2026· E3S Web of Conferences· Vol 730, pp. 05016· 0 citations· 9 references
Abstract
Deeper berth requirements due to increasing vessel sizes pose a significant challenge, rendering quay wall structures as critical infrastructure for the maritime logistics chain. This paper presents preliminary numerical analyses performed using two-dimensional finite element modelling to evaluate the global structural response of the quay wall for three passive soil-cement block configurations: Small, Wide, and Deep. The presented numerical analyses form the initial phase of a broader research programme focused on establishing a validated design framework for cement-treated soil reinforcement at the passive side of quay wall structures. This phase will be followed by 1g model-scale shaking table tests to verify the performance of the defined reinforcement configurations under dynamic loading conditions. The initial numerical results indicate that the Wide Block configuration provides superior reinforcement performance compared to the Deep Block arrangement. Increasing the improvement depth beyond a certain threshold was found to produce only marginal additional reductions in structural demand. Accordingly, the results are interpreted with reference to soil–structure interaction mechanisms controlling the quay wall response. These findings will guide the configuration of the planned shaking table experiments for dynamic soil– structure interaction assessment and provide insight into how mobilized lateral equilibrium conditions influence and govern overall wall deformation behaviour.
This study investigates the blast response of reinforced concrete (RC) walls with varying boundary element (BE) configurations using a validated macro-model implemented in OpenSees. The model, based on embedded layered-shell elements, was verified against independent experimental and numerical benchmarks, demonstrating its ability to capture out-of-plane wall response and BE-specific behavior under blast loading. A systematic parametric investigation was conducted to evaluate the effects of BE placement and thickness, boundary conditions, reinforcement ratios, axial loading, and wall aspect ratios. Results show that a single central BE can enhance blast resistance by approximately 20%, while configurations with two BEs placed at 0.2 times the wall length (BW2) offer the highest efficiency among multi-BE layouts. Increasing the BE thickness to 35 cm provided the best balance of performance and material demand. Vertical web reinforcement significantly improved behavior, while horizontal reinforcement had a limited effect. Higher BE reinforcement ratios further reduced displacements, whereas axial loads reduced global displacement but led to increased localized compressive damage. Fragility curves revealed variations of up to 33.9% in collapse probability across configurations, particularly under moderate impulse levels. Pressure–impulse (P–I) diagrams were developed to enable rapid identification of performance thresholds for different BE arrangements. The findings offer design-oriented guidance for optimizing BE configurations in the blast design of RC walls, with direct implications for improving structural resilience in critical infrastructure.
Osama N. Ibrahim, M. Shedid, Tarek El-Hashimy· International Journal of Con...· 0 citations
Abstract Numerical analysis has become a practical means of investigating nonlinear structural behavior, going beyond the scope of usual design simplifications. This paper presents a parametric investigation based on nonlinear finite element simulations of partially encased steel–concrete composite beams subjected to flexural loading. The numerical formulation accounts for concrete cracking, steel yielding, and the steel–concrete interaction through interface elements. The main interface parameters were calibrated by inverse analysis based on results from a four-point bending test, and the calibrated model was then validated against the experimental response. After validation, a systematic set of models was assessed to quantify the influence of steel profile symmetry, concrete strength, and the presence of reinforcement placed between the profile flanges. The results indicate that profile symmetry is the factor governing load-carrying capacity and the global response, while concrete strength becomes more influential when asymmetric profiles are adopted. The inclusion of reinforcement between the flanges provides a modest increase in ultimate capacity and does not significantly change the force–displacement response.
M. N. Kataoka, Silvana De Nardin· Ambiente Construído· 0 citations
Geocell reinforcement has been increasingly applied in transportation infrastructure to improve the stability and serviceability of road embankments constructed on weak subgrades. The load transfer mechanism in geocell–soil systems involves complex interactions between soil confinement, lateral restraint, and membrane effects, which makes the design process challenging using conventional empirical approaches. This study presents a numerical and data-driven framework to investigate the performance of geocell-reinforced embankments subjected to static loading. Finite element simulations were conducted, considering variations in geocell location, geocell height, and distributed load. The simulations are automated through the PLAXIS Python API to generate a comprehensive dataset of embankment responses. A predictive model is then developed using Gene Expression Programming to estimate the settlement of reinforced embankments. A parametric study is subsequently performed to determine effective design configurations. The proposed framework provides a practical tool for improving the reliability and efficiency of geocell-reinforced embankment design.
