Constitutive modelling of granular materials using a contact normal-based fabric tensor

This paper presents a fabric tensor-based bounding surface model accounting for anisotropic behaviour (e.g. the dependency of peak strength on loading direction and non-coaxial deformation) of granular materials. This model is developed based on a well-calibrated isotropic bounding surface model. The yield surface is modified by incorporating the back stress which is proportional to a contact normal-based fabric tensor for characterising fabric anisotropy. The evolution law of the fabric tensor, which is dependent on both rates of the stress ratio and the plastic strain, rules that the material fabric tends to align with the loading direction and evolves towards a unique critical state fabric tensor under monotonic shearing. The incorporation of the evolution law leads to a rotational hardening of the yield surface. The anisotropic critical state is assumed to be independent of the initial values of void ratio and fabric tensor. The critical state fabric tensor has the same intermediate stress ratio (i.e. b value) and principal directions as the critical state stress tensor. A non-associated flow rule in the deviatoric plane is adopted, which is able to predict the non-coaxial flow naturally. The stress–strain relation and fabric evolution of model predictions show a satisfactory agreement with DEM simulation results under monotonic shearing with different loading directions. The model is also validated by comparing with laboratory test results of Leighton Buzzard sand and Toyoura sand under various loading paths. The comparison results demonstrate encouraging applicability of the model for predicting the anisotropic behaviour of granular materials.

     

Developing a 3D elastoplastic constitutive model for soils: A new approach based on characteristic stress

This paper presents a new approach for the development of an elastoplastic constitutive model to predict the strength and deformation behaviour of soils under general stress conditions. The proposed approach was based on characteristic stress, which considers the effect of the intermediate principal stress on the material strength. Referring to the Cam-clay model, the shear dilatancy equation, plastic potential function and hardening parameter for the developed model were all derived using the characteristic stress. The model predictions indicated that the established model could quantitatively reproduce the negative dilatancy behaviour, positive dilatancy behaviour, and three-dimensional strength properties of soils.     

A middle surface concept (MSC) model for saturated sands in general stress space

An elastoplastic constitutive model is proposed for saturated sands in general stress space using the middle surface concept (MSC). In MSC, different features of stress–strain response of a material are divided into different pseudo‐yield surfaces. The true‐yield surface representing the true response is established by using various links between the yield surfaces. In this MSC sand model, several well‐known features of sand response are represented by three different pseudo‐yield surfaces, which are developed in a simple and straightforward way. These features include the critical state behaviour, the effects of state parameter, unloading and reloading plastic deformation, the influence of fabric anisotropy, and phase transformation line related behaviour. Finally, the model predictions and test results are compared for two different types of sands under a variety of loading conditions and good comparisons are obtained. The application of MSC to saturated sand modelling shows the versatility of MSC as a general concept for modelling stress–strain response of materials. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

复杂应力条件下土体各向异性及其建模思路

由于加荷方式不同,土体在复杂应力状态下在各主应力方向上应力-应变关系表现出显著应力各向异性,在常规三轴试验基础上,采用经典弹塑性理论各向同性土体模型对此不能合理描述。通过真三轴试验,总结应力各向异性柔度矩阵规律,结合试验规律进行相应理论研究,用非线性各向异性弹性矩阵代替弹塑性模型的弹性矩阵,用具有各向异性屈服准则的弹塑性模型描述塑性部分,建立非线性各向异性弹性-塑性模型,可以改善柔度矩阵矩阵形态,反映复杂应力状态下土体应力各向异性特征。     

A simple hypoplastic constitutive model for sand

The paper presents a hypoplastic constitutive model for the three-dimensional non-linear stress–strain and dilatant volume change behaviour of sand. The model is developed without recourse to the concept in elastoplasticity theory such as yield surface, plastic potential and decomposition into elastic and plastic parts. Benefited from the non-linear tensorial functions available from the representation theorem the model possesses simple mathematical formulation and contains only four material parameters, which can be easily identified with triaxial compression tests. Comparison of the predictions with the experimental results shows that the model is capable of capturing the salient behaviour of sand under monotonic loading and is applicable to both drained and undrained conditions.     

A constitutive model for sand based on non-linear elasticity and the state parameter

The paper describes the development of a constitutive model for a poorly graded sand, which was used in geotechnical experiments on buried pipes (reported elsewhere). The sand was tested extensively in the laboratory to determine the state parameter constants. Triaxial tests on the sand included conventional drained triaxial compression tests, as well as more specialized shearing tests at constant mean effective stress and others at constant volume. Single element simulation of the triaxial tests was performed to validate the proposed constitutive model. The adopted model allowed non-linear elastic behaviour prior to yielding. After yielding of the sand, the state parameter-based model for the sand permitted non-associated plastic flow. Dilation and frictional strength were both dependent on the current value of the state parameter. The combination of laboratory testing and single element modelling resulted in the selection of a single set of material constants for the soil, which adequately described the full range of triaxial tests. Subsequently the model was applied to the problem of a plate loading test on the sand and the model predictions were compared with the test data.     

