Two-dimensional consolidation analysis using an elasto-viscoplastic constitutive equation

A two-dimensional consolidation analysis of clay deposits was made with an elasto-viscoplastic constitutive model and Biot's consolidation theory. One- and two-dimensional consolidation problems were analysed numerically by the finite element and finite difference methods. Results show that the proposed method can describe the effect of sample thickness and aging on consolidation phenomena. The two-dimensional behaviour of a clay foundation during the construction of embankments also was simulated.     

An analytical study of the effect of penetration rate on piezocone tests in clay

Finite element cavity expansion analysis investigating the effect of penetration rate on piezocone tests in clay is presented. A coupled analysis was performed, in which the rate of cavity expansion was linked to the penetration rate of the cone and the cone angle, using the assumption that the deformation was wholly radial, and took place only between the cone tip and the cone shoulder. The soil was modelled using modified cam clay with two sets of parameters and varying values of overconsolidation ratio (OCR). The influence of penetration rate on the stress and pore pressure distributions was examined. For slower penetration rates, the excess pore pressure at the cone shoulder is lower since consolidation is permitted coincident with penetration. The radial profiles of post‐penetration voids ratio demonstrate that partially drained penetration is permitted by volume change in the near field, in addition to radial movement in the far field. The radial distribution of excess pore pressure after slow penetration differs from the undrained case, with a relatively low radial gradient existing at the cone face. As a result, the dissipation curves after slow penetration lag behind those following fast penetration. The cone velocity is made dimensionless by normalizing with the coefficient of consolidation and the cone diameter. ‘Backbone’ curves of normalized velocity against normalized tip resistance and excess pore pressure capturing the transition from undrained to drained penetration are derived. The normalized pore pressure backbone curve is unique, whilst the normalized tip resistance shows a small dependency on OCR. These backbone penetration curves are compared with centrifuge model piezocone tests conducted at varying rates, and subsequent dissipation tests. The numerical and experimental results suggest that the value of consolidation coefficient operative during the dissipation phase is 2–4 times higher than the virgin compression value due to changes in the operative soil stiffness, as demonstrated from the stress paths of individual soil elements. The use of multi‐rate penetration tests to deduce values of consolidation coefficient is discussed, in light of these differences. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Consolidation of sensitive clays: a numerical investigation

Consolidation of sensitive clay layers, which have significant compressibility at different stress states, is investigated via a nonlinear one-dimensional consolidation approach with a piecewise linear e ~ log₁₀σ′ model. The behaviour of sensitive clays during consolidation and the limitations of conventional consolidation theory are addressed. It is shown that (1) the sensitive clay layer can be divided by the preconsolidation pressure into two zones, that is, high- and low-compressibility zones. The progressive destruction of particle cementation bonding through the soil layer is shown by the moving front of the interface between these two zones; (2) the excess pore pressure dissipation primarily takes place in the low-compressibility zone, which results in a small settlement during the early stages of consolidation; (3) conventional consolidation theory highly overestimates the settlement and gives a poor prediction of effective stress distribution.     

Effect of overburden pressure and degree of saturation on compressibility characteristics

The settlement of a structure founded on clay comprises of immediate and consolidation settlements. In the case of clays, consolidation settlement is more than immediate settlement. The parameters influencing consolidation settlement of a normally loaded clay layer are degree of saturation (S%), void ratio (e) of soil prior to excavation, amount of overburden (σ_o) removed, amount of rebound and intensity of loading (σ) upon building superstructure. This paper presents the effect of the above parameters on compressibility characteristics of a clay. The different steps undertaken for footing construction were simulated in the laboratory. Remoulded clay samples were prepared from oven-dry fraction passing 425 μm sieve. The density of the samples was kept constant at 13 kN/m³. Degree of saturation was varied at 25%, 50%, 75% and 100%. The surcharge on the samples (overburden in the case of field clay layer) was varied as 25 kPa, 50 kPa and 100 kPa. Compressibility characteristics such as initial compression under the applied surcharge (overburden), rebound upon removal of surcharge and recompression were studied through one-dimensional consolidation tests. The rate and amount of initial compression, rebound, e-σ and e-log σ curves, compression index (C_c), coefficient of compressibility (a_v) and coefficient of volume compressibility (m_v) were studied.     

