• International Journal of Highway Engineering
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.19-28
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• 2014

PURPOSES : This paper evaluates, using LS/DYNA-3D software, the vehicle impact performance of flexible barriers made of steel W-Beam supported by four different types of post configurations. These types include circular post, H-shape post, C-shape post, and square post. METHODS : The post-soil interaction has been investigated according to different impact angles. For this purpose, energy absorption, maximum displacements of post and rail, and occupant risk index of THIV have been compared each other. The three dimensional soil material model, instead of the conventional spring model based on Winkler and p-y curve, has been used to increase the correctness of computational model. RESULTS : It is noted the crash energy absorption has been increased with respect to the increase of impact angle. CONCLUSIONS : In particular, a post with open section(H-shape, C-shape) shows the greater crash energy absorption capability as compared with a post with closed section under the same level of impact conditions.

• International Journal of Highway Engineering
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.21-28
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• 2017

PURPOSES : This paper presents a finite element model to accurately represent the soil-post interaction of single guardrail posts in sloping ground. In this study, the maximum lateral resistance of a guardrail post has been investigated under static and dynamic loadings, with respect given to several parameters including post shape, embedment depth, ground inclination, and embedment location of the steel post. METHODS : Because current analytical methods applied to horizontal ground, including Winkler's elastic spring model and the p-y curve method, cannot be directly applied to sloping ground, it is necessary to seek an alternative 3-D finite element model. For this purpose, a 3D FHWA soil model for road-base soils, as constructed using LS-DYNA, has been adopted to estimate the dynamic behavior of single guardrail posts using the pendulum drop test. RESULTS : For a laterally loaded guardrail post near slopes under static and dynamic loadings, the maximum lateral resistance of a guardrail post has been found to be reduced by approximately 12% and 13% relative to the static analysis and pendulum testing, respectively, due to the effects of ground inclination. CONCLUSIONS : It is expected that the proposed soil material model can be applied to guardrail systems installed near slopes.

• Interaction and multiscale mechanics
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.187-206
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• 2011

Accurate estimations of pre-failure deformations and post-failure responses of geostructures require that the simulation tool possesses at least three main ingredients: 1) a constitutive model that is able to describe the macroscopic stress-strain-strength behavior of soils subjected to complex stress/strain paths over a wide range of confining pressures and densities, 2) an embedded length scale that accounts for the intricate physical phenomena that occur at the grain size scale in the soil, and 3) a computational platform that allows the analysis to be carried out beyond the development of an initially "contained" failure zone in the soil. In this paper, a two-scale micropolar plasticity model will be used to incorporate all these ingredients. The model is implemented in a finite element platform that is based on the mechanics of micropolar continua. Appropriate finite elements are developed to couple displacement, micro-rotations, and pore-water pressure in form of $u_n-{\phi}_m$ and $u_n-p_m-{\phi}_m$ (n > m) elements for analysis of dry and saturated soils. Performance of the model is assessed in a biaxial compression test on a slightly heterogeneous specimen of sand. The role of micropolar component of the model on capturing the post-failure response of the soil is demonstrated.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.627-634
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• 2018

Soil stabilization is an essential engineering process to enhance the geotechnical properties of soils that are not suitable for construction purposes. This study focuses on using coconut coir, a natural fibre to enhance the soil properties. Lime, an activator is added to the reinforced soil to augment its shear strength and durability. An experimental investigation was conducted to demonstrate the effect of coconut coir fibers and lime on the consistency limits, compaction characteristics, unconfined compressive strength, stress-strain behaviour, subgrade strength and durability of the treated soil. The results of the study illustrate that lime stabilization and coir reinforcement improves the unconfined compressive strength, post peak failure strength, controls crack propagation and boosts the tensile strength of the soil. Coir reinforcement provides addition contact surface, improving the soil-fibre interaction and increasing the interlocking between fibre and soil and thereby improve strength. Optimum performance of soil is observed at 1.25% coir fibre inclusion. Coir being a natural product is prone to degradation and to increase the durability of the coir reinforced soil, lime is used. Lime stabilization favourably amends the geotechnical properties of the coir fibre reinforced soil.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.1101-1111
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• 2018

This study aims to present accurate soil modeling and validation of a single roadside guardrail post as well as a single concrete pile installed near cut slopes or compacted sloping embankment. The conventional Winkler's elastic spring model and p-y curve approach for horizontal ground cannot directly be applied to sloping ground where ultimate soil resistance is significantly dependent on ground inclination. In this study, both grid-based 3-D FE model and particle-based SPH (smoothed particle hydrodynamics) model available in LS-DYNA have been adopted to predict the static behavior of a laterally loaded guardrail post. The SPH model has potential to eliminate any artificial soil stiffness due to the deterioration of the node-connected Lagrangian soil mesh. For this purpose, this study comprises two parts. Firstly, only 3-D FE modeling has been tested to show the numerical validity for a single concrete pile in sloping ground using Mohr-Coulomb material. However, this material option cannot be implemented for SPH elements. Nevertheless, Mohr-Coulomb model has been used since this material model requires six input soil data that can be obtained from the comparative papers in literatures. Secondly, this work is extended to compute the lateral resistance of a guardrail post located near the slope using the hybrid approach that combines Lagrange FE elements and SPH elements by the suitable node-merging option provided by LS-DYNA. For this analysis, the FHWA soil material developed for application to road-base soils has been used and also allows the application of SPH element.