宏-细观结合的砂土单剪试验非共轴特性分析

针对传统本构理论无法描述土体单剪试验非共轴变形的不足,采用非共轴修正模型进行改进。模型基于材料状态相关临界状态理论,采用宏-细观结合的方法,将1个新的各向异性状态变量引入本构模型来描述砂土的各向异性。考虑细观组构张量和应力张量的几何关系的变化,模型可以描述砂土在主应力轴旋转条件下材料状态的变化,材料状态变化直接导致模型的硬化规律和剪胀性发生变化,因此,模型可以描述该条件下原生向异性对砂土变形的影响。引入非共轴理论对本构模型进行修正,建立了三维非共轴各向异性模型。单剪试验的加载条件会造成主应力轴相对土体沉积面发生旋转,修正模型不但能够描述砂土在主应力轴旋转条件下其原生各向异性对变形的影响,而且可以描述主应力轴旋转造成的应力诱发各向异性对土体变形的影响,因此,该模型能够对整个单剪试验的变形规律进行描述,而且物理意义清晰。通过铝棒堆积体和Toyoura砂单剪试验验证表明,非共轴修正各向异性模型能对单剪试验的整个变形过程进行较好的模拟。     

An enhanced constitutive model for crushable granular materials

Studies in the past have tried to reproduce the mechanical behaviour of granular materials by proposing constitutive relations based on a common assumption that model parameters and parameters describing the properties, including gradation of individual grains are inevitably linked. However successful these models have proved to be, they cannot account for the changes in granular assembly behaviour if the grains start to break during mechanical loading. This paper proposes to analyse the relation between grading change and the mechanical behaviour of granular assembly. A way to model the influence of grain breakage is to use a critical state‐based model. The influence of the amount of grain breakage during loading, depending on the individual grain strength and size distribution, can be introduced into constitutive relations by means of a new parameter that controls the evolution of critical state with changes in grain size distribution. Experimental data from a calcareous sand, a quartz sand, and a rockfill material were compared with numerical results and good‐quality simulations were obtained. The main consequences of grain breakage are increased compressibility and a gradual dilatancy disappearance in the granular material. The critical state concept is also enriched by considering its overall relation to the evolution of the granular material. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Fibre reinforced sands: from experiments to modelling and beyond

Based on hypotheses derived directly from experimental observations of the triaxial behaviour, a constitutive model for fibre reinforced sands is built in this paper. Both the sand matrix and the fibres obey their own constitutive law, whereas their contributions are superimposed using a volumetric homogenization procedure. The Severn‐Trent sand model, which combines well‐known concepts such as critical state theory, Mohr‐Coulomb like strength criterion, bounding surface plasticity and kinematic hardening, is adopted for the sand matrix. Although the fibres are treated as discrete forces with defined orientation, an equivalent continuum stress for the fibre phase is derived to allow the superposition of effects of sand and fibres. The fibres are considered as purely tensile elements following a linear elastic constitutive rule. The strain in the fibres is expressed as a fraction of the strain in the reinforced sample so that imperfect bonding is assumed at the sand‐fibre interface. Only those fibres oriented within the tensile strain domain of the sample can mobilize tensile stress—the orientation of fibres is one of the key ingredients to capture the anisotropic behaviour of fibre reinforced soil that is observed for triaxial compression and extension loading. A further mechanism of partition of the volume of voids between the fibres and the sand matrix is introduced and shown to be fundamental for the simulation of the volumetric behaviour of fibre‐reinforced soils. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

加筋砂土挡墙面板刚度效果的数值分析

为了对加筋砂土挡墙面板的刚度效果有一个合理、定量的把握,利用非线性硬化-软化弹塑性有限元方法对相关的一系列室内模型试验结果进行了系统全面的数值分析。有限元解析中所采用的砂土本构模型是以修正塑性功为基本状态量的弹塑性硬软化模型,该模型可以较为精确地模拟砂土的应力路径效应。结果表明,利用这种较高精度的有限元方法对加筋砂土挡墙的变形破坏进行解析,不仅能较好地模拟加筋砂土挡墙基础底面的平均压力与沉降之间的关系,同时也能较好地再现由于面板刚度变化对加筋砂土挡墙基础的承载力以及渐进性变形破坏的影响。随着面板刚度的增加,面板对剪切带的抑制作用将随之增加,具体表现在砂土围压σ3增大所带来的砂土强度σ1的提高,进而使得加筋砂土挡墙的峰值承载力也随之增大。     

