Constitutive modelling of state-dependent behaviour of unsaturated soils: an overview

An unsaturated soil is a three-phase material that is ubiquitous on the earth’s surface. The fully saturated and completely dry states are just two limiting conditions of an unsaturated soil. The state and properties of unsaturated soils can change significantly with external loads, weather conditions and groundwater level. Proper modelling of the state-dependent behaviour of unsaturated soils is crucial for analysing the performance of almost all civil engineering structures. So far, there are many unsaturated soil models and several relevant review papers in the literature. None of the existing review papers, however, focused on the state dependency of unsaturated soil behaviour. Moreover, some aspects of soil behaviour have not been reviewed, including small strain stiffness, dilatancy and stress-dependence of water retention curve. In the current review paper, the state dependency of unsaturated soil behaviour is reviewed, with a particular attention to the three missing parts. The review is carried out in a unified and relatively simple constitutive framework, which adopts a three-by-three compliance matrix to link incremental volumetric strain, deviator strain and degree of saturation to incremental mean net stress, deviator stress and suction. All of the nine variables in the proposed three-by-three compliance matrix have clear physical meanings and can be measured through compression, shearing and water retention tests. Theoretical models based on other constitutive stress variables can be also converted to this framework by matrix transformation.

     

考虑吸附水的非饱和土耗散本构关系研究

为了探索土水吸附特征对非饱和土力学特性的影响,根据赋存环境把土中水分为储存在毛细管内液面张力吸纳作用占主导的自由水和包裹在土颗粒周围基质静电吸着作用占主导的吸附水。通过把土颗粒基质与吸附水一起共同视为非饱和土骨架相,自由水视为液相、土中气视为气相,获得了考虑吸附水的非饱和土功表达式。根据热力学耗散理论,利用功表达式和局部热力学平衡假定,获得非饱和土在绝热变形过程中的熵流和熵产。基于热力学吸附平衡理论获得土中吸附水的吸附方程,进而提出具有实用性的吸附水土-水特征曲线。利用熵产表达式中的热力学共轭量和耗散空间的Drucker 塑性公设,采用纯简化有效应力和有效吸力这一对双应力变量,建立了考虑吸附水的土水完全耦合的非饱和土弹塑性理论框架,据此获得采用净应力和吸力表示的弹塑性柔度矩阵,用于采用上述本构理论建模时理论模型与土工试验成果之间直接相互验证。     

A unified bounding surface plasticity model for unsaturated soils

A unified constitutive model for unsaturated soils is presented in a critical state framework using the concepts of effective stress and bounding surface plasticity theory. Consideration is given to the effects of unsaturation and particle crushing in the definition of the critical state. A simple isotropic elastic rule is adopted. A loading surface and a bounding surface of the same shape are defined using simple and versatile functions. The bounding surface and elastic rules lead to the existence of a limiting isotropic compression line, towards which the stress trajectories of all isotropic compression load paths approach. A non‐associated flow rule of the same general form is assumed for all soil types. Isotropic hardening/softening occurs due to changes in plastic volumetric strains as well as suction for some unsaturated soils, enabling the phenomenon of volumetric collapse upon wetting to be accounted for. The model is used to simulate the stress–strain behaviour observed in unsaturated speswhite kaolin subjected to three triaxial test load paths. The fit between simulation and experiment is improved compared to that of other constitutive models developed using conventional Cam‐Clay‐based plasticity theory and calibrated using the same set of data. Also, the model is used to simulate to a high degree of accuracy the stress–strain behaviour observed in unsaturated Kurnell sand subjected to two triaxial test load paths and the oedometric compression load path. For oedometric compression theoretical simulations indicate that the suction was not sufficiently large to cause samples to separate from the confining ring. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Modelling the mechanical behaviour of unsaturated soils using a genetic algorithm-based neural network

Modelling the mechanical behaviour of unsaturated soils has been the subject of many research works in the past few decades. A number of constitutive models have been developed to describe the complex behaviour of unsaturated soils. Despite the significant advances in the constitutive theories for unsaturated soils, none of the existing models can completely describe the various aspects of the real behaviour of unsaturated soils. In this paper, a new unified approach is presented, based on the integration of a neural network and a genetic algorithm, for the modelling of unsaturated soils. In the proposed approach, a genetic algorithm was used to optimise the weights of the neural network. A three-layer sequential architecture was chosen for the neural network. The network had eight input neurons, five neurons in the hidden layer and three neurons in the output layer. The eight input neurons represented the initial gravimetric water content, initial dry density, degree of saturation, net mean stress with respect to pore-air pressure, axial strain, deviatoric stress, soil suction and volumetric strain, and the three neurons in the output layer represented the deviatoric stress, suction and volumetric strain at the end of each increment. The network was trained and tested using a database that included results from a comprehensive set of triaxial tests on unsaturated soils from the literature. The predictions of the proposed model were compared with the experimental results. The comparison of the results indicates that the proposed approach was accurate and robust in representing the mechanical behaviour of unsaturated soils.     

