Slab Deformation Research Articles

Dynamic response of air-backed prestressed reinforced concrete slab subjected to underwater explosion

With the development of structural design towards large size, long span and light mass, the application of prestressed concrete is becoming more and more widespread. The investigations on the resilience of prestressed reinforced concrete structures under aerial explosion loads have been conducted. However, the insight into the failure mechanism of prestressed concrete under underwater explosions (UWEs) is scarce. Based on the Arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian (ALE) algorithm, a coupling model is developed to investigate the resilience of air-backed prestressed reinforced concrete (A-PSRC) slabs against UWEs. The reliability of the numerical method is verified by the experimental results. Based on the validated numerical model, the propagation process of the explosion wave, damage development of the A-PSRC slab, and strain time histories of the reinforcement are investigated in detail. In addition, a thoroughly parametric analysis is conducted to investigate the effects of prestress magnitude, explosive weight, standoff distance, and prestressed tendon ratio on the blast resistance of the A-PSRC slab. Besides, the prediction formulas for the peak displacement and damage area of the given A-PSRC slab are proposed. The findings indicate that as the prestress increases, the damage region and peak displacement of the slab diminish gradually. In comparison to a normal slab, the damage area and peak displacement of A-PSRC slab with 1300 MPa prestress reduce by 41 % and 20 %, respectively. The failure modes of the A-PSRC slab under UWEs are closely linked to the charge weight and standoff distance, which can be summarized into three categories: local damage, combination of local damage and bending failure, and bending failure. Increasing the prestressed tendon ratio can significantly mitigate the deformation and spall of the A-PSRC slab.

Four-parameter punching theory for reinforced concrete flat slabs without transverse reinforcement

Despite extensive scientific research, the underlying physical principles in theoretical models for understanding punching behavior remain a concern. In this paper, a four-parameter punching theory for reinforced concrete flat slabs without transverse reinforcement has been introduced and validated. The kinematic behavior of the slab was characterized by three key parameters, i.e., critical shear crack inclination, slab rotation, and slab translation. Four distinct shear transfer effects from aggregate interlocking, concrete residual tensile stress, reinforcement dowel action, and the shear-compression ring, were considered and quantified using a novel algorithm based on these three parameters, and the fourth parameter, i.e., the direction of the minimum principal stress within the shear-compression ring. The punching capacity was subsequently determined by summing the contributions from these effects. This model was evaluated through extensive comparisons with experimental data, demonstrating that it accurately captures the influence of various parameters. Across the collected 260 test data, the average ratio of experimental to predicted punching capacity was 1.01, with a coefficient of variance of 0.11 and a coefficient of determination of 0.97. The average ratio, coefficient of variation, and coefficient of determination improved by 8 %, 21 %, and 1 %, compared to the optimal results from other design and theoretical models. The developed model can also assess all shear contributions, slab deformation, and critical shear crack inclination. It is ultimately confirmed that the proposed model can elucidate the physical phenomena and underlying mechanisms involved in punching behavior. Slab deformation primarily arises from flexural deformation, whereas shear forces are predominantly transmitted through the shear-compression ring. Punching failure is attributed to the failure of the shear-compression ring under tension-compression-compression triaxial stress.

