A simple hypoplastic model for normally consolidated clay

The paper presents a simple constitutive model for normally consolidated clay. A mathematical formulation, using a single tensor-valued function to define the incrementally nonlinear stress–strain relation, is proposed based on the basic concept of hypoplasticity. The structure of the tensor-valued function is determined in the light of the response envelope. Particular attention is paid towards incorporating the critical state and to the capability for capturing undrained behaviour of clayey soils. With five material parameters that can be determined easily from isotropic consolidation and triaxial compression tests, the model is shown to provide good predictions for the response of normally consolidated clay along various stress paths, including drained true triaxial tests and undrained shear tests.     

SANICLAY: simple anisotropic clay plasticity model

SANICLAY is a new simple anisotropic clay plasticity model that builds on a modification of an earlier model with an associated flow rule, in order to include simulations of softening response under undrained compression following K_o consolidation. Non‐associativity is introduced by adopting a yield surface different than the plastic potential surface. Besides, the isotropic hardening of the yield surface both surfaces evolve according to a combined distortional and rotational hardening rule, simulating the evolving anisotropy. Although built on the general premises of critical state soil mechanics, the model induces a critical state line in the void ratio–mean effective stress space, which is a function of anisotropy. To ease interpretation, the model formulation is presented firstly in the triaxial stress space and subsequently, its multiaxial generalization is developed systematically, in a form appropriate for implementation in numerical codes. The SANICLAY is shown to provide successful simulation of both undrained and drained rate‐independent behaviour of normally consolidated sensitive clays, and to a satisfactory degree of accuracy of overconsolidated clays. The new model requires merely three constants more than those of the modified Cam clay model, all of which are easily calibrated from well‐established laboratory tests following a meticulously presented procedure. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Elastoplastic model with loading memory surfaces (LMS) for monotonic and cyclic behaviour of geomaterials

A new elastoplastic model called loading memory surface based on the critical state concept and the multi‐surface framework is proposed for geomaterials. The model uses a hypoelastic formulation and two plastic mechanisms. The formulations of the model are made in three‐dimensional stress–strain space and work under both monotonic and cyclic loadings. A newly introduced formalism makes it possible to obtain the cyclic response directly from the monotonic loading one. This formalism gives a three‐dimensional generalization of the well‐known Masing rule. The model has been validated against test results of Hostun sand under several conditions: monotonic and cyclic, drained and undrained, tests in compression and in extension, and at different confining pressures and different densities. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A simple critical-state-based double-yield-surface model for clay behavior under complex loading

The critical state concept has been widely used in soil mechanics. The purpose of this study is to apply this concept in the framework of multi-mechanism elastoplasticity. The developed model has two yield surfaces: one for shear sliding and one for compression. In this model, the location of the critical state line is explicitly considered and related to the actual material density to control the peak strength and the phase transformation characteristics. The stress reversal technique is incorporated into the model for describing clay behavior under complex loading including changes of stress direction. The determination of the model parameters is discussed; it requires only one drained or undrained triaxial test up to failure with an initial isotropic consolidation stage. The model is used to simulate drained and undrained tests under monotonic loading with different over-consolidation ratios on various remolded and natural clays, including true triaxial tests with different Lode’s angles. Drained and undrained tests under cyclic loadings are also simulated by using the set of parameters determined from monotonic tests. The comparison between experimental results and numerical simulations demonstrate a good predictive ability of this new simple model.     

An anisotropic elastoplastic model for soft clays based on logarithmic contractancy

A new constitutive model for soft structured clays is developed based on an existing model called S‐CLAY1S, which is a Cam clay type model that accounts for anisotropy and destructuration. The new model (E‐SCLAY1S) uses the framework of logarithmic contractancy to introduce a new parameter that controls the shape of the yield surface as well as the plastic potential (as an assumed associated flow rule is applied). This new parameter can be used to fit the coefficient of earth pressure at rest, the undrained shear strength or the stiffness under shearing stress paths predicted by the model. The improvement to previous constitutive models that account for soil fabric and bonding is formulated within the contractancy framework such that the model predicts the uniqueness of the critical state line and its slope is independent of the contractancy parameter. Good agreement has been found between the model predictions and published laboratory results for triaxial compression tests. An important finding is that the contractancy parameter, and consequently the shape of the yield surface, seems to change with the degree of anisotropy; however, further study is required to investigate this response. From published data, the yield surface for isotropically consolidated clays seems ‘bullet’ or ‘almond’ shaped, similar to that of the Cam clay model; while for anisotropically consolidated clays, the yield surface is more elliptical, like a rotated and distorted modified Cam clay yield surface. © 2015 The Authors. International Journal for Numerical and Analytical Methods in Geomechanics published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.     

