| The pipe-soil interaction is studied by using the finite element software, ABAQUS/CAE Version 6.5-1 as a symmetric model of embankment installation to study the effect of bedding property and thickness on pipe-soil interaction with increase in the height of fill. A three-dimensional finite element model (FEM) of the concrete pipe and surrounding soil is developed. The FEM is capable of simulating material, geometric, and contact nonlinearities which employs a nonlinear incremental solution algorithm. Several different element types and mesh size were tested to obtain the optimum converged mesh. These elements were eight-noded linear brick (C3D8R) and six-noded linear triangular prism (C3D6) for modeling of the concrete pipe and surrounding soil. The behavior of the 3-D model is investigated by varying the pipe diameter, backfill height, bedding thickness, and bedding material. Three material constitutive relationships of soil involving in the model are gravelly sand (Sn), sandy silt (Si), and silty clay (CL).; To study the effect of bedding thickness on the pipe wall, due to the increment of backfill soil depth, contact elements were employed in the interface between each two regions. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)... |