从各向异性的角度解释和模拟土的非共轴特性

从发挥面的角度出发,分析论证各向异性是引起岩土材料出现非共轴现象的根本原因,得到与材料力学一致的结论。当共轭的两发挥面与沉积面的夹角不相等时,主应力面上将出现塑性应变增量的切向分量,所以塑性应变增量的主方向与应力的主方向非共轴。按照这一结论,对非共轴的数值模拟,也应当根据各向异性本构模型进行。为考虑各向异性影响新近提出的各向异性变换应力法,改变了各应力分量的相对大小,得到的各向异性变换应力张量与真实应力张量的主方向不一致,因此也能反映非共轴。利用各向异性变换应力法,能够在现有的弹塑性本构模型的框架下,描述土的非共轴现象。以各向异性UH模型为例,预测各种加载条件下的非共轴变形,验证了该方法的有效性。     

Liquefaction and cyclic mobility model for saturated granular media

A new constitutive law for the behaviour of undrained sand subjected to dynamic loading is presented. The proposed model works for small and large strain ranges and incorporates contractive and dilative properties of the sand into the unified numerical scheme. These features allow to correctly predict liquefaction and cyclic mobility phenomena for different initial relative densities of the soil. The model has been calibrated as an element test, by using cyclic simple shear data reported in the literature. For the contractive sand behaviour a well‐known endochronic densification model has been used, whereas a plastic model with a new non‐associative flow rule is applied when the sand tends to dilate. Both dilatancy and flow rule are based on a new state parameter, associated to the stiffness degradation of the material as the shaking goes on. Also, the function that represents the rearrangement memory of the soil takes a zero value when the material dilates, in order to easily model the change in the internal structure. Proceeding along this kind of approach, liquefaction and cyclic mobility are modelled with the same constitutive law, within the framework of a bi‐dimensional FEM coupled algorithm developed in the paper. For calibration purposes, the behaviour of the soil in a cyclic simple shear test has been simulated, in order to estimate the influence of permeability, frequency of loading, and homogeneity of the shear stress field on the laboratory data. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

粗粒料大三轴试验研究进展

目前，粗粒料的抗剪强度与变形特性表达式是在砂土特性研究基础上修改而得到的。实质上，粗粒料具有粒径大、沉陷变形小及颗粒破碎明显等特性而砂土相区别。因此，研究粗粒料工程特性与本构关系时应充分考虑这些固有特性。此外，粗粒料在高压、复杂应力状态及动荷载作用下的工程性质研究也有待加强。文中概括和总结了静力条件下粗粒料大三轴试验研究进展情况，包括抗剪强度、变形特性、本构模型及试验技术方面，并就其中的一些问题进行了讨论。     

Progressive failure analysis of shallow foundations on soils with strain-softening behaviour

This paper presents a finite element approach to analyse the response of shallow foundations on soils with strain-softening behaviour. In these soils, a progressive failure can occur owing to a reduction of strength with increasing the plastic strains induced by loading. The present approach allows this failure process to be properly simulated by using a non-local elasto-viscoplastic constitutive model in conjunction with a Mohr–Coulomb yield function in which the shear strength parameters are reduced with the accumulated deviatoric plastic strain. Another significant advantage of the method is that it requires few material parameters as input data, with most of these parameters that can be readily obtained from conventional geotechnical tests. To assess the reliability of the proposed approach, some comparisons with experimental results from physical model tests are shown. A fairly good agreement is found between simulated and observed results. Finally, the progressive failure process that occurs in a dense sand layer owing to loading is analysed in details, and the main aspects concerning the associated failure mechanism are highlighted.     

A critical state sand plasticity model accounting for fabric evolution

Fabric and its evolution need to be fully considered for effective modeling of the anisotropic behavior of cohesionless granular sand. In this study, a three‐dimensional anisotropic model for granular material is proposed based on the anisotropic critical state theory recently proposed by Li & Dafalias [2012], in which the role of fabric evolution is highlighted. An explicit expression for the yield function is proposed in terms of the invariants and joint invariants of the normalized deviatoric stress ratio tensor and the deviatoric fabric tensor. A void‐based fabric tensor that characterizes the average void size and its orientation of a granular assembly is employed in the model. Upon plastic loading, the material fabric is assumed to evolve continuously with its principal direction tending steadily towards the loading direction. A fabric evolution law is proposed to describe this behavior. With these considerations, a non‐coaxial flow rule is naturally obtained. The model is shown to be capable of characterizing the complex anisotropic behavior of granular materials under monotonic loading conditions and meanwhile retains a relatively simple formulation for numerical implementation. The model predictions of typical behavior of both Toyoura sand and Fraser River sand compare well with experimental data. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The impact of analogue material properties on the geometry,kinematics, and dynamics of convergent sand wedges

