Implicit and explicit procedures for the yield vertex non-coaxial theory

The yield vertex non-coaxial model is different from classical elastoplastic models, in that there is an additional plastic strain rate tangential to yield surfaces, as well as the plastic strain rate normal to yield surfaces, when orientations of principal stress change. This feature raises concerns on its finite element implementations. In nonlinear finite element numerical iterations, a large tangential plastic strain rate is likely to make the trial total strain rate direct inside a yield surface, which entails convergence difficulty. Some modifications are introduced on the non-coaxial model itself to make numerical convergence easier in the work published in Yang and Yu (2010) [20]. This paper is an extension of the previous work. Instead of modifying the non-coaxial model itself, this paper concerns the use of finite element explicit procedure, which is suitable for highly discontinuous problems. The simulations of shallow foundation load-settlement responses indicate that the finite element explicit procedure, assisted with a robust and explicit automatic substepping integration scheme of the non-coaxial model, does not encounter numerical difficulty. In addition, the overall trends of implicit and explicit simulations are similar.     

Implicit integration of a mixed isotropic–kinematic hardening plasticity model for structured clays

In recent years, a number of constitutive models have been proposed to describe mathematically the mechanical response of natural clays. Some of these models are characterized by complex formulations, often leading to non‐trivial problems in their numerical integration in finite elements codes. The paper describes a fully implicit stress‐point algorithm for the numerical integration of a single‐surface mixed isotropic–kinematic hardening plasticity model for structured clays. The formulation of the model stems from a compromise between its capability of reproducing the larger number of features characterizing the behaviour of structured clays and the possibility of developing a robust integration algorithm for its implementation in a finite elements code. The model is characterized by an ellipsoid‐shaped yield function, inside which a stress‐dependent reversible stiffness is accounted for by a non‐linear hyperelastic formulation. The isotropic part of the hardening law extends the standard Cam‐Clay one to include plastic strain‐driven softening due to bond degradation, while the kinematic hardening part controls the evolution of the position of the yield surface in the stress space. The proposed algorithm allows the consistent linearization of the constitutive equations guaranteeing the quadratic rate of asymptotic convergence in the global‐level Newton–Raphson iterative procedure. The accuracy and the convergence properties of the proposed algorithm are evaluated with reference to the numerical simulations of single element tests and the analysis of a typical geotechnical boundary value problem. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Numerical simulation of fabric anisotropy and strain localization of sand under simple shear

This paper studies the effects of initial fabric anisotropy of dry sand in simple shear deformation. The effects of anisotropy are taken into consideration through the modification of the mobilized friction in the Mohr–Coulomb‐type yield surface as a function of a fabric parameter. In addition, the constitutive model uses a gradient term that directly incorporates the effects of material length scale. The constitutive formulation is implemented into ABAQUS finite element code and used to simulate shearing of the dry sand under various conditions of simple shear. The numerical simulations show that while the shear stress response is affected by fabric anisotropy, its effects on strain localization in simple shear are minimal. This is in contrast to other devices such as the biaxial shear. The strain localization in simple shear is controlled more by the imposed boundary conditions. The use of material length scale is shown to remove the effects of strain localization in the shearing response. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A new versatile constitutive law for modelling the monotonic response of soft rocks and structured fine-grained soils

This paper deals with a new critical state–based constitutive model for soft rocks and fine-grained soils. The model, formulated in the single-surface plasticity framework, is characterised by the following main features: (i) a generalised three-invariant yield surface capable of reproducing a wide set of well-known criteria, (ii) the dependency of the elastic stiffness on the current stress state by means of a hyperelastic formulation, (iii) the ability of simulating the plastic strain–driven structure degradation processes by a set of appropriate isotropic hardening laws, and (iv) a nonassociate flow rule in the meridian plane. The adopted formulation is hierarchical, such that the various features of the model can be activated or excluded depending on the specific kind of geomaterial to be modelled and on the quality and quantity of the related available experimental results. The constitutive model was implemented in a commercial finite element code by means of an explicit modified Euler scheme with automatic substepping and error control. The procedure does not require any form of stress correction to prevent drift from the yield surface. The performance of the model is first analysed by means of a wide set of parametric analyses, in order to highlight the main features and to evaluate the sensitivity of the formulation with reference to the input parameters. The model is then adopted to simulate the experimental response observed on three different geomaterials, ranging from soft clays to soft rocks.     