Dynamic response of pile–slab retaining wall structure under rockfall impact

Abstract. Pile–slab retaining walls, as innovative rockfall protection structures, have been extensively utilized in the western mountainous regions of China. With their characteristics of a small footprint, high interception height, and ease of construction, these structures demonstrate promising potential for application in mountainous regions worldwide, such as the Himalayas, Andes, and Alps. However, their dynamic response upon impact and impact resistance energy remain ambiguous due to the intricate composite nature of the structures. To elucidate this, an exhaustive dynamic analysis of a four-span pile–slab retaining wall with a cantilever section of 6 m under various impact scenarios was conducted utilizing the finite-element numerical simulation method. The rationality of the selected material constitutive models and the numerical algorithm was validated by reproducing two physical model tests. The simulation results reveal the following. (1) The lateral displacement of the pile at the ground surface and the concrete damage under the pile at the impact center are greater than those under the slab at the impact center, implying that the impact location has a significant influence on the stability of the structure. (2) There is a positive correlation between the response indexes (impact force, interaction force, lateral deformation of pile and slab, concrete damage) and the impact velocities. (3) The rockfall peak impact force, the ratio of the peak impact force to the peak interaction force, and lateral displacement of the pile at the ground surface had strong linear relationships with rockfall energy. (4) Relative to the bending moment, shear force, and damage degree, the lateral displacement of the pile at the ground surface is the first to reach its limit value. Taking the lateral displacement of the pile at the ground surface as the controlling factor, the estimated maximum impact energy that the pile–slab retaining wall can withstand is 905 kJ in this study when the structure top is taken as the impact point. In cases where the impact energy of falling rocks exceeds 905 kJ, it is recommended to optimize the mechanical properties of the cushion layer, improve the elastic modulus of concrete, increase the reinforcement ratio of longitudinal tension bars, enlarge the section size of piles at ground level, or add anchoring measures to enhance the bending resistance of the retaining structure.

Rapid monitoring of structural deformation based on unsupervised segmentation model

This paper presents a novel approach for rapid structural deformation monitoring using an enhanced segmentation model, SAM-DM (Segment Anything Model-Deformation Monitoring). The method enhances the SAM model by integrating an innovative point prompt generation technique, image fusion, and connected domain analysis, enabling structural deformation monitoring with just a single manual click on the target area in the initial video frame. Specifically, this manual click generates coordinate information for the target area, serving as a point prompt for the SAM-DM model. This process results in the creation of a high-quality binary mask, which is then fused with the original image to isolate only the target area. Subsequently, connected domain analysis is employed to automatically process the mask, extracting the pixel centroid coordinates of the target area, which are then used as prompts for segmenting subsequent frames. This approach allows continuous tracking of changes in the target area's coordinates, thereby facilitating rapid structural deformation monitoring. Experimental results demonstrate that this method can accurately monitor deformation across all target points and adapt to varying lighting conditions and noise levels. Applied to monitor the bending deformation of reinforced concrete beams and the in-plane deformation of concrete slabs, the method achieves results closely aligned with actual measurements, yielding relative errors of 0.95 % and 0.48 %, respectively. Additionally, in monitoring the vibrational deformation of steel frames, the primary frequency of the curve precisely matches measured values, confirming that the SAM-DM-based method delivers both high accuracy and strong robustness.

Experimental validation of an innovative method for minimization of deformation tolerances of reinforced concrete ceilings

AbstractThe static design of reinforced concrete ceilings is mostly based on finite element calculations. If the calculated deformation is too big, a superelevation is carried out in order to optimize the thickness of the ceiling. The superelevation is achieved by setting parts of the formwork a fixed amount higher than the edge areas of the ceilings before concreting. In this contribution, a validation of various numerical methods and a new load approach for the deformation of concrete slabs by means of measurement results is shown whereas the focus is on the multistory support of ceilings, which have not arrived the full Young's modulus.

Investigating the mechanical properties related to the vertical bending of composite I‐beams with corrugated steel webs

AbstractThe maximum angular rotation attributable to the in‐plane shear deformation of flange slabs is used as generalised displacement in the conventional analysis method for I‐beams. However, the mechanical concepts are poorly understood due to the complex nature of this analysis method. Consequently, a novel strategy for analysing vertical bending in composite I‐beams is proposed in this study. This approach uses the additional deflection of composite I‐beams induced by the shear lag effect as the generalised displacement. Furthermore, this research comprehensively considers the accordion effect, shear lag and self‐equilibrium conditions for the shear lag warping stress and bending moment. Moreover, two longitudinal warping displacement difference functions are employed to accurately describe the variation of shear lag in composite I‐beams with varying flange slab widths. The differential equations of the I‐beams with corrugated steel webs in the elastic range are established based on the energy‐variation method. A complete mechanical system of a composite I‐beam is decomposed into two parts, namely, the shear lag mechanical system and the elementary beam mechanical system, which are independent of each other. The theory presented in this paper reflects the internal mechanical mechanism of composite I‐beams. The calculation accuracy is considerably improved in this study. Therefore, this method is more unambiguous and well‐defined. It enriches and advances the current analysis theory of composite structures, which can guide the design of composite I‐beams.