Simulation of geodynamic processes in sandbox experiments requires analogue materials with a deformation behaviour that reproduces the deformation mechanisms of typical crustal rocks. We present data on the frictional strength of different sand types employing static and dynamic shear tests. The sand types analysed are characterised by an elastic/frictional plastic mechanical behaviour with a transient strain-hardening and strain-softening phase prior to transition to stable sliding. This is in conflict with the standard assumption of an ideal cohesionless Coulomb-material with constant frictional properties. The influence of the identified transient material properties on the kinematics, growth mechanisms, and internal deformation patterns of convergent sand wedges results in characteristic wedge segments which vary—depending on material compaction—between wedges with well defined segments (i.e. frontal-deformation zone, frontal-imbrication zone and internal-accumulation zone) with straight slopes and wedges with a continuous convex topographic profile. For most materials, only the frontal part of the wedge is critical during experimental runs. Taper and strength of the wedge segments can be shown to be controlled by the frictional properties of active faults. Wedge segmentation is controlled by a bulk-strength increase toward the rear of the wedge due to fault rotation in mechanically less-favourable orientations and plastic material hardening. The limit between the frontal critical parts of a wedge and internal stable parts is largely controlled by a critical state of stress upon which either renewed failure or fault inactivation occurs. On this basis, we suggest that critical-taper analysis of wedges must be restricted to specific kinematic segments. Comparison of the experimental results with the Nankai accretionary wedge suggests that our interpretation also applies to natural convergent wedges. Moreover, we provide constraints for the selection of adequate granular analogue materials to simulate typical crustal rocks in natural convergent wedges.     

A hypoplastic model for granular soils incorporating anisotropic critical state theory

It is well known that soil is inherently anisotropic and its mechanical behavior is significantly influenced by its fabric anisotropy. Hypoplasticity is increasingly being accepted in the constitutive modeling for soils, in which many salient features, such as nonlinear stress-strain relations, dilatancy, and critical state failure, can be described by a single tensorial equation. However, within the framework of hypoplasticity, modeling fabric anisotropy remains challenging, as the fabric and its evolution are often vaguely assumed without a sound basis. This paper presents a hypoplastic constitutive model for granular soils based on the newly developed anisotropic critical state theory, in which the conditions of fabric anisotropy are concurrently satisfied along with the traditional conditions at the critical state. A deviatoric fabric tensor is introduced into the Gudehus-Bauer hypoplastic model, and a scalar-valued anisotropic state variable signifying the interplay between the fabric and the stress state is used to characterize its impact on the dilatancy and strength of the soils. In addition, fabric evolution during shearing can explicitly be addressed. Modifications have also been undertaken to improve the performance of the undrained response of the model. The anisotropic hypoplastic model can simulate experimental tests for sand under various combinations of principle stress direction, intermediate principal stress (or mode of shearing), soil densities, and confining pressures, and the associated drastic effect of different principal stress orientations in reference to the material axes of anisotropy can be well captured.     

A two-scale constitutive framework for modelling localised deformation in saturated dilative hardening material

Undrained deformation of dilative sand generates negative excess pore pressure. It enhances the strength, which is called dilative hardening. This increased suction is not permanent. The heterogeneity at the grain scale triggers localisations causing local volume changes. The negative hydraulic gradient drives fluid into dilating shear zones. It loosens the soil and diminishes the shear strength. It is essential to understand the mechanism behind this internal drainage and to capture it numerically. The purpose of this paper is to develop a macroscopic constitutive relationship for the undrained deformation of saturated dense sand in the presence of a locally fully or partially drained shear band. Separate constitutive relations are generated for the band and intact material. Both time and scale dependence during pore fluid diffusion in saturated sand are captured, eliminating the mesh dependency for finite element implementations. The model is applied to the Gauss points that satisfy the bifurcation criterion. The proposed method is calibrated to recreate the undrained macroscopic response bestowed by an extra-small mesh. The microscopic behaviours inside and outside shear band predicted by this model are qualitatively in good agreement with individual material point behaviours inside and outside the shear band in the extra-small mesh. Depending on the loading rate and the shear band thickness, the response inside the band can be fully or partially drained, which governs the ultimate global strength. The calibrated model is exploited to simulate an upscaled biaxial compression test with semipermeable boundaries.