On the numerical implementation of an elastoplastic two surface material model

This paper evaluates the Lade elastoplastic model for sands for the purpose of its implementation into a finite element formulation using the displacement approach. The functions for the two yield surfaces are provided, with an explanation of the difficulties encountered in numerical implementation. Numerical methodologies are presented to consider both the elastic and plastic scaling of the stress increment as well as the strain softening mechanism of the model. Results of these methods are compared with laboratory data obtained from various triaxial tests.     

A critical assessment of methods of correcting for drift from the yield surface in elasto-plastic finite element analysis

The analysis of elasto-plastic boundary value problems using the finite element method involves many discretizations. These lead to the problem of yield surface drift in which the stress state predicted at the end of an elasto-plastic increment of loading does not lie on the current yield surface. As such discrepancies are comulative it is important to ensure that the stresses are corrected back to the yield surface during each increment of loading. In this paper five methods of accounting for this drift are examined. These involve correcting the stresses by projecting back along the plastic flow, the total strain increment and the accumulated effective stress direction. In addition a ‘correct’, method which accounts for the changes in elastic strains which accompany any stress correction is considered. This method is theoretically more sound than the other approximate approaches. All five methods have been used in finite element analyses of the stress changes that occur adjacent to a single pile installed in a uniform deposit of soil on pile loading. The soil was assumed to be normally consolidated and was modelled using a form of modified Cam Clay. Comparison of these results with an analysis, in which yield surface drift was negligible indicated that only the ‘correct’ method and the method involving projecting back along the plastic flow direction give accurate predictions. Substantiai errors occur if the other methods of correcting for yield surface drift are employed. It is recommended that the ‘correct’ method be adopted for finite element calculations.     

基于上下负荷面的弹黏塑性本构模型及应力积分算法实现

为了描述天然软土的时间相依以及结构性特征,提出了一种能考虑土体超固结和结构性的实用弹黏塑性本构模型。它以Asaoka和Hashiguchi的上下负荷面作为某一应变速率下的参考屈服面,按照相对过应力的基本思路,新引入了两个能通过不同应变速率三轴压缩试验测定的率敏性参数 和 ,建立了以当前应力、黏塑性应变以及黏塑性应变速率为状态变量的动屈服准则函数,并给出了基于Newton-Raphson迭代的应力积分算法,且成功地将其嵌入到大型有限元软件ABAQUS中。最终通过数值算例来验证模型的正确性以及应力积分算法的可靠性。结果表明：该模型能同时描述土体的率敏性、蠕变以及结构性特征,模型参数物理意义明确、易懂可测,预测结果与试验数据吻合良好,可用于复杂边值问题的有限元计算。     

A stress and displacement discontinuity element method for elastic transversely anisotropic rock

The paper presents closed‐form solutions for stress and displacement influence functions for stress discontinuity (SD) and displacement discontinuity (DD) elements, for a two‐dimensional plane‐strain elastic, transversely anisotropic medium. The solutions for SD elements are based on Kelvin's problem and for DD elements on the concept of dipoles. Stress and displacement influence functions are derived for the following elements: constant SD, linear SD, constant DD, linear DD, square root DD, parabolic DD, constant DD surface, and linear DD surface elements. The formulations are incorporated into FROCK, a hybridized boundary element method code, and are validated by providing comparisons between the results from FROCK and the finite element code ABAQUS. A limited parametric analysis shows the effects of slight anisotropy on the stress field around the tip of a crack and of the orientation of the crack with respect to the axes of elastic symmetry. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Strain space formulation of the elasto-plastic theory and its finite element implementation

this paper systematically presents the research work of the authors in strain space formulation of elasto-plastic theory and its numerical implementation in the context of geotechnical problems. The following aspects are mainly discussed: the advantages of the theory, the relations between stress space and strain space, the generalized yield, constitutive relations in strain space, the strain path and strain path method. The theory has been implemented in a finite element program. Two numerical examples are given which prove that the proposed theory and method are not only simple and convenient but also practical. It opens up a new approach for the application of strain space theory in the geotechnical engineering.     