Slab Segmentation and Stacking in Mantle Transition Zone Controls Disparate Surface and Lower Mantle Subducting Rates and Complex Slab Morphology

AbstractThe contradiction of high subducting plate rate (ranging from 4 to 9 cm/yr on Earth's surface) and low slab sinking rate (about 1 and 2 cm/yr in lower mantle) calls for significant slab deformation in the middle mantle. However, mechanisms that can account for both the deformation and the rate discrepancy have not been fully explored. Here, using 2‐D numerical models that incorporate grain size evolution, we propose a new slab deformation mode, slab segmentation and stacking, to accommodate the differential slab sinking rates. Our results show that the segmented slab due to faulting and grain‐size reduction may further break off and stack over itself as it encounters the high‐viscosity lower mantle. Stacked slabs slowly sink in the lower mantle, while periodic slab tearing hinders upward stress transmission, allowing shallow plates to subduct at a higher rate. This discovered mode also provides an alternative explanation for slab thickening in the lower mantle.

Out‐of‐plane response of prefabricated concrete shear walls connected via grouted sleeves

AbstractThe out‐of‐plane response of prefabricated (precast) concrete shear walls (PWs) are usually neglected in the structural designs. However, because of the relatively low stiffness and inevitable deformation of slabs, the out‐of‐plane behavior of PWs could influence the in‐plane response by causing premature failure or stability problems and affect the overall structural performance. This issue becomes significant when single‐row connections are employed because the neutral axial is shifted toward the compression side and the out‐of‐plane capacity is altered accordingly. In this study, PWs with grouted steel sleeve splices were tested under reciprocating cyclic loading. Both single‐row and paired connections were considered in test program. It was shown that all PWs suffered bending failure dominated by yielding of reinforcement at the bottom, and their load‐carrying capacity, stiffness degeneration trends were similar to the monolithic (cast‐in‐place) reference walls. Under the normalized compression of 0.12, the ductility of the prefabricated walls was 2.62 and 3.07, which was comparable to that of the reference cast‐in‐place wall (2.72). For the case that axial compression was not applied, the hysteresis curve of the PW with single‐row connection exhibited significant pinching. Nonetheless, the load‐carrying capacity of these walls did not exhibit significant drop at the end of the tests due to the lower axial compression, exhibiting high level of deformability. For both load cases, PWs with paired connection exhibited higher energy dissipation than the single‐row connected specimens.

Buckling prediction based on joint opening and safe temperature estimation in jointed plain concrete pavements

Concrete pavement buckling is a significant distress that disrupts traffic flow and results in costly repairs, issues that are increasingly exacerbated by global warming. Addressing these issues, this study develops a systematic framework for assessing jointed plain concrete pavement (JPCP) by integrating temperature and moisture gradients, pavement structures, and material properties into mechanical-based models for predicting buckling potential. Specifically, a two-stage analysis is developed to analyze buckling development based on the slab deformation and the slab-base interface, including joint closure assessment and upheaval buckling prediction. Through the established model, parametric studies are conducted to quantitatively identify key factors influencing buckling. Moreover, the developed models are applied to pavement sections in various climate regions and validated through comparative analysis with field data from the Long-Term Pavement Performance (LTPP) database to confirm model accuracy. Additionally, a case study using pavement buckling data from Wisconsin between 2014 and 2020 demonstrates the model's practical application. As the results, it is found that temperature increase, the percentage of incompressible materials, and the coefficient of thermal expansion are critical for joint opening changes, while the coefficient of thermal expansion, elastic modulus, and slab thickness are crucial to post-buckling performance. Regression equations are provided to estimate safe temperature increases as a recommended buckling temperature limit. Furthermore, the predicted joint opening shows reasonable alignment with joint gauge measurement in the field recordings from the LTPP database. Finally, the predicted buckling events are reasonably compared with field recordings for a Wisconsin pavement section from 2014 to 2020. In summary, by considering pavement structural parameters, material properties, and weather conditions, this comprehensive model provides a reasonable tool for predicting and mitigating JPCP buckling in different climate conditions.

