With the Bulk Jupiter accident, the dynamic separation behavior of solid bulk cargoes in sea transportation, which is different from the usual liquefaction of cargoes, has gradually come to people's attention and is an almost empty field that urgently needs to be researched. In this work, we first conducted vibration table tests for bauxite, replaced bauxite with transparent soil with the same particle size distribution and moisture content, and combined image processing and analysis techniques to complete the detailed visualization of the dynamic separation process. Through the above research, this article reveals the essential characteristics of dynamic separation, including the changing rules of layer-wise water content, pore water pressure, particle motion, and pore water migration. It is concluded that the most apparent feature of the dynamic separation process is the generation of a free liquid surface containing fine particles in the upper layer. The article concludes with a systematic study of the dynamic separation of typical mineral soil. The novel experimental system developed in this study contributes to elucidating the mechanism of dynamic separation of minerals and soil from a precise perspective. [GRAPHICS] .

As an innovative technology, transparent soil similar material can actively promote the development of soil model experiments by clarifying the structure, ratio, and strength characteristics. In order to study the factors affecting the mechanical properties of transparent soil materials, fused quartz is chosen as the aggregate material, nano-scale hydrophobic fumed silica is used as the binder, and a mixture of dodecane and No. 15 white oil is employed as the constituent material for transparent soils. In this study, indoor direct shear tests are conducted, and the range method is used to analyze the factors of quartz particle size, binder content and proportion, moisture content and dry density of the mixture solution. The relationship between the strength properties of transparent soil material and the above variables are quantitatively investigated. The results show that the transparent soil similar material can exhibit softening or hardening properties by changing the proportion of influencing factors, which can be suitable to most soils. Dry density has the most significant impact on cohesion while particle size of quartz has the greatest influence on the internal friction angle. The strength parameter of transparent soil has exponential distribution relationship with moisture content and linear distribution relationship with dry density. The cohesion and powder content are distributed exponentially while the internal friction angle and powder content are linearly distributed. As the particle size of quartz increases, the cohesion decreases overall and the internal friction angle increases. The strength parameters of transparent soil have a logarithmic distribution relationship with the unevenness coefficient of particle size and a linear relationship with the curvature coefficient of particle size. This study has established a quantitative control relationship between the key parameters of transparent soil materials and their mechanical properties. The revealed correlations between gradation of particles and strength parameters can serve as a guideline for simulation and visualization techniques based on transparent soils. It is of great significance for the visualization of the evolution mechanisms of geotechnical disasters.

The excavation of the foundation pit impacts the safety, stability, and normal operational functionality of adjacent existing tunnels. With the increasing urban building density, it is becoming more common to conduct foundation pit excavation in close proximity to existing tunnels, which may result in deformation and damage to the tunnels. The impact of foundation pit excavation on adjacent existing tunnels was investigated using a transparent soil scale model and Particle Image Velocimetry technology. The horizontal and vertical distances between the foundation pit and tunnel, as well as the soil consolidation pressure, were individually examined to analyze their respective trends and magnitudes of impact on the maximum vertical deformation of adjacent existing tunnels. The findings suggest that as the excavation depth increases, the deformation of existing tunnels is increasingly impacted by the excavation of foundation pit. However, this impact decreases with greater horizontal or vertical distance between the foundation pit and tunnel. Furthermore, the impact of vertical distance between the tunnel and foundation pit on tunnel deformation is more significant. The pre-consolidation strength of the soil mass significantly impacts the deformation of the existing tunnel. In order to minimize tunnel deformation in practical engineering, constructive recommendations were proposed.

The construction of a power grillage is of great significance for promoting local economic development. Identifying the characteristics of foundation damage is a prerequisite for ensuring the normal service of the power grillage. To investigate the bearing mechanism and failure mode of the grillage root foundations, a novel research method with a transparent soil material was used to conduct model tests on different types of foundations using particle image velocimetry (PIV) technology. The results indicate that, compared to traditional foundations, the uplift and horizontal bearing capacities of grillage root foundations increased by 34.35% to 38.89% and by 10.76% to 14.29%, respectively. Furthermore, increasing the base plate size and burial depth can further enhance the extent of the soil displacement field. Additionally, PIV analysis revealed that the roots improve pile-soil interactions, transferring the load to the surrounding undisturbed soil and creating a parabolic displacement field during the uplift process, which significantly suppresses foundation displacement. Lastly, based on experimental data, an Elman neural network was employed to construct a load-bearing capacity prediction model, which was optimized using genetic algorithms (GAs) and the whale optimization algorithm (WOA), maintaining a prediction error within 3%. This research demonstrates that root arrangement enhances the bearing capacity and stability of foundations, while optimized neural networks can accurately predict the bearing capacity of grillage root foundations, thus broadening the application scope of transparent soil materials and offering novel insights into the application of artificial intelligence technology in geotechnical engineering. For stakeholders in the bearing manufacturing industry, this study provides important insights on how to improve load-bearing capacity and stability through the optimization of the basic design, which can help reduce material costs and construction challenges, and enhance the reliability of power grillage infrastructure.

