Extrapolation-Based Scale Effect Model for Granular Heap Modulus

The numerical analysis was used to predict the rockfill dam displacement, and the model parameters were calibrated using the triaxial experiments on scale-down rockfill samples. Due to the scale effect of rockfill material, the displacements were usually underestimated in the design phase. This stud...

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Main Authors: Zhigang Ma, Shuaifeng Wu, Ran Wei
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2023-01-01
Series:Advances in Civil Engineering
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2023/5841804
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author Zhigang Ma
Shuaifeng Wu
Ran Wei
author_facet Zhigang Ma
Shuaifeng Wu
Ran Wei
author_sort Zhigang Ma
collection DOAJ
description The numerical analysis was used to predict the rockfill dam displacement, and the model parameters were calibrated using the triaxial experiments on scale-down rockfill samples. Due to the scale effect of rockfill material, the displacements were usually underestimated in the design phase. This study focused on the scale effect of rockfill material and an extrapolation model was proposed to extrapolate the prototype modulus from the laboratory modulus. By conducting confined compression experiments, the size effect was investigated using ball heaps. Based on the experimental findings, considering a granular heap as a cumulative particle structure, the structural mechanics approach was introduced to establish the size effect model. Then, the boundary constrain effect model was speculated using the elastic mechanics analysis. By conducting the confined experiments on ball heaps, the modulus variation with particle breakage was investigated and the breakage effect model was established consequently. Finally, via combining the effects from the size, boundary constrain, and particle breakage, a scale effect model was established for extrapolating prototype modulus from the laboratory modulus. The proposed model was evaluated through numerical analysis of an actual dam. The experimental results revealed that the compressive modulus decreased as the initial void ratio increased; under the same initial void ratio, the compressive modulus decreased as the ratio of the specimen width to particle size increased; the compressive modulus decreased as the particle breakage increased. The numerical analysis results showed that prediction accuracy for rockfill dam displacement was improved by 8%–10%. The proposed model represents a new approach for investigating the scale effect of rockfill material, which could be adopted by engineers to improve the prediction of rockfill dam displacement.
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spelling doaj-art-666fc80621a14801936c29b98a3ac0c02025-02-03T06:08:46ZengWileyAdvances in Civil Engineering1687-80942023-01-01202310.1155/2023/5841804Extrapolation-Based Scale Effect Model for Granular Heap ModulusZhigang Ma0Shuaifeng Wu1Ran Wei2State Key Laboratory of Simulation and Regulation of Water Cycle in River BasinState Key Laboratory of Simulation and Regulation of Water Cycle in River BasinSchool of Transportation Science and EngineeringThe numerical analysis was used to predict the rockfill dam displacement, and the model parameters were calibrated using the triaxial experiments on scale-down rockfill samples. Due to the scale effect of rockfill material, the displacements were usually underestimated in the design phase. This study focused on the scale effect of rockfill material and an extrapolation model was proposed to extrapolate the prototype modulus from the laboratory modulus. By conducting confined compression experiments, the size effect was investigated using ball heaps. Based on the experimental findings, considering a granular heap as a cumulative particle structure, the structural mechanics approach was introduced to establish the size effect model. Then, the boundary constrain effect model was speculated using the elastic mechanics analysis. By conducting the confined experiments on ball heaps, the modulus variation with particle breakage was investigated and the breakage effect model was established consequently. Finally, via combining the effects from the size, boundary constrain, and particle breakage, a scale effect model was established for extrapolating prototype modulus from the laboratory modulus. The proposed model was evaluated through numerical analysis of an actual dam. The experimental results revealed that the compressive modulus decreased as the initial void ratio increased; under the same initial void ratio, the compressive modulus decreased as the ratio of the specimen width to particle size increased; the compressive modulus decreased as the particle breakage increased. The numerical analysis results showed that prediction accuracy for rockfill dam displacement was improved by 8%–10%. The proposed model represents a new approach for investigating the scale effect of rockfill material, which could be adopted by engineers to improve the prediction of rockfill dam displacement.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2023/5841804
spellingShingle Zhigang Ma
Shuaifeng Wu
Ran Wei
Extrapolation-Based Scale Effect Model for Granular Heap Modulus
Advances in Civil Engineering
title Extrapolation-Based Scale Effect Model for Granular Heap Modulus
title_full Extrapolation-Based Scale Effect Model for Granular Heap Modulus
title_fullStr Extrapolation-Based Scale Effect Model for Granular Heap Modulus
title_full_unstemmed Extrapolation-Based Scale Effect Model for Granular Heap Modulus
title_short Extrapolation-Based Scale Effect Model for Granular Heap Modulus
title_sort extrapolation based scale effect model for granular heap modulus
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2023/5841804
work_keys_str_mv AT zhigangma extrapolationbasedscaleeffectmodelforgranularheapmodulus
AT shuaifengwu extrapolationbasedscaleeffectmodelforgranularheapmodulus
AT ranwei extrapolationbasedscaleeffectmodelforgranularheapmodulus