• Proceedings of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea Conference
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• 1997.04a
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• pp.265-272
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• 1997

This paper presents the result of an international cooperative research on the post-correlation analysis of forced vibration tests and the prediction of earthquake responses of a large-scale seismic test structure. Through the post-correlation analysis, the properties of the soil layers are revised so that the best correlation in the responses may be obtained compared with the measured force vibration test data. Utilizing the revised soil properties as the initial linear values, the seismic responses are predicted for an earthquake using the equivalent linearlization technique based on the specified strain dependent characteristics of the shear moduli and damping ratios. It has been found that the predicted responses by the equivalent nonlinear procedure are in excellent agreement with the observed responses, which those using the initial properties are fairly off from the measured results.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.41-49
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• 1997

This paper presents the result of an international cooperative research on the post-correlation analysis of forced vibration tests and the prediction of earthquake responses of a large-scale seismic test structure. The dynamic analysis is carried out using the axisymmetric finite element method incorporating in finite elements for the for field soil region. Through the post-correlation analysis, the properties of the soil layers are revised so that the best correlation in the responses may be obtained compared with the measured force vibration test data. Utilizing the revised soil properties as the initial linear values, the seismic responses are predicted for an earthquake using the equivalent linearlization technique. It has been found that the predicted responses by the equivalent nonlinear procedure are in excellent agreement with the observed responses, while those using the linear properties are fairly off from the measured results.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.33-40
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• 1988

The new technique has been used to determine the soil-reinforcement interaction. The testing apparatus is essentially a triaxial cell fitted with the capability to house a hollow cylinderical sample. A hollow cylinderical sand specimen with a concentrical layer of reinfarcing material sandwitched in the middle is used in this investigation. The reinforcement is fastened at the base. The hollow specimen can be viewed as a "unit sheet" of a soil-reinforcement composite system of infinite horizontal extent. Axial load as well as inner and outer chamber pressures can be applied to perform a test. The specimen is first subjected to an isotropic stress state corresponding to the overburden pressure. Next, an extension test by reducing the axial load is carried out. The specimen is "loaded" to failure by either the breakage of reinforcing material (tensile failure) or slippage which takes place at the soil-reinforcement interface (i.e. the overcoming of the bonding capacity). Since the reinforcement is fastened at its lower end to the base, any tendency of relative movement between the reinforcement and the sand during an extension test can induce tensile force in the reinforcement thus forming a "reversed pull-out" test condition. Preliminary test results have demonstrated positively of the new approach to test the soil-reinforcement interaction. Reinforcing elements of different extensibility were used to study the deformbility of reinforced soil. Furthermore, both the breakage and the pull-out modes of failure were observed.

• International Journal of Highway Engineering
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.233-245
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• 2009

Availability of pressuremeter test for evaluation of geotechnical properties of foundation soil into which guardrail post is to be installed is investigated in this study. First, an analysis method of the post based on the pressuremeter test is proposed that can obtain bending moment and load-deformation profiles of the post. Then static horizontal load test onto a small scale guardrail post is performed in order to get bearing capacity and load-deformation pattern of the model post. The obtained results are compared with the load-deformation curves and bearing capacity of the post obtained from the pressuremeter method. In addition horizontal impact test to the post is performed using a model bogie car in order to check failure pattern around the model foundation and to investigate dynamic bearing capacity due to deceleration and inertia force of the soil. It is verified that the pressuremeter test is so useful and reasonal technique to analyze road foundation-post interaction.

• Ocean Systems Engineering
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.99-115
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• 2016

In meeting the technical needs for deepwater conditions and overcoming the shortfalls of single-layer pipes for deepwater applications, pipe-in-pipe (PIP) systems have been developed. While, for PIP pipelines directly laid on the seabed or with partial embedment, one of the primary service risks is lateral buckling. The critical axial force is a key factor governing the global lateral buckling response that has been paid much more attention. It is influenced by global imperfections, submerged weight, stiffness, pipe-soil interaction characteristics, et al. In this study, Finite Element Models for imperfect PIP systems are established on the basis of 3D beam element and tube-to-tube element in Abaqus. A parameter study was conducted to investigate the effects of these parameters on the critical axial force and post-buckling forms. These parameters include structural parameters such as imperfections, clearance, and bulkhead spacing, pipe/soil interaction parameter, for instance, axial and lateral friction properties between pipeline and seabed, and load parameter submerged weight. Python as a programming language is been used to realize parametric modeling in Abaqus. Some conclusions are obtained which can provide a guide for the design of PIP pipelines.