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Passive Soil Arching Effect in Aeolian Sand Backfills for Grillage Foundation
Chengcheng Zhang1,2, Guanshi Liu1, Shengkui Tian1,2
1State Key Laboratory of Geomechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, Institute of Rock and Soil Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China.
Passive soil arching in grillage foundations is crucial for transmission lines. This study reveals how beam spacing, density, and water content influence arching evolution and strength in aeolian sand.
Area of Science:
- Geotechnical Engineering
- Soil Mechanics
- Civil Engineering
Background:
- Passive soil arching is a key phenomenon in soil-grille interaction systems.
- Mental grillage foundations are increasingly used in aeolian sand areas for transmission lines, necessitating research into soil arching mechanisms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the evolution mechanism of passive soil arching in grillage foundations.
- To identify the key factors influencing passive soil arching in aeolian sand.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a trapdoor device and particle image velocimetry (PIV) to observe soil deformation and arching evolution.
- Analyzed soil pressure development through four distinct arching structure stages.
Main Results:
- Observed the formation of triangular arching surfaces and a W-shaped shear band.
- Found that beam spacing significantly alters arching shape (triangular to parabolic) and pressure changes.
- Relative density and water content primarily impact arching strength and height, not arch shape.
Conclusions:
- Beam spacing is a critical factor in controlling passive soil arching evolution and strength.
- Optimal ranges for beam spacing, relative density, and water content were determined for enhanced grillage foundation performance.
- Understanding these factors is vital for designing stable transmission line foundations in aeolian sand environments.
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