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Shear response of calcareous sand-steel snake skin-inspired interfaces

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Abstract

Calcareous sand-steel interfaces are common in offshore construction and contribute an important role in the overall load transfer and stability of offshore systems. In this paper, a modified interface direct shear apparatus is used to conduct a series of interface shear tests between calcareous sand and steel surfaces with asymmetric, morphologic profiles inspired by ventral snake scales. Test results showed that the peak and residual interface shear strengths and the dilatancy are greater when calcareous sands are sheared against the scales (cranial shearing) than when calcareous sands are sheared along the scales (caudal shearing). Furthermore, the increase in the normal stresses leads to a higher peak shear strength while lower interface peak friction angle and dilatation angle. The increase in the ratio of asperity length L to asperity height H leads to lower peak shear strength, interface peak friction and dilatation angles, and weaker strain softening. The particle breakage of the calcareous sand under interface shearing is affected by the normal stresses developed and the geometry of the steel surface. The relationships among the peak friction angle, the normalized normal stresses, and the roughness can be obtained by a three-dimensional logarithmic surface, which also satisfactorily captures the dilatation angle and particle breakage index.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge the financial support from the National Nature Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 52108301, 52078085); Chongqing Planning and Natural Resources Bureau (No. KJ-2021048).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Civil Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400045, China

    Yang Xiao, Hao Cui, Jinquan Shi & Wenhao Qiao

  2. School of Civil and Construction Engineering, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA

    Armin W. Stuedlein

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  1. Yang Xiao
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Xiao, Y., Cui, H., Shi, J. et al. Shear response of calcareous sand-steel snake skin-inspired interfaces. Acta Geotech. 19, 1517–1527 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11440-023-02151-5

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