Deficient pore pressures in an eroding soil mass

1984 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 277-288 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sivajogi D. Koppula ◽  
Norbert R. Morgenstern

The pore pressure response of a semi-infinite, fully saturated soil mass of finite thickness eroded at a constant rate is examined. Using Terzaghi's classical consolidation theory, an expression is derived for the deficient pore pressure as a function of depth and time. The resulting equation is mildly nonlinear with a moving top boundary. Closed form analytical solutions are obtained for various bottom boundary conditions and are presented in nondimensional quantities. The results indicate that the development of deficient pore pressures is dependent on (i) the rate of soil removal; (ii) the swelling potential of the soil mass; (iii) the ratio of the thickness of soil layer(s) removed to its original thickness; and (iv) the nature of the bottom boundary. Substantial negative pore pressures are likely to persist in the residual mass, even close to the eroded surface, although free water is made available at the top. The plots presented in this paper will be helpful for ascertaining the erosion–swelling characteristics of a soil mass that has been or is being eroded. Examples are presented to illustrate the development and dissipation of deficient pore pressures due to swelling. Keywords: constant rate, deficient pore pressures, depth factor, dredging, erosion–swelling ratio, isochrones, Laplace transform, moving boundary, swelling.

2005 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 678-682
Author(s):  
Guofu Zhu ◽  
Jian-Hua Yin

It is necessary in certain cases to estimate the progress of consolidation in a soil layer that has ceased increasing in thickness over time. In this paper, the existing excess pore pressures for two time–thickness relations are used as the "initial" pore pressures for analysing the consolidation of soil subsequent to the cessation of deposition. Average degrees of consolidation of the soil layer are presented for one-way drainage and two-way drainage boundary conditions. The average degrees of consolidation are compared with those for uniform and triangular initial excess pore pressure distributions. It is found that the average degree of consolidation for one-way drainage boundaries can be estimated using the value for the triangular distribution. The average degree of consolidation for two-way drainage boundaries is bound by the averages for both the uniform and the triangular initial excess pore pressure distributions.Key words: consolidation, deposition, drainage, settlement, soil.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 40
Author(s):  
Yongjie Qi ◽  
Gang Wei ◽  
Feifan Feng ◽  
Jiaxuan Zhu

Sleeve valve pipe grouting, an effective method for reinforcing soil layers, is often employed to correct the deformation of subway tunnels. In order to study the effect of grouting on rectifying the displacement of existing tunnels, this paper proposes a mechanical model of the volume expansion of sleeve valve pipe grouting taking into consideration the volume expansion of the grouted soil mass. A formula for the additional stress on the soil layer caused by grouting was derived based on the principle of the mirror method. In addition, a formula for the horizontal displacement of a tunnel caused by grouting was developed through a calculation model of shearing dislocation and rigid body rotation. The results of the calculation method proposed herein were in good agreement with actual engineering data. In summary, enlarging the grouting volume within a reasonable range can effectively enhance the grouting corrective effect. Further, with an increase in the grouting distance, the influence of grouting gradually lessens. At a constant grouting length, setting the bottom of the grouting section at the same depth as the lower end of the tunnel can maximize the grouting corrective effect.


2000 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seung-Yop Lee

Abstract We introduce a new technique to analyze free vibration energy and natural frequencies of a string with time-varying length by dealing with traveling waves. One of boundaries is vertically fixed but it moves axially at a constant rate. When the string length is varied, the free vibration energy and period also change with time. String tension and non-zero instantaneous vertical velocity at the moving boundary results in the energy variation. When the string undergoes retraction, the vibration energy increases with time. The new technique using traveling waves gives the exact amount of energy transferred into the vibrating system at the moving boundary. The free vibration energy are compared with previous results using the perturbation method and Kotera’s approach.


