This study proposes an innovative mathematical formula that uses multigene Genetic Programming (GP), a recently developed soft computing technique, to predict the ultimate bearing capacity of shallow foundations on cohesionless soils. The real performance of previously developed approaches is also investigated. The multigene GP-based formula was calibrated and validated using an experimental da...

This paper investigates the use of three back-propagation training algorithms, Levenberg-Marquardt, conjugate gradient and resilient back-propagation, for the two case studies, stream-flow forecasting and determination of lateral stress in cohesionless soils. Several neural network (NN) algorithms have been reported in the literature. They include various representations and architectures and t...

The macroscopic mechanical behaviour of granular materials is governed by microscopic features at the particle scale. Photoelasticimetry is a powerful method for measuring shear stresses in particles made from birefringent materials. As a complementary method, we here identify the hydrostatic stress networks through thermoelastic stress analysis using infrared thermographic measurements. Experi...

We have performed a systematic, large-scale simulation study of granular media in two and three dimensions, investigating the rheology of cohesionless granular particles in inclined plane geometries, i.e., chute flows. We find that over a wide range of parameter space of interaction coefficients and inclination angles, a steady-state flow regime exists in which the energy input from gravity bal...

The mechanical response of cohesionless granular materials under monotonic loading is studied by performing molecular dynamic simulations. The diversity of shapes of soil grains is modelled by using randomly generated convex polygons as granular particles. Results of the biaxial test obtained for dense and loose media show that samples achieve the same void ratio at large strains independent of...

This paper presents an erosion interpretation of cohesive granular materials stressed by impinging jet based on the results a micromechanical simulation model. The numerical techniques are briefly described, relying two-dimensional Lattice Boltzmann Method coupled with Discrete Element Methods including simple model solid intergranular cohesion. These then used to perform parametric study plana...

Biologically active, fine-grained sediment forms abundant sedimentary deposits on Earth's surface, and mixed mud-sand dominates many coasts, deltas, and estuaries. Our predictions of sediment transport and bed roughness in these environments presently rely on empirically based bed form predictors that are based exclusively on biologically inactive cohesionless silt, sand, and gravel. This appro...

Pile foundations is a well-studied technique with many applications and its benefits on structures have been widely studied in the literature. In particular, mutual effects of pile flexibility soil deformability may significantly modify seismic behaviour superstructures. order to consider uncertainties that are connected these issues, paper applies probabilistic-based approach fragility curves ...

The shear strength of cohesionless granular materials is generally attributed to the compactness or anisotropy of their microstructure. An open issue is how such compact or anisotropic microstructures, and thus the shear strength, depend on the particle properties. We first recall the role of fabric and force anisotropies with respect to the critical-state shear stress. Then, a model of accessi...

In the laboratory we used an idealized rotorwash flow—an axisymmetric jet impinges normally on a packed bed of cohesionless particles—and measured the spatially varying flow field and entrainment flux under an axisymmetric jet over a range of jet exit velocities and bed materials. We found that the erosion of the bed is driven by turbulent surface shear stress, quantified by the turbulent kinet...