Upper-mantle seismic anisotropy in the southwestern North Island, New Zealand: Implications for regional upper-mantle and slab deformation

We employed shear-wave splitting analysis on both teleseismic SKS and S waves, and S waves from deep (150–250 km) local earthquakes collected from a dense array with 43 temporary broadband seismic stations and nine long-term seismic stations centered at Mount Taranaki to characterize the upper-mantle dynamics in the southwestern North Island of New Zealand, in areas previously unexamined for shear-wave splitting. We observed predominantly trench-parallel fast polarizations and strikingly large delay times over 3 s from teleseismic analysis. In contrast, local S analysis yielded a sharp transition of fast-polarization from trench-parallel in the northeast to trench-normal in the southwest. Trench-parallel fast-polarization from teleseismic analysis may be attributed to sub-slab trench-parallel flow or to trench-parallel fractures in the subducting slab. More importantly, we attribute large delay times to deep upper-mantle (200–400 km depth) deformation, possibly associated with the dynamic interaction between the downgoing slab and the 410-km discontinuity or with the lithosphere delamination near the Taranaki-Ruapehu line. In contrast, the trench-parallel anisotropy from the local S waves in the northeast could be caused by fluid-bearing cracks in the crust of the Taupō Volcanic Zone and/or by trench-parallel fractures in the subducting slab resulting from outer rise bending. The abrupt change to trench-normal may be related to stress variations in the downgoing slab at different depths.

Study on the Influence of Buried Depth on the Deformation of Bridge Approach Slab

The setting of the bridgehead slab can effectively alleviate the harm caused by the bridgehead bump, but the secondary bump may occur due to the fracture and void of the slab. Given the above problems, the influence of buried depth on the deformation of the bridge approach slab is studied through theoretical analysis and numerical simulation. The results show that compared with the conventional slab, the shear force of the slab is reduced and the service life is increased when the slab is deeply buried. The deep-buried slab can help to reduce the differential settlement of the road-bridge transition section and alleviate the phenomenon of vehicle bumping at the bridgehead. And the deeper the buried depth of the slab, the more gentle the settlement change of the transition section of the bridge.

Interpretation of the data of modern methods of field soil research

This study examines modern in-situ testing methods for soils; it investigates the impact of interpreting these methods on the calculated strength and deformation parameters of soils and compares them with tabulated values according to the DSTU (Standard of Ukraine). In today's world, there is an urgent need for accurate and prompt soil investigations, which are crucial for design and construction. Although laboratory methods are reliable, they often require significant time and resources. The advantage of in-situ methods lies in the fact that testing is performed directly in the soil mass, meaning that the results are not influenced by the transportation and preparation of samples. Conducting tests directly in the soil massif allows for the acquisition of information about soil characteristics and their classification, providing data on soil stratification. This publication reviews modern methods of in-situ soil investigations, specifically CPTu (Cone Penetration Test) and DMT (Dilatometer Test) [1, 2]. These methods are widely used in Europe, while in Ukraine, they are relatively new and are just beginning to gain popularity. Therefore, it is relevant to compare these methods with the tabulated values provided in Ukrainian reference guides. The deformation and stress values were compared using three calculation models based on CPTu, DMT, and DSTU data. A comparative analysis of the foundation slab deformations was conducted using models with elastic and elastic-plastic model. For this purpose, a foundation slab was designed, and a finite element model of the building was developed, examining the foundation on a soil massif with inclined stratification, using both elastic and elastic-plastic soil models.