不同固结条件下黏土数值化建模的研究

研究了不同初始固结压力条件对黏土本构关系的影响。进行了2组不同固结条件下的排水压缩试验,即等压固结条件和K0固结条件。采用数值建模方法,以 和 为硬化参数的双屈服面模型为框架,通过对试验数据空间的反演获得两种不同初始条件下的黏土弹塑性本构关系,并在整个应力场 可视化。将该数值模型嵌入有限元程序对三轴压缩试验进行数值模拟,并与试验曲线及相同路径下的剑桥模型和Duncan-Chang模型关系曲线进行对比。结果表明,数值建模方法有较好的容错性,能很好地反映应力历史的影响,能模拟真实应力路径。     

Numerical simulation of elasto-plastic electro-osmosis consolidation at large strain

In this paper, a numerical solution for the electro-osmosis consolidation of clay in multi-dimensional domains at large strains is presented, with the coupling of the soil mechanical behaviour, pore water transport and electrical fields being considered. In particular, the Modified Cam Clay model is employed to describe the elasto-plastic behaviour of clay, and some empirical expressions are used to consider the nonlinear variation of the hydraulic and electrical conductivities of the soil mass during the consolidation processes. The implementation of the theoretical model in a finite element code allows for analysis of the evolution of the transient response of the clay subjected to electro-osmosis treatment. The proposed model is verified via comparison with data from a large strain electro-osmosis laboratory test, to demonstrate its accuracy and effectiveness. Various numerical examples are also investigated to study the deformation characteristics and time-dependent evolution of the excess pore pressure. Finally, a well-documented field application of electro-osmosis is simulated to provide further verification. The results show that the numerical solution is effective in predicting the nonlinear behaviour of clay during electro-osmosis consolidation.     

Finite element analysis of consolidation of layered clay soils using an elastic visco-plastic model

This paper presents a general one-dimensional (1-D) finite element (FE) procedure for a highly non-linear 1-D elastic visco-plastic (1-D EVP) model proposed by Yin and Graham for consolidation analysis of layered clay soils. In formulating the 1-D FE procedure, a trapezoidal formula is used to avoid the unsymmetry of the stiffness matrix for a Newton (modified Newton) iteration scheme. Unlike many other 1-D FE approaches in which the initial in situ stresses (or stress/strain states) are considered indirectly or even not considered, the initial in situ stress/strain states are taken into account directly in this paper. The proposed FE procedure is used for analysis of 1-D consolidation of a clay with published test results in the literature. The FE modelling results are in good agreement with the measured results. The FE model and procedure is then used to analyse the consolidation of a multi-layered clay soils with a parametric study on the effects of the variations of creep parameters in Yin and Graham's 1-D EVP model. It is found that the creep parameters ψ/V and t₀ have significant influence on the compression and porewater pressure dissipation. For some boundary conditions, changes of parameters in one layer will have some effects on the consolidation behaviour of another layer due to the different consolidation rates. Finally, the importance of initial stress/strain states is illustrated and discussed. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

洞庭湖地区典型网纹红土的单轴固结实验研究

为研究洞庭湖地区典型网纹红土的单向固结特性和规律,分别取原状土样和扰动土样在不同的荷载下进行单轴固结实验。分析实验结果表明：原状网纹红土的压缩性比扰动土低很多;在次固结阶段,原状土样的蠕变曲线不平滑,且没有明显的稳定蠕变阶段,而扰动土样的蠕变曲线平滑,有明显的稳定蠕变阶段;原状土样达到变形稳定所需时间比扰动土样短的多。研究还发现非饱和网纹红土的单向固结存在线性规律,并推导出其单向固结经验方程,方程中的一个参数可用于准确预测网纹红土单向固结的最终沉降量。     

Consolidation of sensitive clay with vertical drain

The coefficient of consolidation is one of the most important parameters that control the rate of consolidation. Conventional consolidation theories assume that the coefficient of consolidation is constant during the whole consolidation process. In the case of sensitive clay, the coefficient of consolidation is strongly dependent on the level of effective stress of clay. With the dissipation of pore water pressure and the increase of effective stress, the soil structure of the upper subsoil is gradually destroyed downwards and its coefficient of consolidation becomes smaller. At the same time, the coefficient of permeability of the vertical drains drops down because of the kinking or bending effect. The destructured upper subsoil and the kinking of the vertical drain hinder the dissipation of the pore pressure in the lower subsoil. This paper presents a model to describe the above important phenomena during the consolidation of sensitive clay with vertical drain. The solution for proposed model can be obtained by extending the closed‐form solution of the consolidation of double‐layered ground with vertical drain by the interactive method introducing the concept of the moving boundary and the reduction of discharge capacity of vertical drain. The numerical results obtained from the finite element method package PLAXIS (Ver. 7.2) are adopted to compare those obtained from the present algorithm. Moreover, the rationality of the moving boundary is explained by the distributions of the excess pore water pressure in natural soil zone along the radial direction. Wenzhou airport project is taken as a case study in this paper. The results for the sensitive soil with decaying sand drain agree very well with the in situ measured data. The calculated results can properly explain two general phenomena observed in the consolidation of soft sensitive soil ground with vertical drains: one is that the time to achieve the same consolidation degree is much longer under heavy loading than that under light loading; the other is that the consolidation speed is much slower in the lower subsoil than in the upper subsoil. Finally, it is indicated that the vertical drains can decrease the hindrance effect of the destructured subsoil. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Development of Intermediate Microfabric in Kaolin Clay and Its Consolidation Behaviour