H. Bui, V. Phan, Thanh-Thien La et al.· Journal of Science & Technol...· 0 citations
Underground railway systems provide a vital solution to urban spatial constraints, yet their construction in weak rock formations poses severe geotechnical challenges. Issues such as ground settlement and tunnel deformation under dynamic train loads can compromise structural integrity and operational safety. This study addresses these complexities by integrating a novel two-dimensional Finite Element model with a complementary viscoelastoplastic analytical framework. This dual approach effectively correlates global dynamic responses with localised continuum effects. A detailed parametric study reveals that axle loads exert a more pronounced effect on the track structure than the tunnel lining, increasing track displacement by 23.9% compared to only 12.3% for the lining. At high operational speeds, the numerical analysis identifies a stability plateau attributed to radiation damping, while the analytical model predicts a conservative upper-bound response. The analysis further demonstrates that increasing the Young’s modulus of the surrounding rock beyond 1000 MPa reduces vertical displacement to negligible levels. Geometrically, while circular cross-sections offer superior radial confinement, they exhibit an 18.5% increase in localised invert settlement compared to horseshoe profiles due to a punching shear mechanism. By establishing a mechanical hierarchy, this study provides engineers with a strategy to use analytical methods for safety baselines and numerical modelling for realistic serviceability limits.
Hafsa Farooq, Sanjay Nimbalkar· Geotechnical and Geological...· 0 citations
Bolted steel connections play a critical role in structural reliability, material efficiency, and the long-term sustainability of the built environment. This paper investigates prying forces in bolted connections through a comparative evaluation of theoretical models from major international standards and detailed Finite Element Analysis (FEA). The study highlights significant discrepancies between code-based predictions and numerical simulations, with implications for over-design, unnecessary material use, and the overall sustainability of steel construction. Results show that while the Eurocode method provides upper-bound estimates based on full plasticity assumptions, it does not capture prying force evolution across loading stages, potentially leading to conservative—and material-intensive—design outcomes. The AISC method, though simple, underestimates prying due to empirical assumptions, whereas the IS 800 approach exhibited excessive sensitivity to secondary geometric parameters. The SANS 10162 criterion, which considers prying forces acceptable below 30% of the applied tension, demonstrated good alignment with FEA results. Overall, the findings confirm that increasing flange or section thickness effectively mitigates prying action; however, unnecessary thickening can be avoided through improved analytical-numerical alignment. The study therefore supports more accurate prediction methods as a pathway to optimised steel usage, resource efficiency, and sustainable structural design.
This technical note presents a practical numerical evaluation of the pull-out behavior of an embedded multi-plate PBL joint in a steel–concrete composite box girder, using the Hanjiang Bridge on the Xi’an–Shiyan High-Speed Railway as an engineering case. A three-dimensional nonlinear finite element model was established to investigate the pull-out capacity, stress distribution, and load-transfer characteristics of the joint, with particular emphasis on the effects of steel-plate spacing and transverse reinforcement arrangement. The results indicate that steel-plate spacing influences the load sharing among the perforated steel plates and leads to a nonuniform stress distribution in the transverse reinforcement. The pull-out capacity predicted by the finite element model differs from that obtained using existing empirical formulas developed primarily for single-plate PBL connectors, suggesting that the interaction among multiple steel plates is not explicitly represented in these formulations. However, because the finite element model has not been validated against direct pull-out test data for the investigated joint, the findings should be regarded as case-specific numerical observations rather than generally applicable conclusions. This study provides a practical basis for evaluating the pull-out behavior of similar embedded multi-plate PBL joints and identifies key parameters requiring further experimental verification.
Yuan-Biao Gao, Long Chen, Xu-Hui Zhou et al.· Turkish Journal of Civil Eng...· 0 citations