Evaluation of a constitutive model for clays and sands: Part I – sand behaviour

This paper evaluates the performance of a generalized effective stress soil model for predicting the rate independent behaviour of freshly deposited sands, while a companion paper describes model capabilities for clays and silts. Most material parameters can be obtained from standard laboratory data, including hydrostatic or one‐dimensional compression, drained and undrained triaxial shear testing. A compilation of data on compression behaviour allows for estimation of compression parameters when this type of data is not available. Extensive comparisons of model predictions with measured data from undrained triaxial shear tests shows that the model gives excellent predictions of the transition from dilative to contractive shear response as the confining pressure and/or the initial formation void ratio increases. A parametric study of drained response shows that the model describes realistically the variation of peak friction angle and dilation rate as a function of confining pressure and density when compared with an empirical correlation valid for many sands. The proposed formulation predicts a unique critical state locus for both drained and undrained triaxial testing which is non‐linear over the entire range of stresses and is in excellent agreement with recent experimental data. Overall, the model provides excellent predictions of the stress–strain–strength relationships over a wide range of confining pressures and formation densities. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Critical-state-based Mohr-Coulomb plasticity model for sands

This paper presents a refined Mohr-Coulomb model for sands based on the critical state theory. The refined model adjusts a dilatancy angle based on the state parameter with respect to the critical state line. Furthermore, a friction angle is decomposed into the critical state friction angle and a portion of the dilatancy angle to capture the peak phenomenon of dilative sands. The elemental simulations of the drained and undrained triaxial compression tests on Toyoura sand using the refined model showed much better performance than the conventional Mohr-Coulomb model.     

Anisotropic viscoplastic modeling of rate‐dependent behavior of clay

The objective of this study is to derive an effective stress‐based constitutive law capable of predicting rate‐dependent stress–strain, stress path and undrained shear strength and creep behavior. The flow rule used in the MIT‐E3 model and viscoplasticity theory is employed in the derivation. The model adopts the yield surface capable of representing the yield behavior of the Taipei silty clay and assumes that it is initially symmetric about the K₀‐line. A method is then developed to compute the gyration and expansion of the loading surface to simulate the anisotropic behavior due to the principal stress rotation after shear. There are 11 parameters required for the model to describe the soil behavior and six of them are exactly the same as those used in the Modified Cam‐clay model. The five additional parameters can be obtained by parametric studies or conventional soil tests, such as consolidation tests, triaxial compression and extension tests. Finally, verification of the model for the anisotropic behavior, creep behavior and the rate‐dependent undrained stress–strain and shear strength of the Taipei silty clay is conducted. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Selection of sand models and identification of parameters using an enhanced genetic algorithm

Numerous constitutive models of granular soils have been developed during the last few decades. As a consequence, how to select an appropriate model with the necessary features based on conventional tests and with an easy way of identifying parameters for geotechnical applications has become a major issue. This paper aims to discuss the selection of sand models and parameters identification by using genetic algorithm. A real‐coded genetic algorithm is enhanced for the optimization with high efficiency. Models with gradually varying features (elastic‐perfectly plastic modelling, nonlinear stress–strain hardening, critical state concept and two‐surface concept) are selected from numerous sand models as examples for optimization. Conventional triaxial tests on Hostun sand are selected as the objectives in the optimization. Four key points are then discussed in turn: (i) which features are necessary to be accounted for in constitutive modelling of sand; (ii) which type of tests (drained and/or undrained) should be selected for an optimal identification of parameters; (iii) what is the minimum number of tests that should be selected for parameter identification; and (iv) what is the suitable and least strain level of objective tests to obtain reliable and reasonable parameters. Finally, a useful guide, based on all comparisons, is provided at the end of the discussion. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Steady State Strength Behavior of Yamuna Sand

The paper pertains to the study of steady state or residual strength of sandy soils (Yamuna sand lying in the Indo-Gangetic alluvial plains) by consolidated rebounded drained triaxial test with volume change measurements and strain-controlled consolidated undrained test as well. The observed behavior obtained from these two tests is then compared to check their comparative merit. The same was also compared with those of Ganga and Toyoura sand, and with the predicted behavior obtained by using a semi empirical model. The results obtained from rebounded drained and undrained tests are found to be in good agreement. The curvature of ultimate steady state line of Yamuna sand is similar in trend to Ganga and Toyoura sand in the initial mean effective principle stress range; but the experimental observations with reference to Yamuna sand is not in good agreement with the model predictions in the region of higher mean normal stress. A semi empirical general model has been developed fitting the data for better prediction of the steady state behavior.     

