Fluid-Soil-Interaction in 400g-Ton Centrifuge

Background

Understanding fluid-soil-structure-interaction is needed to promote efficient design of riverside and coastal civil engineering infrastructure.

Existing experimentation involves wave flumes with insufficient soil depths, limiting insight into the true soil response.

By using a centrifuge to induce ‘life-size’ stresses in the model, we can analyze the behavior of deeper soil profiles and large wave sizes relative to the model dimension.

Results

• The total head distribution indicates a transient flow regime throughout the soil depth.
• This flow of water decreases effective stresses (σv’) by different magnitudes at different depths and times.
• There is a lag in total head increases in deeper layers.

PPT Fabrication: All sensors in this model were manufactured in-house using MS5407 PT and sintered bronze

Summary

The behavior of soil under wave loading is complex and understudied. The transient flow regime involves seepage driven by total head differences through the soil depth. This wave generator equipment will pioneer the design of civil engineering systems facing hydrodynamic loading.