Vibratory compaction properties of off-shore gravity quays rubble bed based on rigid blocks

Abstract

This paper intends to identify the safety and stability issues within quay structures, including scouring and hollowing, in the infrastructure for off-shore rubble bed. The three main research approaches are to combine 3D laser scanning technology, particle discrete element method and on-site experiments. The rubble bed model is established using the rigid block (Rblock) element in discrete element particle flow. Combined with the gradation generation method and the calibration of on-site tests, the influencing factors and evolution characteristics of vibratory compaction technique of rubble bed are then numerically investigated. First, the shape of the on-site stones is characterized using 3D mesoscopic extraction by 3D laser scanning technology.Statistics are used to examine the shape charactrization parameters of stone particles, and 3D mesoscopic characterization description and reconstruction techniques are developed for stone particles. Second, the 3D model of rubble bed is then built using the Rblock element in discrete particle flow, and the necessary model parameters are calibrated through a on-site vibratory compaction test. Additionally, the PFC3D program is used to study two types of influencing factors, namely the particle characteristics and vibration conditions during the vibratory compaction process of rubble bed. The results show how the riprap thickness, particle size, grading effect, vibration time, vibration frequency, and effective excitation amplitude affect the vibratory compactory properties of rubble bed. The functional link between various influencing factors with density degree and deformation modulus is proposed after combining experimental tests to examine the relevance between compaction parameters with density degree after vibration and deformation modulus. The suggested discrete element method can serve as a guide for vibratory rubble bed compaction.

Keywords:

• Gravity quay
• rubble bed
• vibratory compaction
• rigid block element
• 3D laser scanning technology
• random reconstruction

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This research was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grants Nos. 52209130 and 41831278), and ARC Discovery Project grant DP210100437.