Intermittent terrane arrival induces pulses of inland tectonic cycles

Pulsing volcanotectonic cycles characterized by short-lived (10 s Myr) switches in magmatic and tectonic patterns have been broadly identified in active margins. However, the specific mechanism that causes these switches remains ambiguous, i.e., whether the subduction continuity and/or terrane arrival (accretion, underthrusting, or subduction of buoyant continental/oceanic blocks with a thicker crust than their surrounding oceanic plate) plays a crucial role in controlling the observed volcanotectonic cycles remains controversial. Here, by modeling subduction processes involving the sequential arrival of buoyant terranes, we show that 1) in scenarios where the oceanic plate is weakly coupled with terranes, the entraining of the terrane into the subduction induces slab breakup to occur between the partially subducted terrane and its adjacent oceanic slab, with the terrane then rebounding and moving away from the trench. This evolution causes switches in the magmatic and tectonic patterns within the overriding plate. 2) In these models, the exposed terrane materials can preserve characteristic pressure-temperature-time trajectories, i.e., nearly isothermal compression to isothermal decompression and/or isobaric heating after partial exhumation. 3) slab breakup does not guarantee the occurrence of a trench jump; only when the terrane has a medium scale (∼300 km) will a new trench tend to develop prominently behind the rebounded terrane. 4) in scenarios where the composite slab (terrane and oceanic portions) resists yielding deformation and the terrane density is close to that of the oceanic plate (<0.6% density contrast), continuous subduction will occur. In this latter scenario, slab deformation (revealed by subduction angle and slab curvature), instead of slab breakup, will control the magmatic and tectonic patterns in the overriding plate. By further comparing model results with observations, we demonstrate that intermittent subduction interrupted by the subduction of terranes can be a tectonic driver for episodes of compression-to-extension transformations and magmatism (or piston-like volcanotectonic cycles) in two representative accretionary belts — with or without trench jumps (exemplars in south-central-Tibet and eastern-Mediterranean). In contrast, continuous subduction with strongly coupled upper and subducting plates could have contributed to similar cycles in the example without accretion (e.g., the Altiplano in the Central Andes). Therefore, over 10 s of Myr, the scale and frequency of terrane arrivals could essentially control the specific motion pattern of the subducting plate, creating the observed short-lived volcanotectonic switches at these three subtypes of active margins.

Fatigue life prediction for CA mortar in CRTS II railway slab track subjected to combined thermal action and vehicle load by mesoscale numerical modelling

The fatigue life of the cement asphalt (CA) mortar in the slab track of the China Railway Track System (CRTS) II is crucial to the smooth and safe operation of high-speed railways. To investigate the fatigue life of the CA mortar under the combined thermal action and vehicle loads, this paper develops a new coupled thermal-mechanical finite element (FE) model for the concrete slab track at the mesoscale. First, the meteorology and heat transfer principle are adopted to simulate the temperature distribution of the concrete slab track. The heterogeneous characteristics of the concrete of the precast slab are modelled by the three-phase composite material at the mesoscale using the new developed random aggregate algorithm. Then, the energy-based exponential cohesive zone model is adopted to simulate the interface between the CA mortar and the precast concrete slab. The proposed mesoscale numerical model can provide reliable predictions for the temperature distribution and the deformation of the precast concrete slab under thermal action, which are confirmed by the relevant field measurements. Finally, the fatigue life of the CA mortar is estimated by the nonlinear damage cumulative method associated with the stress time history under the combined thermal action and vehicle load. From the obtained results for the numerical example, the thermal action can decrease severely the fatigue life of the CA mortar, and the fatigue life varies significantly at different positions, with the most vulnerable zone located near but not directly below the rails.