Micropile groups (MPGs) are typical landslide resistant structures. To investigate the effects of these two factors on the micropile-soil interaction mechanism, seven sets of transparent soil model experiments were conducted on miniature cluster piles. The soil was scanned and photographed, and the particle image velocimetry (PIV) technique was used to obtain the deformation characteristics of the pile and soil during lateral loading. The spatial distribution information of the soil behind the pile was obtained by a 3D reconstruction program. The results showed that a sufficient roughness of the pile surface was a necessary condition for the formation of a soil arch. If the surface of the pile was smooth, stable arch foundation formation was difficult. When the roughness of the pile surface increases, the soil arch range behind the pile and the load-sharing ratio of the pile and soil will increase. After the roughness reaches a certain level, the above indicators hardly change. Pile spacing within the range of 5-7 d (pile diameters) was suitable. The support effect was poor when the pile spacing was too large. No stable soil arch can be formed, and the soil slips out from between the piles.

The use of a micropile group is an effective method for small and medium-sized slope management. However, there is limited research on the pile-soil interaction mechanism of micropile groups. Based on transparent soil and PIV technology, a test platform for the lateral load testing of slopes was constructed, and eight groups of transparent soil slope model experiments were performed. The changes in soil pressure and pile top displacement at the top of the piles during lateral loading were obtained. We scanned and photographed the slope, and obtained the deformation characteristics of the soil interior based on particle image velocimetry. A three-dimensional reconstruction program was developed to generate the displacement isosurface behind the pile. The impacts of various arrangement patterns and connecting beams on the deformation attributes and pile-soil interaction mechanism were explored, and the pile-soil interaction model of group piles was summarized. The results show that the front piles in a staggered arrangement bore more lateral thrust, and the distribution of soil pressure on each row of piles was more uniform. The connecting beams enhanced the overall stiffness of the pile group, reduced pile displacement, facilitated coordinated deformation of the pile group, and enhanced the anti-sliding effect of the pile-soil composite structure.

Transparent soil (TS) presents immense potential for root phenotyping due to its ability to facilitate high-resolution imaging. However, challenges related to transparency, mechanical properties, and cost hinder its development. Herein, we introduce super-transparent soil (s-TS) prepared via the droplet method using low acyl gellan gum and hydroxyethyl cellulose crosslinked with magnesium ions. The refractive index of the hydroxyethyl cellulose solution (1.345) closely aligns with that of water (1.333) and the low acyl gellan gum solution (1.340), thereby significantly enhancing the transmittance of hydrogel-based transparent soil. Optimal transmittance (98.45%) is achieved with polymer concentrations ranging from 0.8 to 1.6 wt.% and ion concentrations between 0.01 and 0.09 molL-1. After 60 days of plant cultivation, s-TS maintains a transmittance exceeding 89.5%, enabling the detailed visualization of root growth dynamics. Furthermore, s-TS exhibits remarkable mechanical properties, withstanding a maximum compressive stress of 477 kPa and supporting a maximum load-bearing depth of 186 cm. This innovative approach holds promising implications for advanced root phenotyping studies, fostering the investigation of root heterogeneity and the development of selective expression under controlled conditions.

The characteristics and mechanism of the interaction between seabed foundations and seabed soil are crucial for comprehending the bearing capacity mechanism of seabed foundations. To observe the movement of foundations in seabed soil and the deformation mechanisms of seabed soil, transparent clay and transparent sand with similar mechanical properties to seabed soft clay and sand were prepared in this paper. A transparent soil-PIV model test system was developed to investigate the interaction between seabed foundations and seabed soil. The test system comprises an actuator, a charge-coupled device camera, a control system and two laser devices. The T-bar penetration test and the plate anchor keying test were conducted in transparent clay and transparent sand, respectively, using the developed model test system. The soil flow mechanism during T-bar penetration and the keying behavior of the plate anchor were observed. Results indicated that during the penetration of T-bar, a trapped cavity is formed above the T-bar. The trapped cavity hinders the soil flow and prevents it from entering the full-flow mechanism. The peak load is reached when the anchor rotates to an angle of 24 degrees from the horizontal plane during the keying process. The soil deformation is classified as a shallow failure mechanism, with the affected area extending from the anchor to the sand surface. This study provides a novel approach to investigate the interaction mechanism between seabed foundations and seabed soil.