Author(s):  
Volodymyr Haskevych

The article presents the results of the study of Male Polissia podzolic chernozems profile degradation. The causes and consequences of this dangerous natural and man-made phenomenon resulting in changes in the habitus of soils, losses of soil mass and humus, deterioration of general physical properties and structural and aggregate composition, decrease in soil fertility and agriculture unprofitability on the slopes have been analysed. In the study of the profile degradation of podzolic chernozems, the following methods have been used: comparative-geographical, comparative-profile, soil-catena, analytical, and statistical. Field studies were conducted after the vegetation period. According to the study results, the thickness of the profile of weakly eroded podzolic chernozems, in comparison with non-eroded types, decreased by 17.0–35.5% as compared to the standard, which corresponds to satisfactory and pre-crisis condition, in medium eroded soils - by 32.2–63.4%, the degree of degradation is estimated as pre-crisis, crisis and catastrophic. In the highly eroded types, the thickness of the soil layer decreased by 47.8–74.9%, which indicates a high and very high (crisis) level of profile degradation. Erosion soil loss compared to the standard in weakly eroded podzolic chernozems is 1245.0-3744.6 t/ha, in medium eroded soil – 6762.4-8321.0 t/ha, and in highly-eroded soil – 8874.0-11595.0 t/ha. It has been established that chernozems as a result of water erosion from one hectare of weakly eroded podzolic, on average 39.47–118.70 tons of humus was eroded, 214.36-237.98 tons was eroded from medium eroded ones, and 240.49-267.84 tons from highly eroded soils. The average annual loss of humus is from 0.23-0.68 t/ha in weakly eroded types to 1.37-1.53 t/ha in highly eroded podzolic chernozems. Erosion processes result in deterioration of physical properties of soils. The use of dense and low-humus plumage horizons for plowing causes compaction of soils and deterioration of structure. Minimization of podzolic chernozem profile degradation in Male Polissia is possible provided that the system of anti-erosion measures, especially the conservation of highly eroded soils, the introduction of soil protection methods for soil cultivation, optimization of the structure of crop areas, ban on cultivated crops on slopes more than 3° steep, consolidation of small areas in larger arrays are applied. It is also necessary to introduce a system of basic and crisis monitoring over the condition of eroded soils. Key words: Male Polissia, podzolic chernozems, profile degradation, water erosion, humus, soil conservation.


1981 ◽  
Vol 21 (01) ◽  
pp. 43-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Lindsay Blanton

Abstract Compression tests with and without pore pressure have been run on Danian and Austin chalks. The rocks yielded under increasing hydrostatic stress by pore collapse. The same effect was produced by holding a constant hydrostatic stress and reducing the pore pressure. This pore collapse reduced the permeability. The ultimate strength of the chalks increased with increasing confining pressure. The yield strength increased initially, but at higher confining pressures it decreased until it yielded under hydrostatic stress. Relatively high pore-pressure gradients developed when the chalks. were compressed. In these situations, the mechanical behavior tended to be a function of the average effective stresses. Introduction Hydrocarbons have been found in chalks in the North Sea, the Middle East, the Gulf Coast and midcontinent regions of the U.S., and the Scotian Shelf of Canada1; however, problems have been encountered in developing these reservoirs efficiently because of the unusual mechanical behavior of chalk. Chalks have three characteristics that interact to differentiate their behavior from most reservoir rocks. High Porosity. Porosities may be as high as 80070.1,2 Effects of burial and pore-water chemistry can reduce this porosity to less than 1%, but notable exceptions occur in areas of early oil placement and overpressuring where porosities in excess of 40% have been reported.2,3 Low Permeability Regardless of porosity, chalks have low permeabilities, usually around 1 to 10 md. Soft Matrix. Chalks are predominantly calcite, which has a hardness of 3 on Mohr's scale. These properties create problems in the following areas of reservoir development. Drilling. High porosity combined with a soft matrix material makes for a relatively weak and ductile rock. Efficient drilling involves chipping the rock and ductile behavior inhibits this process. Stimulation. The combination of high porosity and low permeability makes chalks prime candidates for stimulation by hydraulic fracturing or acid fracturing. The best production often is associated with natural fractures.2,3 Man-made fractures could open up new areas to production, but again ductile behavior inhibits the fracturing process. Production. In many cases permeabilities are low enough to trap pore fluids and cause abnormally high pore pressures.2 These high pore pressures help maintain the high porosities at depth by supporting some of the weight of the overburden. As the field is produced and the pore pressure lowered, some of the weight will shift to the soft matrix. The result may be pore collapse and reduction of an already low permeability. These problems indicate a need for basic information on the mechanical behavior of chalks. Determining methods of enhancing brittle behavior could lead to improved drilling and stimulation techniques. The ability to predict and prevent pore collapse could increase ultimate recovery. The approach taken in this study was experimental. Specimens of chalk were subjected to different combinations of stress and pore pressure in the laboratory, and the resulting deformations were measured.