珠江口海洋软土不排水抗剪强度及循环弱化特性试验研究

为了获得广东珠江口海洋软土的不排水抗剪强度,分别开展了不固结不排水剪切和固结不排水剪切三轴试验、无侧限抗压试验、现场取土离心机正常固结模型地基的T-bar静力贯入试验以及现场十字板剪切试验和静力触探试验（CPT）,并采用土力学经验公式进行计算,确定了珠江口海洋软土不排水抗剪强度沿深度的分布规律,并综合评价了各种方法的有效性。为了获得该区域软土的循环弱化规律,分别开展了循环动三轴试验、现场取土离心机正常固结模型地基的T-bar循环贯入试验和现场单桩水平循环加载试验,揭示了软土循环动模量比与循环次数之间的双对数线性关系,获得了3种试验条件下珠江口海洋软土的循环弱化因子。其研究结果可为该区域海洋建筑物设计提供直接依据,也可为其他类型工程提供借鉴。     

CASM: a unified state parameter model for clay and sand

The purpose of this paper is to present a simple, unified critical state constitutive model for both clay and sand. The model, called CASM (Clay And Sand Model), is formulated in terms of the state parameter that is defined as the vertical distance between current state (v, p′) and the critical state line in v–ln p′ space. The paper first shows that the standard Cam-clay models (i.e. the original and modified Cam-clay models) can be reformulated in terms of the state parameter. Although the standard Cam-clay models prove to be successful in modelling normally consolidated clays, it is well known that they cannot predict many important features of the behavior of sands and overconsolidated clays. By adopting a general stress ratio-state parameter relation to describe the state boundary surface of soils, it is shown that a simple, unified constitutive model (CASM) can be developed for both clay and sand. It is also demonstrated that the standard Cam-clay yield surfaces can be either recovered or approximated as special cases of the yield locus assumed in CASM. The main feature of the proposed model is that a single set of yield and plastic potential functions has been used to model the behaviour of clay and sand under both drained and undrained loading conditions. In addition, it is shown that the behaviour of overconsolidated clays can also be satisfactorily modelled. Simplicity is a major advantage of the present state parameter model, as only two new material constants need to be introduced when compared with the standard Cam-clay models. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Stress–strain behaviour of a loosely compacted volcanic-derived soil and its significance to rainfall-induced fill slope failures

The stress–strain behaviour of a soil is crucial to the recognition of the mechanism of slope failure. Triaxial tests, composed of isotropically consolidated drained (ICD) and undrained compression (ICU) tests and anisotropically consolidated constant deviatoric stress path (CQD) tests, were carried out with the aim of investigating the stress–strain behaviour of loosely compacted volcanic-derived soils. The fact that the critical states are the same for ICU, ICD and CQD tests may show that the critical state is independent of the above three stress paths. The critical state line, as defined in critical state soil mechanics, is obtained from the e–log p′ and q–p′ plots based on the results of the above tests. The initial state of the consolidated specimens at initiation of failure may be classified as dilative or contractive in the light of the locations of the soil state relative to the critical state line. For contractional soils, the increased pore water pressure generated by rainfall infiltration leads to a contractive failure in a drained manner, giving rise to high excess pore water pressure. The excess pore water pressure caused by contraction cannot be dissipated instantly, resulting in a decrease in the shear resistance of the soil. The failure process is rapid. The failed soil mass is prone to flow after failure under the action of gravity due to its high moisture content and inflow of surface runoff and rainwater. For dilational soils, the increased pore water pressure resulting from infiltration leads to dilation, which reduces pore water pressure and thus increases the shear resistance of the soil. However, continued rainfall infiltration may be able to equilibrate the reduction in pore water pressure caused by dilation and, therefore, the dilation or displacement can continue. In Hong Kong, volcanic-derived soil is characterized by high permeability. Both the high permeability of volcanic-derived soil and a shallow failure surface make it possible for the reduction in pore pressure to equilibrate relatively quickly. Therefore, the failure is also rapid, at least for poorly compacted fill slopes.     

Sensitivity Analysis of Selected Input Parameters for an Advanced Constitutive Model

Experimental results and simulated behavior of a medium plasticity clay were compared to investigate the performance of an advanced soil constitutive model. The soil model employed for this study was the 3-SKH model. The performance of this model was compared to the performance of two other critical state models; the Cam Clay (CC) and Modified Cam Clay (MCC) models. In addition, the influences of some of the input parameters on the performance of the 3-SKH model were investigated by performing sensitivity analyses. The comparisons demonstrated that the CC model was able to predict normally consolidated compressive behavior of the remolded medium plasticity clay. The compression behavior of overconsolidated clay was better captured by both the 3-SKH and CC models. For extension behavior of the normally consolidated samples, the MCC model performed better than the CC and 3-SKH models in predicting the stress path. The 3-SKH model was found to be very sensitive to varying the exponent in the hardening function. In particular, a difference between the evaluated values as small as 0.01 had a noticeable effect on the predicted stress–strain values for the overconsolidated compression and extension samples.     

