Abstract
Many existing ground reinforced embankments are experiencing deterioration, meanwhile the risk of rockfall is aggravated by the weathering and the infiltration of rainfall. However, research on the assessment of the residual characteristics and efficiency of post-impact embankments is currently insufficient. This article conducts model experiments to observe the deformation behavior and damage evolution of embankments impacted by multiple medium-energy rockfalls, and to investigate the mode of energy dissipation. The experimental results show that the deformation evolution of the embankments undergoes three phases: soil compaction, interfacial slip between geo-inclusions, and backward leaning. The dissipative kinetic energy is dissipated by soil compaction and friction between geo-inclusions, and the proportions of energy dissipated by the two modes in the three phases are ≥9:1, 9:1~7:3, and 7:3~5:5. The dissipation capacity and the distribution of dissipated energy are affected by geometry of cross-section at which the impact occurs. The simplified damage assessment criterion, based on the geometries of the cross-section during the successive impacts, is proposed to assess the current damage degree of post-impact embankments. And the precision and applicability of the criterion can be improved by understanding the structural deformation evolution and deformation mechanism in each phase. The proposed criterion is proven feasible by its agreement with experimental results. These findings should be beneficial to the design of ground reinforced embankments.
Highlights
-
The deformation evolution of GREs is divided into soil compaction, interfacial slip between geo-inclusions and backwards leaning.
-
The impact energy is dissipated by soil compaction and friction between geo-inclusions.
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The proportions of energy dissipated by the two modes in the three phases are ≥ 9:1, 9:1~7:3, and 7:3~5:5.
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A simplified damage assessment criterion is proposed to assess the residual efficiency of the post-impact embankments.
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Abbreviations
- GRE:
-
Ground reinforced embankment
- Γ :
-
Bulk density
- σ :
-
Stress
- ε :
-
Strain
- v :
-
Velocity
- ω :
-
Moisture content
- ρ :
-
Natural density
- φ :
-
Friction angle
- a :
-
Acceleration
- c :
-
Cohesion
- D f :
-
The damage factor
- E s :
-
Compression modulus
- F max :
-
The maximum impact force of the block
- F x :
-
The horizontal resultant force of the backfill and geosynthetics
- f i :
-
The friction force of each geo-inclusion
- G s :
-
Specific gravity
- H :
-
The height of the embankment
- h :
-
The height of a falling block
- m i :
-
The mass of each geo-inclusion
- m p :
-
The quality of the impact disturbed zone
- M E :
-
The elastic modulus of the embankment
- R :
-
The curvature radius of the block
- t :
-
The thickness ratio of geosynthetics to soil in geo-inclusion
- W :
-
The weight of falling blocks
- ΔE 1 :
-
The energy dissipated by soil compaction
- ΔE 2 :
-
The energy dissipated by friction between geo-inclusions
- μ :
-
The friction coefficient between geo-inclusions
- α i :
-
The slope between the direction of the reflection velocity and the tangent line
- β 0 :
-
The initial slope of the uphill face
- β i :
-
The slope of the deformed uphill face
- β min :
-
The minimum slope of the deformed uphill face
- v 11 :
-
The incidence velocity of the block
- v 12 :
-
The rebound velocity of the block
- v 21 :
-
The initial velocity of the embankment
- v 12 :
-
The rebound velocity of the embankment
- δ p :
-
The penetration depth of the crater
- δ i :
-
The penetration depth of the crater
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Acknowledgements
This study was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant number 52178314); the graduate research and innovation foundation of Chongqing, China (Grant number CYB22031); the National Engineering Research Center of Highway Maintenance Technology (Changsha University of Science & Technology) (Grant number kfj220105)
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Xiao, L., Lu, L., Lin, H. et al. Deformation Behavior and Damage Assessment of Ground Reinforced Embankments Impacted by Multiple Medium-Energy Rockfalls. Rock Mech Rock Eng 56, 8359–8374 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-023-03497-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-023-03497-8