Model for large strain consolidation under constant rate of strain

A numerical model, called CCRS1, is presented for one‐dimensional large strain consolidation under constant rate of strain loading conditions. The algorithm accounts for vertical strain, general constitutive relationships, relative velocity of fluid and solid phases, changing compressibility and hydraulic conductivity during consolidation, and an externally applied hydraulic gradient acting across the specimen. Soil compressibility is rate independent, and as such, the current model is most appropriate for less‐structured clays. Verification checks show excellent agreement with analytical and numerical solutions for small and large strain conditions. A series of numeric examples indicates that compressibility and hydraulic conductivity constitutive relationships can have an important effect on constant rate of strain consolidation response. Results also indicate that analytical solutions obtained using small strain theory can be in significant error for large strain conditions with changing coefficient of consolidation. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.