelling, scaling and modelling issues as well as the use of centrifuge modelling in education. A recurrent issue in this session was how realistic should one be, or can one afford to be, in physical modelling.

Session report: offshore geotechnics at ICPMG 2014

This paper provides an overview of the contributions to offshore geotechnics at the 8th International Conference on Physical Modelling in Geotechnics 2014. The problems addressed in the conference contributions are a reflection on the focus of the offshore industry, which is expanding into new geographical regions and marketplaces. This expansion brings a fresh set of geotechnical challenges, including seabed stratification that presents risks for the installation of mobile jack-up platforms, strict serviceability criteria for the foundations of offshore wind turbines, complex loading on shallow foundations used to support seabed infrastructure and protecting offshore pipelines from ice gouging. These problems, as addressed in the conference proceedings and elsewhere in the literature, are discussed with notable contributions highlighted.

Catalogue of scaling laws and similitude questions in geotechnical centrifuge modelling

Some forty years ago, when geotechnical centrifuge modelling had been rediscovered and was being developed once more after the early work of Phillips (1869), only a few studies were devoted to the questions and concerns about scaling laws and similitude conditions. During the first decades, it was relatively easy for researchers to keep themselves informed about the main outcomes of these studies and to take them into account when designing new centrifuge model tests. This is obviously not true today following the welcome growth in terms of the large number of centrifuge facilities now in operation around the world. It is increasingly difficult, but yet absolutely essential, to know about the relevant developments concerning studies into the scaling laws and, furthermore, into the limits of the domains of the use of centrifuge modelling. On the other hand, new media offers a significant opportunity to provide this resource to the physical modelling community. New topics are investigated by many researchers as they become more inventive in the ways in which geotechnical centrifuge modelling is applied to solve pressing problems within geotechnical engineering, and across other disciplines too. Innovative work presenting comparisons between centrifuge model tests and true scale tests are providing original data on the validity of the scaling factors. During the TC2 meeting at St John’s (Canada) in July 2002, the first author, J. Garnier (LCPC), suggested making an inventory of the scaling laws and similitude questions relating to centrifuge modelling. The aim of this catalogue is to present the questions already solved (with inclusion of the references of the papers where the results have been presented) and the unsolved problems (on which research should continue). The first draft of this catalogue is now available and it is hoped that it will become a useful tool for scientists and researchers involved in centrifuge modelling. Of course, this catalogue will be regularly updated, every four years during the International Conferences on Physical Modelling in Geotechnics. The latest version of the catalogue is available on the TC2 website ( www.tc2.civil.uwa.edu.au ).