Complex Martinique Intermediate‐Depth Earthquake Reactivates Early Atlantic Break‐Up Structures

AbstractEarthquakes that rupture several faults occur frequently within the shallow lithosphere but are rarely observed for intermediate‐depth events (70–300 km). On 29 November 2007, the Mw7.4 Martinique earthquake struck the Lesser Antilles Island Arc near the deep end of the Wadati‐Benioff‐Zone. The sparse regional seismic network of 2007 previously hampered a detailed examination of this unusually complex event. Here, we combine seismic data from different studies with regional moment tensor inversion results and 3D full‐waveform modeling. We show that the earthquake is a doublet consisting of dip‐slip and strike‐slip motion along two oblique structures, both activated under extensional stress along the strike of the slab. Comparison with tectonic reconstructions suggests that the earthquake ruptured along a re‐activated ridge‐transform segment of the subducted Proto‐Caribbean spreading ridge. The unprecedented resolution of the source process highlights the influence of pre‐existing structures on localizing slab deformation also at intermediate‐depth.

Mechanical behaviors of ballastless track under temperature and vehicle loads in high geo-temperature tunnel

To explore the temperature field, temperature effect and mechanical behaviors of the track structure under combined load in high geo-temperature tunnel, the temperature field test platform is built to simulate the conditions under which the track bottom is heated in high geo-temperature tunnel, and the temperature distribution of the track bed slab in the transverse, longitudinal, and vertical directions is investigated. Then, the numerical model is built to examine the displacement and stress of the track structure under temperature load and combined load consisting of temperature and static vehicle load. The results show that when the temperature load on the track bottom is 30 ℃, the vertical temperature gradient inside the slab is negative, with a maximum of 20 ℃/m, and the maximum temperature differences in the vertical, transverse, and longitudinal directions are 5 ℃, 3.25 ℃ and 2 ℃, respectively. The temperature deformation of the track bed slab is manifested as sinking in the middle and warping at the edge, with the maximum tensile stress occurring in the upper-middle region and the maximum compressive stress in the lower-middle region. Under the combined load, the most unfavorable position of the vehicle load is where the front wheel is in the center of the slab, and for every 5 tons increase in axle load, the maximum tensile stress of the slab increases by about 4%, and the maximum compressive stress increases by about 2%. The findings provide reference for the optimization design of track in high geo-temperature tunnel.

On the deformation of CRTS-Ⅲ ballastless track during the casting process of self-compacting concrete: Numerical simulations and random forest-based prediction models

CRTS (China railway track system)-Ⅲ slab track is a main structural type of ballastless track in Chinse high-speed railway (HSR), which requires precise positioning of prefabricated concrete track slabs. However, the cast-in-place process of the self-compacting concrete (SCC) filling layer induces a large deformation as the flowing SCC generates an up-lift force on the bottom of the track slab. Currently, the deformation mechanism and influencing factors of the track slab during the SCC casting process have not been thoroughly studied. In this work, a fluid-solid interaction finite element model (FEM) is created to calculate the upward deformation of the CRTS-Ⅲ track slab caused by the flowing SCC. The main influencing factors, including the SCC’s casting height and speed, SCC’s viscosity, constraint stiffness of the limiting beams, and vertical temperature gradient, have been systematically analyzed and discussed. The relationship between the influencing factors and the track slab’s deformation is obtained. Furthermore, machine learning prediction models using random forest algorithms are developed to evaluate the deformation and up-lift force. A dataset comprising 603 calculation cases obtained from FEM simulations is used to train the prediction models. The random forest-based models developed in this study give an accurate estimation of the deformation and up-lift force based on the SCC properties and construction parameters. In addition, the feature importance of each influencing factor is obtained and studied. The findings of this study can provide guidance for the control of the deformation in CRTS-Ⅲ track slab during the SCC construction process.