Comments on use of the Barcelona Basic Model for unsaturated soils

The paper discusses some aspects of the Barcelona Basic Model (BBM), which is one of the most widely used elasto‐plastic models for unsaturated soils. In addition to modelling those unsaturated soils where the collapse potential increases with increasing net stress (as envisaged by the original authors), the BBM can also be used to model soils where the collapse potential decreases with increasing net stress, by selecting suitable values for the model parameters r and p^c. A practical procedure is suggested for selecting a value for the important model parameter p^c from laboratory test data. Problems with use of the BBM are discussed, including the difficulty of correctly matching the locations of the normal compression lines for different values of suction and the possibility of non‐convexity of the yield curve. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Modelling virgin compression line of compacted unsaturated soils

Acta Geotechnica - In this paper, the volumetric collapse of an unsaturated soil, upon soaking to saturation under a certain stress level, is referred to as soaking collapse. The soaking collapse...     

Modeling the hydro-mechanical responses of strip and circular punch loadings on water-saturated collapsible geomaterials

A stabilized enhanced strain finite element procedure for poromechanics is fully integrated with an elasto-plastic cap model to simulate the hydro-mechanical interactions of fluid-infiltrating porous rocks with associative and non-associative plastic flow. We present a quantitative analysis on how macroscopic plastic volumetric response caused by pore collapse and grain rearrangement affects the seepage of pore fluid, and vice versa. Results of finite element simulations imply that the dissipation of excess pore pressure may significantly affect the stress path and thus alter the volumetric plastic responses.     

Coupled modelling of hydro‐mechanical behaviour of unsaturated compacted expansive soils

The Barcelona basic model cannot predict the mechanical behaviour of unsaturated expansive soils, whereas the Barcelona expansive model (BExM) can only predict the stress–strain behaviour of unsaturated expansive soils without the water‐retention behaviour being incorporated. Moreover, the micro‐parameters and the coupling function between micro‐structural and macro‐structural strains in the BExM are difficult to determine. Experimental data show that the compression curves for non‐expansive soils under constant suctions are shifted towards higher void ratios with increasing suction, whereas the opposite is true for expansive soils. According to the observed water‐retention behaviour of unsaturated expansive soils, the air‐entry value increases with density, and the relationship between the degree of saturation and void ratio is linear at constant suction. According to the above observation, an elastoplastic constitutive model is developed for predicting the hydraulic and mechanical behaviour of unsaturated expansive soils, based on the existing hydro‐mechanical model for non‐expansive unsaturated soil. The model takes into consideration the effect of degree of saturation on the mechanical behaviour and that of void ratio on the water‐retention behaviour. The concept of equivalent void ratio curve is introduced to distinguish the plastic potential curve from the yield curve. The model predictions are compared with the test results of an unsaturated expansive soil, including swelling tests under constant net stress, isotropic compression tests and triaxial shear tests under constant suction. The comparison indicates that the model offers great potential for quantitatively predicting the hydraulic and mechanical behaviour of unsaturated expansive soils. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

On the use of effective stress in three-dimensional hydro-mechanical coupled model

In the last decades, a number of hydro-mechanical elastoplastic constitutive models for unsaturated soils have been proposed. Those models couple the hydraulic and mechanical behaviour of unsaturated soils, and take into account the effects of the degree of saturation on the stress–strain behaviour and the effects of deformation on the soil–water characteristic response with a simple reversible part for the hysteresis. In addition, the influence of the suction on the stress–strain behaviour is considered. However, until now, few models predict the stress–strain and soil–water characteristic responses of unsaturated soils in a fully three-dimensional Finite Element code. This paper presents the predictions of an unsaturated soil model in a Three-dimensional Framework, and develops a study on the effect of partial saturation on the stability of shallow foundation resting on unsaturated silty soil. Qualitative predictions of the constitutive model show that incorporating a special formulation for the effective stress into an elastoplastic coupled hydro-mechanical model opens a full range of possibilities in modelling unsaturated soil behaviour.     

循环荷载下砂土的剪切硬化边界面本构模型

基于临界状态土力学框架,建立了一个适用于往返循环荷载作用的砂土边界面本构模型。采用无纯弹性域假设,认为受到反向荷载的瞬时土体就产生塑性变形,砂土的弹性区域退化为一个点。屈服面为倒子弹头型,由于砂土孔隙比与压力之间不存在惟一对应的关系,使得屈服面大小无法与体积应变直接耦合,故采用塑性偏应变而不是剑桥模型那种塑性体应变作为硬化参数。流动法则采用加入状态参数的修正的Rowe应力剪胀关系,体现了依赖状态的剪胀思想。屈服面大小的比值 反映了塑性模量的演化,并推导了 的表达式。只用1套参数,该模型就能合理地模拟砂土在不同密度和固结压力下循环荷载的应力-应变关系曲线。     

