Reinforced Earth Buried Arch Structures IEAust March 1998

TechSpan Arch Structures Prediction, Performance and Projects Doug Jenkins Engineering Manager

The Reinforced Earth Company Groupe TAI

Overview

History of the arch

Reinforced Earth introduced TechSpan in 1986

The Reinforced Earth Company Groupe TAI

Overview
What is TechSpan? What is new about it? What is clever about it? Why finite element analysis? Does it work? What does it mean for the client?

The Reinforced Earth Company Groupe TAI

Overview

Analysis of buried arch structures

Methods of Analysis Factors affecting the accuracy of results

Prediction Versus Performance

Site measurements at the Oita TechSpan Comparison of site measurements and analysis results Summary Conclusions

The Reinforced Earth Company Groupe TAI

Overview

Projects
Homebush Bay Rail Link Olympic Park TechSpan; Melbourne City Link Project Queensland Mine, River Crossing; 5500 Tonne live load Olympic Dam Load Out Tunnel

The Reinforced Earth Company Groupe TAI

ROAD

RAILWAY

The Reinforced Earth Company Groupe TAI

RIVER CROSSING

MINE

The Reinforced Earth Company Groupe TAI

Typical TechSpan Cross Section

The Reinforced Earth Company Groupe TAI

Analysis of buried arch structures

Methods of Analysis
Simple elastic analysis
All materials properties linear elastic Vertical soil pressure assumed proportional to depth Horizontal soil pressure = constant x vertical pressure Horizontal pressure may take different value on each side

The Reinforced Earth Company Groupe TAI

The Reinforced Earth Company Groupe TAI

Analysis of buried arch structures

Methods of Analysis
Beam and spring model
All materials properties linear elastic Vertical soil pressure assumed proportional to depth Horizontal soil pressure = constant x vertical pressure Soil structure interaction modeled by compression only elastic springs Construction sequence modeled in the analysis, excluding compaction loading

The Reinforced Earth Company Groupe TAI

The Reinforced Earth Company Groupe TAI

Analysis of buried arch structures

Methods of Analysis
Finite Element Analysis
Elasto-plastic soil properties with varying elastic modulus (Duncan model); concrete linear elastic Vertical and horizontal soil pressure and soil structure interaction determined by finite element analysis Construction sequence modeled in the analysis, including compaction loading Friction elements to allow slip between soil and arch

The Reinforced Earth Company Groupe TAI

Typical TechSpan Finite Element Mesh

The Reinforced Earth Company Groupe TAI

Factors Affecting the Accuracy of Results

Soil stress-strain behaviour

Non linear Failure stress and initial elastic modulus affected by confining pressure Loading and unloading behaviour different

Soil structure interaction

Construction sequence Locked in stresses Soil arching

The Reinforced Earth Company Groupe TAI

The Reinforced Earth Company Groupe TAI

The Reinforced Earth Company Groupe TAI

The Reinforced Earth Company Groupe TAI

The Reinforced Earth Company Groupe TAI

The Reinforced Earth Company Groupe TAI

The Reinforced Earth Company Groupe TAI

The Reinforced Earth Company Groupe TAI

The Reinforced Earth Company Groupe TAI

The Reinforced Earth Company Groupe TAI

The Reinforced Earth Company Groupe TAI

The Reinforced Earth Company Groupe TAI

The Reinforced Earth Company Groupe TAI

The Reinforced Earth Company Groupe TAI

Site Measurements at Oita

Deflection measurements

The Reinforced Earth Company Groupe TAI

Oita TechSpan, Deflections

DY3 DX3

DX2
DX1 DY1 DY2

The Reinforced Earth Company Groupe TAI

Comparison of Site Measurements and Analysis

Deflections
Simple Analysis Beam and Spring Model Finite Element Analysis

The Reinforced Earth Company Groupe TAI

The Reinforced Earth Company Groupe TAI

The Reinforced Earth Company Groupe TAI

The Reinforced Earth Company Groupe TAI

Summary

Simple Analysis
Widely used Simple to apply Easy to understand Wrong!

The Reinforced Earth Company Groupe TAI

Summary

Beam and Spring Model

Widely used Simple to apply for a simplistic model, but comparatively difficult for a realistic model Easy to understand Accuracy dependent on value of spring constants

The Reinforced Earth Company Groupe TAI

Summary

Finite Element Analysis

Not so widely used Comparatively difficult to apply, particularly for a realistic model Less easy to understand Selection of soil parameters based on standard tests Take account of all significant aspects of soilstructure interaction Gives consistent results, verified by site measurements

The Reinforced Earth Company Groupe TAI

Conclusions - Analysis Methods

Simple elastic analysis

results are not reliable, particularly for high fills

Beam and spring model

essential to model staged loading may give good results, but selection of soil parameters is difficult

Finite element analysis

essential to model staged loading good results with soil parameters based on standard tests able to model complex structures

The Reinforced Earth Company Groupe TAI

Conclusions - Analysis Methods

and

the winner

is: Finite Element Analysis!

The Reinforced Earth Company Groupe TAI

Projects

Homebush Bay Rail Link

Homebush Bay Rail Link

Animation of Finite Element Analysis

The Reinforced Earth Company Groupe TAI

Projects

Olympic Park TechSpan

The Reinforced Earth Company Groupe TAI

Olympic Park TechSpan

Actual Cross Section

Semi Circular Cross Section

The Reinforced Earth Company Groupe TAI

Moments on Buried Arch

Circular and Funicular Curves
200

100

Moment, kNm
0 -100 -20 -10 0 10 20

Distance From Crow n, m Circular - Final Funicular - Final Circular - Max Funicular - Max Circular - Min Funicular - Min

The Reinforced Earth Company Groupe TAI

Projects

Queensland Mine, River Crossing; 5500 Tonne live load

Queensland Mine, River Crossing

The Reinforced Earth Company Groupe TAI

Projects

Olympic Dam Load Out Tunnel

Olympic Dam Load Out Tunnel

The Reinforced Earth Company Groupe TAI

Summary
What is TechSpan? What is new about it? What is clever about it? Why finite element analysis? Does it work? What does it mean for you?

The Reinforced Earth Company Groupe TAI

Conclusion

TechSpan Precast Concrete Arches Offer:

A sophisticated design and analysis system, giving real savings in materials combined with excellent durability A flexible moulding system allowing the design to suit the needs of the project Simple and rapid erection