Modelling of Multi-Storey Cross-Laminated Timber Buildings for Vibration Serviceability

In this study, the vibration serviceability of multi-storey timber buildings is addressed. The core of this study pertains to the preparation of a comprehensive finite element model to predict modal properties for an accurate vibration serviceability checking. To that end, findings obtained from studying three multi-storey timber buildings are summarized and discussed. Two of the buildings (of seven and eight storeys) consist entirely of cross-laminated timber (CLT), while the third is a five-storey hybrid CLT-concrete building. Thanks to the detailed finite element models and modal testing results, one has the capability to conduct sensitivity analyses, classical and Bayesian model updating, and uncertainty quantifications. With these methodologies, influential modelling parameters as well as the sources of modelling error were identified. This allowed for conclusions to be drawn about the in-plane shear stiffness of the constructed walls (whose higher value causes the natural frequencies to increase by up to 25%), the soil deformability (which may cause the natural frequencies to drop by up to 20%), and the perpendicular-to-the-grain deformation of floor slabs (which may lead to an overestimation of a fundamental frequency by up to 8%).

Research on the heat–humidity coupling transfer model of the CRTS Ⅱ type track slab and its characteristics

After operation for more than 10 years, CRTSⅡtype track slab structures have developed interlayer diseases in continuous extreme high-temperature environments, which are dominated by track slab-CA mortar layer cracking. To reveal the formation mechanism of track slab-CA mortar layer cracking under complicated operation conditions, a heat–humidity coupling transfer model, which is utilized to analyze track slab deformation, was developed. Furthermore, to enhance the precision of the model, we investigated the variation law that regulates relevant parameters of concrete materials with respect to temperature and humidity. Moreover, a testing apparatus was established to validate the accuracy of the transfer model under natural conditions. The analysis revealed that the maximum temperature error in the track slab was 3.33 K, and that the maximum error of relative humidity (RH) was 6.04 %. The distribution characteristics of temperature and humidity fields in the track slab during 10 consecutive rainless days under different seasonal climates in a hot-summer and cold-winter zone (Hangzhou) in China were calculated and analyzed using COMSOL Multiphysics® software. The results indicated that in the distribution of the summer temperature field, the maximum negative temperature gradient could attain -48.67 K/m, and that the maximum positive temperature gradient could attain 76.37 K/m. Moreover, RH values at 10 mm, 20 mm, 30 mm, and 40 mm decreased by 30.85 %, 15.51 %, 9.17 %, and 5.9 %, respectively. In a year, a higher track slab temperature, a greater temperature fluctuation range, and more apparent positive and negative temperature gradients were observed during summer, and the influencing depth of water also attained the maximum value during summer.

Anisotropic Deformation in a Polymer Slab Subjected to Fluid Adsorption.

Nanoporous adsorbents can mechanically swell or shrink once upon the accumulation of guest fluid molecules at their internal surfaces or in their cavities. Existing theories in this field attribute such sorption-induced swelling to a tensile force, while shrinkage is always associated with a contractive force. In this study, however, we propose that the sorption-induced deformation of a porous architecture is not solely dictated by the stress conditions but can also be largely influenced by its mechanical anisotropy. In more detail, the sorption-induced deformation of a polymeric slab is investigated using a hybrid molecular dynamics and Monte Carlo algorithm. When subjected to water loading, the slab is found to swell along its normal direction and display an overall positive volumetric strain. Moreover, the surface roughness is enhanced as a response to the surface energy decrease induced by the water covering the slab external surface. Unexpectedly, the in-plane deformation of the slab material seems to be highly constrained, so that it is far below its normal counterpart. This anisotropy is enhanced when the slab thickness decreases. With a thickness of around 1.35 nm, an in-plane shrinkage is observed throughout the entire hygroscopic range. A theoretical analysis based on a poromechanical model suggests that the anisotropic mechanical properties, which are common for a slab material, are the essence of the constrained in-plane swelling or even shrinkage under the isotropic sorption-induced tensile forces. This study, unveiling overlooked mechanisms of sorption-induced shrinkage in mechanically anisotropic materials, provides new insights into this field.