A three‐phase model for unsaturated soils

A comprehensive framework to define the constitutive behaviour of unsaturated soils is developed within the theory of mixtures applied to three‐phase porous media. Each of the three phases is endowed with its own strain and stress. Elastic and elastic–plastic constitutive equations are developed. Particular emphasis is laid on the interactions between the phases both in the elastic and plastic regimes. Nevertheless, the clear structure of the constitutive equations requires a minimal number of material parameters. Their identification is provided: in particular, it incorporates directly the soil–water characteristic curve. Crucial to the formulation is an appropriate definition of the effective stress. The coupled influence of this effective stress and of suction makes it possible to describe qualitatively many of the characteristic features observed in experiments, e.g. for normally consolidated soils, a plastic behaviour up to air entry followed by an elastic behaviour at increasing suctions, and, on the way back, an elastic behaviour, unless compression is applied in which case plastic collapse occurs. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Finite element formulation and algorithms for unsaturated soils. Part II: Verification and application

The finite‐element formulation and integration algorithms developed in Part I are used to analyse a number of practical problems involving unsaturated and saturated soils. The formulation and algorithms perform well for all the cases analysed, with the robustness of the latter being largely insensitive to user‐defined parameters such as the number of coarse time steps and error control tolerances. The efficiency of the algorithms, as measured by the CPU time consumed, does not depend on the number of coarse time steps, but may be influenced by the error control tolerances. Based on the analyses presented here, typical values for the error control tolerances are suggested. It is also shown that the constitutive modelling framework presented in Part I can, by adjusting one constitutive equation and one or two material parameters, be used to simulate soils that expand or collapse upon wetting. Treating the suction as a strain variable instead of a stress variable proves to be an efficient and robust way of solving suction‐dependent plastic yielding. Moreover, the concept of the constitutive stress is a particularly convenient way of handling the transition between saturation and unsaturation. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A constitutive model for unsaturated soil interfaces

A constitutive model based on the disturbed state concept is presented to describe the behavior of interfaces in unsaturated soil. The model is an extension of an existing model developed for a sand–steel interface. As opposed to the original model, the modified model incorporates two independent stress variables, which are the net normal stress and matric suction. The saturated and dry state of the interface can be modeled as a special case using the constitutive model presented in this paper. The modified model is capable of capturing the main features of unsaturated interfaces observed during laboratory testing, including increasing shear strength and strain softening with increasing suction and net normal stress and increasing dilatancy with increasing suction. Laboratory tests were carried out on unsaturated interfaces in a modified direct shear test apparatus. The observed behavior of interfaces between unsaturated soil and steel plates (rough and smooth) is presented in comparison with model predictions. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

非饱和土的本构模型研究

引用平均土骨架应力的概念,研究推导出非饱和土的刚度参数随吸力变化而变化的关系式,进而推导得到用平均土骨架应力表述的非饱和土LC屈服面函数以及硬化规律。从土力学原理推导,得到土样由于在净应力和吸力作用下产生体积变形引起土样饱和度变化的关系式。由平均土骨架应力推广,得到三轴应力状态的椭圆屈服函数,这一非饱和土本构模型的优点在于考虑了应力作用后土样饱和度的变化,通过对已有试验数据的初步验证,表明提出的非饱和土本构模型的合理性和适用性。     

粗粒土剪胀性大型三轴试验研究

剪胀性是土体显著区别于一般弹性材料的基本特性,与土体的强度和变形特性密切相关。通过4组不同初始密度的塔城砂砾石常规大型三轴试验,研究剪胀性对粗粒土强度和变形特性的影响。试验结果表明,（1）若体变速率（体变和轴向应变均以压缩为正）先从正值减小到负值并达到最小值,随后又有所增大但仍小于0,则应力-应变曲线为软化型,在比值为最小值时土体剪胀性最大,对应于峰值强度,若体变速率从某一正值单调减小并一直大于0,则应力-应变曲线为硬化型;（2）体变变化趋势取决于剪胀性和压缩性的大小,剪切后期若剪胀速率大于压缩速率,则体变先压缩后膨胀,应力-应变曲线呈软化型,反之若剪胀速率小于压缩速率,则体变一直是压缩的,应力-应变曲线呈硬化型。研究结果对于加深认识粗粒土的强度和变形特性具有重要意义。     

吸力历史对非饱和弱膨胀土力学性质的影响

对经历较广吸力范围内不同吸力历史的非饱和弱膨胀土进行了一系列吸力控制的三轴剪切试验。关于最大吸力的施加,高吸力采用蒸汽平衡法;较低吸力采用轴平移技术。试验结果表明：在净应力和吸力相同条件下,经过湿化试样的应力-应变关系曲线升高、剪缩体变小;经过高吸力试样的应力-应变关系曲线也升高、剪缩体变小,随着经历过最大吸力的增加其应力比-应变关系、体变表现出的超固结土特性明显。其主要原因是前期试样受过较大的吸力,相当于受过较大前期固结压力,同时弱膨胀土失水收缩性明显,经过较大吸力后试样孔隙比明显减小,使试样剪切过程中表现出超固结黏土的特性。因此,讨论非饱和弱膨胀性土的应力-应变关系和强度时需考虑吸力历史引起的体积收缩影响。