In port dock engineering, high-piled wharves represent one of the primary structural forms. Damage to the foundation piles is a common issue, influenced by external loads such as impact forces during vessel berthing, slope deformations, and operational loads. This study focuses on the Jungong Road Wharf in Shanghai, utilizing FLAC 3D version 6.0 to conduct dynamic calculations under ship impact loading. The dynamic responses of the structure were analyzed, and various internal forces were extracted during the impact event. By combining concrete cracking failure criteria and fatigue damage theories, the effects of ship collisions on the cracking damage of high-piled wharf structures under different scenarios were assessed. Additionally, the applicability of modal flexibility in high-piled wharf scenarios was evaluated through finite element simulations. The results indicate that the dynamic amplification factor caused by dynamic loading is approximately 1.5, underscoring the necessity of considering this effect in the design and impact analysis of high-piled wharves. The impact loading significantly influences the bending moments of the piles, with inclined piles showing the greatest sensitivity. When a designed ship model collides with the high-piled wharf structure at a speed of 0.2 m/s, the tensile stress in the inclined piles reaches 87% of the ultimate tensile strength of the reinforcement. The impact loading has a relatively minor effect on the axial forces of the piles, a limited influence on the bending moments of the beams, but a considerable impact on the axial forces of the beams. Berthing by oversized vessels and unexpected incidents can lead to more severe damage to high-piled wharf structures. In the finite element simulations, modal flexibility effectively identified the locations of damage, with greater changes in modal flexibility correlating with increased damage severity.
Underground engineering frequently encounters the challenges of high temperatures and high confining pressures. The combined effects of temperature and confining pressure can significantly alter the mechanical properties of rock. Evaluating the impact of these factors on rock is a crucial aspect of engineering. This study investigates the mechanical properties of rocks under various temperature and stress conditions, focusing on the deformation and failure characteristics of four typical rock types: granite, red sandstone, gray sandstone, and shale under temperature-confining pressure coupling. The results indicate that high temperatures cause internal structural damage and crack propagation in rocks, leading to a reduction in compressive strength and elastic modulus. Conversely, high confining pressures can inhibit crack propagation and enhance rock deformation capacity. Additionally, significant differences were observed in the mechanical responses of different rocks; red sandstone and shale predominantly exhibited shear failure under the coupled effects of temperature and confining pressure, whereas granite and gray sandstone exhibited bulging failure. Based on the experimental results, an elastic modulus fitting model considering the temperature-confining pressure coupling effect was proposed, and the parameters of the Drucker–Prager criterion were modified. A constitutive model was constructed to accurately reflect the stress–strain state of rocks under the coupled effects of temperature and confining pressure. The constitutive model results show good agreement with the experimental findings.
Dynamic compaction has been widely applied to reinforce soft soils in port areas due to its high efficiency and cost-effectiveness. However, a comprehensive understanding of the deformation mechanisms and stiffness evolution of treated soils under static and dynamic loading remains limited. This study integrated one-dimensional consolidation tests, resonant column tests, and bender element tests to systematically investigate the mechanical behavior of soft clay before and after dynamic compaction under varying stress levels and loading frequencies. The results show that dynamic compaction significantly enhances the compression modulus and consolidation stability of soft clay while reducing the settlement rate during primary consolidation. The shear modulus exhibits nonlinear degradation with increasing strain, whereas the damping ratio increases rapidly before reaching a plateau, indicating typical strain-dependent behavior. A three-parameter model and a second-order polynomial model effectively characterize the degradation of the shear modulus and the evolution of the damping behavior, respectively. Moreover, the strong consistency between the resonant column and bender element test results enables continuous characterization of the shear stiffness across small- to intermediate-strain ranges. These findings provide theoretical insight and practical guidance for modeling the dynamic response of soft clay and evaluating the effectiveness of dynamic compaction as a ground improvement technique.