Author(s):  
Ik Soo Ha ◽  
Young Ho Park ◽  
Myoung Mo Kim

In liquefied areas, the amount of damage to a structure is mainly affected by the postliquefaction behavior of the liquefied ground. Understanding postliquefaction behavior requires understanding the dissipation pattern of excess pore pressure after liquefaction. It is difficult to measure pore pressures generated and dissipated during an earthquake because of the more-or-less randomness of earthquake events. Researchers have artificially generated liquefaction with sand samples in the laboratory and have simulated curves for the time history dissipation of excess pore pressure. To estimate variation in permeability during dynamic loading, which should be known for settlement predictions of the ground undergoing liquefaction, 1-g shaking table tests were carried out on five kinds of sands, all with high liquefaction potentials. During tests, excess pore pressures at various depths and surface settlements were measured. The measured curve of the excess pore pressure dissipation was simulated using the solidification theory. From analysis of the velocity of dissipation, the dissipation pattern of excess pore pressure after liquefaction was examined. Permeability during dissipation was calculated using the measured settlement and dissipation velocity, also used for estimating permeability during dynamic loading. The dissipation velocity of excess pore pressure after liquefaction had a linear correlation with the effective grain size divided by the coefficient of uniformity. The increase in the ground’s initial relative density played a role in shifting this correlation curve toward increased dissipation velocity. Permeability during liquefaction increased 1.4 to 5 times compared with the permeability of the original ground, the increase becoming greater as the effective grain size of the test sand increased and the coefficient of uniformity decreased.


Author(s):  
K. Kawamata ◽  
Y. Morimoto ◽  
Haruki Madarame ◽  
Koji Okamoto

Behavior of a water column oscillator with a cover gas system was studied experimentally and analytically. One of the free water surfaces was sealed with the cover gas, while the other was open to the atmosphere. The cover gas was supplied with a constant rate, and it was ejected through a valve when the water level reached a certain point. As soon as the level reached another point, the valve closed and the cover gas quantity increased again. In the experiment, a bifurcation-like phenomenon was observed; the valve closed period usually had a single value, while it took two values under certain conditions. In order to examine the cause of this bifurcation-like phenomenon, a numerical analysis model was developed which described the system behavior precisely. The analytical result revealed that the bifurcation-like phenomenon was not bifurcation but an abrupt change of the value dimmed by superimposed noise. Finally the numerical model predicts that the water column oscillator behaves chaotically at certain conditions.


2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. 146 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tao Liu ◽  
Yueyue Lu ◽  
Lei Zhou ◽  
Xiuqing Yang ◽  
Lei Guo

Hydrate decomposition is an important potential cause of marine geological disasters. It is of great significance to understand the dynamic relationship between hydrate reservoir system and the overlying seabed damage caused by its decomposition. The purpose of this study is to understand the instability and destruction mechanisms of a hydrated seabed using physical simulations and to discuss the effects of different geological conditions on seabed stability. By applying pressurized gas to the low permeability silt layer, the excess pore pressure caused by the decomposition of hydrate is simulated and the physical appearance process of the overlying seabed damage is monitored. According to the test results, two conclusions were drawn in this study: (1) Under the action of excess pore pressure caused by hydrate decomposition, typical phenomena of overlying seabed damage include pockmark deformation and shear–slip failure. In shallower or steeper strata, shear-slip failure occurs in the slope. The existence of initial crack in the stratum is the main trigger cause. In thicker formations or gentler slopes, the surface of the seabed has a collapse deformation feature. The occurrence of cracks in the deep soil layer is the main failure mechanism. (2) It was determined that the thickness and slope of the seabed, among other factors, affect the type and extent of seabed damage.


Geophysics ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 78 (2) ◽  
pp. D75-D83 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam M. Allan ◽  
Gary Mavko

Microporous rocks are being increasingly researched as novel exploration and development technologies facilitate production of the reserves confined in the low-permeability reservoir. The ability to numerically estimate effective permeability is pivotal to characterizing the production capability of microporous reservoirs. In this study, a novel methodology is presented for estimating the steady-state effective permeability from FIB-SEM volumes. We quantify the effect of a static adsorbed monolayer and Knudsen diffusion on effective permeability as a function of pore pressure to better model production of microporous rock volumes. The adsorbed layer is incorporated by generating an effective pore geometry with a pore pressure-dependent layer of immobile voxels at the fluid-solid interface. Due to the steady-state nature of this study, surface diffusion within the adsorbed layer and topological variations of the layer within pores are neglected, potentially resulting in underestimation of effective permeability over extended production time periods. Knudsen diffusion and gas slippage is incorporated through computation of an apparent permeability that accounts for the rarefaction of the pore fluid. We determine that at syn-production pore pressures, permeability varies significantly as a function of the phase of the pore fluid. Simulation of methane transport in micropores indicates that, in the supercritical regime, the effect of Knudsen diffusion relative to adsorption is significantly reduced resulting in effective permeability values up to 10 nanodarcies ([Formula: see text]) less or 40% lower than the continuum prediction. Contrastingly, at subcritical pore pressures, the effective permeability is significantly greater than the continuum prediction due to rarefaction of the gas and the onset of Knudsen diffusion. For example, at 1 MPa, the effective permeability of the kerogen body is five times the continuum prediction. This study demonstrates the importance of, and provides a novel methodology for, incorporating noncontinuum effects in the estimation of the transport properties of microporous rocks.


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