The effect of microfabric on the mechanical behaviour of clays has been explored previously based on the response of dispersed and flocculated microfabrics only. However, the natural clays often have the geometric arrangement of particles between these two extreme cases which can be termed as intermediate microfabric. This paper explores the formation of intermediate microfabric of kaolin clay and its impact on soil’s consolidation behaviour by performing self-weight consolidation, slurry consolidation and 1-D consolidation tests. The effect of calgon content (dispersing agent) on geometric arrangement of the particles has been evaluated through cluster size distribution by performing double hydrometer tests. Then these clay slurries have been used to perform the AFM (Atomic Force Microscopy) test to obtain the variation in average angle of particle orientation with respect to the calgon content present in the slurry. AFM technique provides 3D image of the clay sample and 2D image with Z-information with the potential of measuring intermediate microfabric of clayey soil quantitatively including dispersed and flocculated microfabrics. Other traditional techniques such as SEM, TEM & XRD are limited to only qualitative analysis of soil’s microfabric, thus, having no capability to measure intermediate microfabric of clay. A methodology of preparing bulk specimens of clay with intermediate microfabric has been developed using slurry consolidation technique; and then these specimens have been consolidated under 1-D loading to evaluate the effect of intermediate microfabric on compressibility and permeability of clay. In this study, all the experiments reports that the dispersed type geometric arrangement increases with the increase in calgon content in soil up to 2 % and then the reverse behaviour is observed at 3 %; which may depend on the required amount of sodium cations to neutralize the negatively charged faces of the clay platelets present in the slurry.     

An analytical solution of one-dimensional consolidation for soft sensitive soil ground

An analytical solution of one-dimensional consolidation for soft sensitive soil ground is presented. The moving boundary is introduced to indicate the notable change of consolidation behaviour of sensitive soil with the increase of stress level. It is assumed that the soil structure of the upper subsoil gradually destroys downwards with the dissipation of pore pressure, and the coefficient of consolidation as well as the coefficient of permeability of the upper subsoil become small, which hinders the dissipation of pore pressure of the lower subsoil. The consolidation degree curve obtained from the present solution is found to lie between the two curves obtained from Terzaghi one-dimensional consolidation solution with the parameters of the undisturbed soil and the remolded soil. The calculated results provide a new explanation for a general phenomenon in the consolidation of soft sensitive soil ground, as that for high loadings the consolidation is longer than for small ones. It should be pointed out from this study that both the deep mixing method and the long vertical drains methods are effective techniques for improving deep sensitive soil ground. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Modelling of the physical behaviour of clay barriers close to water saturation

The physical properties of bentonite-based buffer materials for nuclear waste repositories have been investigated by a number of different laboratory tests. These tests have yielded a material model that is valid for conditions close to water saturation and is useful for describing: (a) the stress, strain and volume change behaviour; (b) the pore pressure and flow of water; and (c) the thermal and thermomechanical response.

The material model is based on the Drucker-Prager Plasticity model and a Porous Elastic Model. The effective stress concept and Darcy's law are applied and the swelling/consolidation and thermomechanical processes are coupled according to the separate mechanical properties of the pore water, the solids and the clay skeleton. The model can be used by the finite-element program ABAQUS.

The model has been tested in several laboratory and field verification tests. Comparison between measured and calculated behaviour shows that the general behaviour is described properly and several calculations of different scenarios have been made for the Swedish KBS 3 concept. However, certain processes, like the hysteresis effect at consolidation/swelling, the curved stress-strain relation at shearing, and the curved failure envelope, are not modelled in a perfectly accurate way and an improved material model is proposed here. It combines the behaviour of the Cam-clay model on the wet side with the more relevant plastic behaviour of a modified Drucker-Prager model with a curved failure envelope and the possibility to introduce strain softening after failure.

The paper presents some laboratory results that are the basis of the first model. It also shows the application of the model to finite-element calculations of some laboratory tests. Comparisons between the calculations and measured results expose some disadvantages of the model and a concept for an improved model is suggested.     

