In order to improve the durability of road structures, this study investigated the influence of temperatures, vehicle speeds, and axle configurations on pavement deflections with the PLAXIS 3D, a three-dimensional finite element modeling specifically developed for analyzing geotechnical engineering projects. A total of 32 models were developed, considering the temperatures of 4°C, 10°C, 20°C, and 30°C, when combined with the moving load velocities of 60, 80, 100, and 120 km/h. The effects of uneven distributions of axle loads were examined to capture the realistic condition of traffic loading. The results indicated that when the axle loads on both wheels were identical, the maximum pavement settlement occurred at the midpoint between them. Under unequal axle loading, the maximum settlement shifted to the wheel carrying the heavier load. This study revealed that a rising temperature reduced the strength of pavement materials, thus leading to a greater deflection. Nevertheless, higher vehicle speeds reduced pavement deflections due to decreased load–pavement interaction time. The findings highlighted the coupled effects of thermal conditions, traffic speeds, and load distributions on pavement performance, thus providing useful insights for the improved design and maintenance of sustainable road structures.
Offshore converter stations are the core equipment for large-scale transmission of energy from distant offshore wind farms. When designing and constructing converter station platforms in high seismic intensity regions, their seismic performance must be considered. Numerical simulation and shaking table model testing are two important methods for studying the structural dynamic characteristics and seismic response. The effectiveness of numerical simulations for investigating the seismic response of offshore converter station platforms needs to be validated through shaking table model tests. Due to the limitations of the shaking table's surface area and load capacity, the prototype structure must be scaled down based on similarity theory. To meet the test requirements, acrylic and aluminum alloy are selected as model materials for the pile legs and platform body, respectively. In order to simplify the model for testing, the pile legs are designed using a bending stiffness equivalence method, while the upper platform is designed to satisfy mass similarity and sufficient stiffness. The dynamic characteristics of the foundation-pile-soil interaction are equivalently modeled using numerical simulations. After the model is constructed, dynamic characteristic tests are performed, and the results are compared with the numerical simulation analysis of the prototype structure. The results indicate that the selected model materials and simplified design are reasonable, providing a useful reference for shaking table tests of similar offshore platforms.
The optimization of tunnel blasting parameters and support designs is critical for enhancing both structural stability and engineering efficiency. This study employs the Holmquist-Johnson-Cook (HJC) numerical model to simulate the blasting process of the Xiahong Tunnel in China, with a particular focus on the vibration velocity and damage zones at various locations. A fluid-solid coupling method is applied to model the interaction between the surrounding rock and blasting forces, and the effects of different detonation sequences and radial uncoupling coefficients on the peak vibration velocities and damage domains are thoroughly examined. The results indicate that blasting from the outside to the inside results in a more cohesive damage domain compared to the traditional inside-out approach. Specifically, the peak vibration velocity of the surrounding rock during inside-out blasting reaches 161.4 cm/s, which is higher than the 82.2 cm/s observed with outside-in blasting. Therefore, the outside-in blasting sequence is identified as the more optimal strategy. Furthermore, an increase in the radial decoupling coefficient gradually reduces the damage domain, with the coefficient k = 2.0 showing no significant improvement in damage domain reduction. However, a decoupling coefficient that is too small leads to excessive over-excavation. Based on this analysis, the optimal radial decoupling coefficient is found to be k = 1.5, offering the most balanced damage domain reduction without causing over-excavation. The analysis also explores the influence of the initial lining thickness of sprayed concrete on the vibration characteristics of the surrounding rock. Both structural stability and economic considerations suggest an ideal thickness for the initial lining. The findings of this study provide valuable guidance for the subsequent implementation of tunnel blasting and support optimization in engineering practices.
The pimary goal of this research was to delineate optimal zones for the establishment of wells by integrating geophysical and hydrogeological techniques, namely electrical resistivity tomography and piezometric analysis. Carried out on the southern flank of Mount Bamboutos within the Menoua Division in Cameroon, the current study addressed the local issue of inadequate water supply, which persists in view of the scarcity of water resources and limited success achieved by previous initiatives. A total of 21 wells and 31 Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES) locations were investigated and seven distinct geophysical anomalies were identified, with resistivity values ranging from 28.61 to 216 703 $\Omega \cdot$m, and thicknesses varying from 0.228 to 46.64 meters. The anomalies were associated with weathered geological formations, including decomposed rocks, fractured basaltic trachytes, and alteritic layers. Considerable spatial variations were found in hydraulic parameters: (i) Hydraulic conductivity ranged between 0.004 and 16.915 m/day; (ii) Transmissivity values extended from 0.017 to 227.841 m$^2$/day; and (iii) Porosity estimates fluctuated between 0.736% and 38.226%. Aquifers hosted in alteritic materials were found at depths about 1.63 to 26 m whereas those associated with fractured basaltic trachytes exceeded 26 m in depth. Piezometric measurements revealed a predominant groundwater flow direction from the northeast toward the southwest. Depressed hydraulic head zones, particularly in the southwestern and central areas, were considered favorable for groundwater exploitation. Aquifer thicknesses ranged from 14.7 to 46.6 m primarily concentrated in the southwestern, southeastern, central, and northern parts of the study area. Based on the integration of geophysical and piezometric data, a hydrogeological map was generated to highlight several promising zones for borehole development. The map serves as a practical decision-support tool to select favorable drilling sites, reduce borehole failure rates and directly support the planning of local water supply. The outcome of this multidisciplinary investigation provided valuable contributions to guide the sustainable management and development of groundwater resources in the region.
The suitability of the Garko area (Wudil Sheet 81 SE) for dam construction has been assessed through the analysis of aeromagnetic data with a spatial resolution of 500 m line spacing and a flight altitude of 80 m. The investigation, conducted in north-central Nigeria, aimed to delineate subsurface structural features and identify magnetic anomalies relevant to dam site selection. The integration of quantitative filtering techniques with magnetic interpretation significantly improved the reproducibility and reliability of the geophysical site evaluation process, thereby enhancing the accuracy of the assessment for sustainable dam development. The Total Magnetic Intensity (TMI) data was processed using upward continuation at a height of 1 km, with the resulting dataset serving as the primary input for the analysis. Several edge detection methods and interpretation techniques were employed, including the Gaussian filter (cut-off frequency of 0.05 cycles/km), Reduce to Pole (RTP) (for low latitudes), and Tilt Derivatives filters, to delineate structural trends and boundary zones. From the TMI data derived from the Tilt Derivative map, three magnetic zones were identified: a low magnetic intensity zone (LM) with an amplitude range of -1.4 to -0.3 nT, a moderate magnetic zone (MM) with amplitudes ranging from -0.3 to 0.4 nT, and a high magnetic intensity zone (HM) with amplitudes from 0.4 to 1.3 nT. These zones were represented by color codes from blue to pink, corresponding to the magnetic amplitude values. Lineament analysis conducted on the Tilt Derivative map revealed prominent NE–SW and NW–SE structural trends, which are believed to control subsurface drainage and fracture systems. Areas characterized by low magnetic intensities and sparse lineament density were identified as geologically stable, suggesting their suitability for the foundation of a dam. This study demonstrates that magnetic data, when combined with advanced geophysical techniques, can play a pivotal role in site selection for sustainable infrastructure development.
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