Recent innovations in the geotechnical centrifuge modelling at IWHR

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China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research has an advanced centrifuge modelling platform featuring three cutting-edge geotechnical centrifuges: the 450g-ton large centrifuge, the 1000g high-speed centrifuge, and the 1000g-ton super-large centrifuge. This paper presents recent innovations in centrifuge modelling at IWHR. The first innovation is an experimental device designed to characterize the responses of ultra-large diameter monopiles under complex lateral loadings conditions, such as multi-directional and multi-amplitude lateral loading. Hydraulic actuators are employed to apply lateral loads to the model pile, while MFB electrohydraulic servo-valves and controllers enable closed-loop position or load control. A specially designed module with a spherical hinge is used to connect model pile to the actuator shafts. This allows the pile to rotate and move vertically freely, mimicking prototype conditions accurately. This device has been successfully utilized to investigate the mechanical behaviour of ultra-large diameter monopiles under complex loading conditions. The second innovation is an upgraded tilting box used to study the failure behaviour of soil slopes. An electric motor is utilized to adjust the tilt box to the desired inclination at a specified centrifugal acceleration. Inner deformations of the slope are monitored using high-resolution distributed optical fibre based on optical frequency domain reflectometry and optical heterodyne detection methodologies. This upgraded apparatus has been effectively utilized to explore the failure mechanisms of both unreinforced and reinforced soil slopes.

4th Asia-Pacific Conference on Physical Modelling in Geotechnics (ACPMG2024)

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