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A modified generalized scaling law for the similitude of dynamic strain in centrifuge modeling

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Abstract

Soil strain is the key parameter to control the elasto-plastic deformation and even the failure processes. To overcome the defect that the strain of the model soil is always smaller than that of the prototype in Iai’s generalized scaling law (GSL), a modified scaling law was proposed based on Iai’s GSL to secure the same dynamic shear strain between the centrifuge model and the prototype by modulating the amplitude and frequency of the input motion at the base. A suite of dynamic centrifuge model tests of dry sand level ground was conducted with the same overall scaling factor (λ=200) under different centrifugal accelerations by using the technique of “modeling of models” to validate the modified GSL. The test results show that the modified GSL could achieve the same dynamic strain in model as that of the prototype, leading to better modeling for geotechnical problems where dynamic strain dominates the response or failure of soils. Finally, the applicability of the proposed scaling law and possible constraints on geometry scaling due to the capability limits of existing centrifuge shaking tables are discussed.

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Acknowledgement

This study is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 51988101, 51978613, 52278374) and the Chinese Program of Introducing Talents of Discipline to University (the 111 Project, B18047). The first author is funded by the China Scholarship Council (CSC) from the Ministry of Education of China.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. MOE Key Laboratory of Soft Soils and Geoenvironmental Engineering, Institute of Geotechnical Engineering, Center for Hypergravity Experiment and Interdisciplinary Research, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China

    Qiang Ma, Daosheng Ling, Di Meng & Yanguo Zhou

  2. Disaster Prevention Research Institute, Kyoto University, Gokasho, Uji, Kyoto, 611-0011, Japan

    Kyohei Ueda

  3. Department of Civil Engineering, Zhejiang University, Anzhong Building B-404, Zijingang Campus, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, 310058, China

    Yanguo Zhou

Authors
  1. Qiang Ma
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  2. Daosheng Ling
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  3. Di Meng
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  4. Kyohei Ueda
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  5. Yanguo Zhou
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yanguo Zhou.

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Supported by: National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant Nos. 51988101, 51978613 and 52278374, and the Chinese Program of Introducing Talents of Discipline to University (the 111 Project, B18047)

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Ma, Q., Ling, D., Meng, D. et al. A modified generalized scaling law for the similitude of dynamic strain in centrifuge modeling. Earthq. Eng. Eng. Vib. 22, 589–600 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11803-023-2189-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11803-023-2189-5

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