Numerical analysis of pile behaviour under lateral loads in layered elastic–plastic soils

This paper presents results from a finite element study on the behaviour of a single pile in elastic–plastic soils. Pile behaviour in uniform sand and clay soils as well as cases with sand layer in clay deposit and clay layer in sand deposit were analysed and cross compared to investigate layering effects. Finite element results were used to generate p–y curves and then compared with those obtained from methods commonly used in practice. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

固结压力相关的黏土动力特性模型研究及应用

对一种粉质黏土进行了不同固结压力下的循环单剪试验,得到了相应各固结压力下的动剪模量和阻尼比随动剪应变幅值非线性变化的 曲线和 曲线,并对其进行了归一化。试验结果表明,即使是归一化以后的动力特性曲线,仍然因固结压力不同而出现差异;固结压力越大, 曲线衰减越慢,而 曲线增加也越缓。通过建立最大动剪模量、最大阻尼比和参考剪应变与固结压力之间的试验关系式,建议了一种实用的固结压力相关的黏土动力特性模型。最后,通过算例表明,场地土体动力特性随固结压力而变化的特征不但会影响场地地震反应的幅值,而且将影响其频谱特性,且场地覆盖层厚度越大,影响越强烈。     

土结构性对天然软黏土压缩特性的影响

天然软黏土普遍受到土结构性的影响,明确结构性对软黏土压缩特性的影响机制显得尤为重要。对两个天然软黏土原状样进行室内一维固结试验,得到的压缩曲线与已有文献中搜集的39个原状样压缩曲线进行比较。压缩曲线在对数坐标下均呈现倒S形,并存在明显的结构屈服压力。采用双对数坐标处理后,压缩曲线可由双直线较好地表示,易于确定固结屈服压力。41个原状样屈服后的压缩指数和屈服点含水率之间的定量关系,与基于重塑土定量公式计算的压缩指数与固结屈服压力下重塑土含水率的定量关系相一致。对比结果表明：天然软黏土屈服后的压缩特性取决于屈服时的含水率,而与土结构性无关,解释了天然土压缩曲线位于重塑土上方是由于对应屈服点含水率不同而引起的。     

Consolidation due to shear loads distributed over a rectangular area

The paper presents an analytical study of the consolidation of a semi-infinite clay layer subjected to a shear load distributed over a rectangular area. Biot's theory is made use of, along with the three displacement functions suggested by Verruijt. A complex Fourier and Laplace transformation technique enables the solution to be obtained in terms of non-dimensional parameters. Settlements and pore pressures under the loaded area are evaluated for two types of surface drainage conditions. Extension of the solutions to point loads is also suggested. The Mandel–Cryer effect is seen in the behaviour of the pore pressure.     

某软土深基坑工程时间效应有限元分析

软土地区的深基坑因土体的固结作用和流变性而具有了时间效应。本文以Biot固结有限元法为基础,用三元件模型中的第一个线性弹簧模拟固结作用,弹性模量考虑了开挖应力路径和应力历史的影响;另外一部分(KELVIN模型)来模拟土体的流变性,以实际变形的反演来得到两个参数的大致取值,再对基坑的变形情况以及进一步开挖进行分析。假定为正常固结饱和粘土,平面应变问题。通过对某饱和软粘土地基深基坑开挖工程实例的分析,得到的挡墙水平位移曲线与实测曲线很吻合,表明程序较好地反映出基坑的时间效应。     

Sensitive bounding surface constitutive model for structured clay

The main purpose of the paper is to present a relatively simple, yet realistic, constitutive model for simulations of structured sensitive clays. The proposed constitutive model can simulate 1‐D and isotropic consolidation, and drained and undrained shear response of sensitive structured clay. The proposed sensitive bounding surface model is based on concepts from the modified Cam clay model 8 and bounding surface plasticity 27 , with the addition of a simple degradation law. The key material parameters are M, λ, κ, and ν from the modified Cam clay framework, h from the bounding surface framework to model a smoothed elasto‐plastic transition, and ω_v, ω_q, and S_sr to model softening associated with destructuration. The model has separate parameters to model destructuration caused by volumetric strain and deviatoric strain. The model is capable of modeling unusual behavior of strain softening during 1‐D compression (i.e., a reduction of effective stress as void ratio decreases). A good match between test results and the model simulation is demonstrated. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Assessment of Marine Clay Improvement Under Reclamation Fills by in-situ Testing Methods

In ground improvement projects with prefabricated vertical drains, the duration of the preloading period is set in advance based on the predetermined time rate of consolidation of the compressible layer. If prediction is accurately done, the required degree of consolidation is met at the pre-determined preloading time. As such, there is a requirement for in-situ tests to be carried out just prior to the removal of surcharge to assess the degree of consolidation of the improved ground. In-situ tests were carried out after 23 months of surcharge loading at the In-Situ Test Site within the Changi East Reclamation Project in the Republic of Singapore. In-situ testing works in this research study comprises the use of field vane shear, piezocone, flat dilatometer and self-boring pressuremeter. The in-situ tests were carried out to determine the shear strength and degree of consolidation of the Singapore marine clay at Changi after 23 months of surcharge loading. The In-Situ Test Site consisted of a Vertical Drain Area as well as an untreated Control Area. Both areas were located adjacent to each other and were surcharged simultaneously to the same level and surcharge left in place for a period of 23 months. Comparison was made between the in-situ test results of the Vertical Drain Area and the untreated Control Area.