Undrained behaviour of Changi sand in triaxial and plane-strain compression

The results of an experimental study of the undrained behaviour of Changi sand under axisymmetric and plane-strain conditions are presented. K₀ consolidated undrained plane-strain tests and K₀ or isotropically consolidated triaxial tests on very loose and medium dense specimens were conducted. The undrained behaviour of sand at very loose and medium dense states under plane-strain conditions was characterised and compared with that under axisymmetric conditions. It was observed that the undrained behaviour of very loose and medium dense sand under plane strain is similar to that under axisymmetric conditions. However, because of the formation of shear bands in plane-strain tests, the post-peak behaviour of medium dense sand in plane strain is different from that in triaxial tests. It was also established that an instability line for plane-strain conditions can be defined in a way similar to that for axisymmetric conditions. Using the state parameter, a unified relationship between the normalised slope of instability line and the state parameters can be established for both axisymmetric and plane-strain conditions. Using this relationship, the instability conditions established under axisymmetric conditions can be used for plane-strain conditions.     

饱和黄土的静态液化特性试验研究

利用GDS三轴测试系统,对原状黄土进行了等压/偏压固结不排水剪（ICU/ACU）、常剪应力排水剪（CQD）试验。ICU和ACU试验表明：土体的应力-应变模式为强烈应变软化型,得到了其稳态线和潜在不稳定区,提出液化发生的必要条件就是土体状态位于或被带到潜在不稳定区域内。CQD试验表明,土体破坏的启动摩擦角远小于稳态摩擦角。当其应力路径试图穿越不稳定区时发生不完全排水剪缩破坏,具有突发性,检验了提出的不稳定区域的有效性。基于潜在不稳定区域的位置和斜坡土体的应力状态,提出了饱和黄土静态液化分析方法。     

饱和粉砂不稳定性的试验研究

通过对净砂和级配良好粉砂(含10 %粉土)进行一系列三轴固结不排水试验（CU）,研究了粉土、孔隙比和围压对饱和粉砂不稳定性的影响。试验结果表明,净砂与粉砂在不排水剪切条件下均会出现应变软化现象（即不稳定性）。同一围压下脆性指数(IB)随孔隙比增加,但不稳定线的应力比随孔隙比增加而减小。引用等效粒间孔隙比(ege)后,净砂和粉砂在ege-ln p?平面上拥有基本相同的临界状态线。在临界状态理论及等效粒间孔隙比的基础上,提出在同一修正状态参数(?ge)下净砂和级配良好粉砂有相似的不稳定性。     

强结构性天然沉积土的强度变形特性

广泛分布在日本大分县的天然硅藻土是一种令人惊奇的具有正常固结历史的天然沉积结构土,其含水量如豆腐,却硬如石头。由于具有强结构性,其土样不会受到取样及成形过程的扰动影响,能够在室内对其天然状态进行力学性状研究,是一种难得的天然沉积结构性土。采用最大压力达10 MPa的高压三轴仪对天然沉积硅藻土进行试验,以探讨强结构性天然沉积土的力学性状。结果表明,其固结屈服压力达到上覆压力的57倍以上,固结屈服前的压缩曲线是水平的,固结压力达到固结屈服压力时,压缩性突增。强度试验结果显示,处于固结屈服前状态的强度与应力水平无关,而处于固结屈服后状态时其强度包络线与重塑粘土同样为通过原点的直线。     

High-pressure triaxial testing on the canadian reference buffer material

Triaxial testing is being carried out on a mixture of Na-bentonite and sand to provide parameters for computer modelling of a nuclear-fuel waste disposal vault when the material is used as a sealant. Drained and undrained tests with porewater pressure measurement have been performed at confining pressures up to 6 MPa. The program is now being extended to 10 MPa and elevated temperatures.

In the long term, at room temperatures, it is predicted that the material will behave like a normally consolidated clay and strain harden plastically with increasing mean effective stress. In shear, its undrained strength will decrease slightly after failure. Working relationships, based on critical state soil mechanics, have been established for the normal consolidation and failure conditions of the material. The behaviour of the material in drained conditions can be predicted from these relationships.