A two-surface plasticity model for stiff clay

This paper presents a constitutive model for describing some important features of the behavior of natural stiff clay evidenced experimentally such as the limited elastic zone, the presence of strain hardening and softening, and the smooth transition from elastic behavior to a plastic one. The model, namely ACC-2, is an adapted Modified Cam Clay model with two yield surfaces: similarly to bounding surface plasticity theory, an additional yield surface—namely Inner yield surface—was adopted to account for the plastic behavior inside the conventional yield surface. A progressive plastic hardening mechanism was introduced with a combined volumetric-deviatoric hardening law associated with the Inner yield surface, enabling the plastic modulus to vary smoothly during loading paths. The main feature of the proposed model is that its constitutive equations can be simply formulated based on the consistency condition for the Inner yield surface, so that it can be efficiently implemented in a finite element code using a stress integration scheme similar to that of the Modified Cam Clay model. Furthermore, it is proved to be an appropriate model for natural stiff clay: the simulations of a set of tests along different mechanical loading paths on natural Boom Clay show good agreement with the experimental results.     

Boundary element analysis of stresses in an axisymmetric soil mass undergoing consolidation

A time domain boundary element method (BEM) for evaluating stresses in an axisymmetric soil mass undergoing consolidation has been developed. Previous BEM work on axisymmetric poroelasticity for boundary displacements and pore pressures is extended to permit the computation of stresses at both boundary and interior points. The stress formulation preserves the surface-only discretization. The boundary displacement integral equation is progressively differentiated to obtain the related stress and strain integral equations. Explicit expressions for the steady-state axisymmetric fundamental solutions are derived in this process. The transient components of the integrands are obtained directly from the transformation of the three-dimensional kernels into a cylindrical system. Numerical implementation of these integral equations is carried out within a general purpose BEM computer code and several illustrative examples are presented to validate the method.     

A fully coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical nonlinear model for a frozen medium

This paper describes a nonlinear elasto-plastic simulation of freezing and thawing of rock. A mathematical formulation is described in which deformation, fluid flow and heat flow are fully coupled. A non-linear elasto-plastic constitutive relationship is presented and a two dimensional (plane stress) numerical modeling is performed based on the finite element method applied to thermo-poro-elastoplasticity. It is assumed that the Mohr-Coulomb's failure criterion is valid for yield locus and plastic potential. The numerical scheme employed in the code accommodates phase change of pore-water from liquid to solid (ice). The primary aim of this paper is to compare the temperature transfer and deformation prediction obtained from the numerical code with those obtained from the freezing and thawing experiments. It is found from the numerical simulation that a relatively good prediction can be made of temperature transfer and deformation behavior. The numerical code has also been applied to a hypothetical cavern problem to demonstrate its applicability.     

Limit analysis of 2-D and 3-D structures based on an ellipsoid yield criterion

In this paper, a nonlinear numerical technique is developed to calculate the limit load and failure mode of structures obeying an ellipsoid yield criterion by means of the kinematic limit theorem, nonlinear programming theory and displacement-based finite element method. Using an associated flow rule, a general yield criterion expressed by an ellipsoid equation can be directly introduced into the kinematic theorem of limit analysis. The yield surface is not linearized and instead a nonlinear purely kinematic formulation is obtained. The nonlinear formulation has a smaller number of constraints and requires less computational effort than a linear formulation. By applying the finite element method, the kinematic limit analysis with an ellipsoid yield criterion is formulated as a nonlinear mathematical programming problem subject to only a small number of equality constraints. The objective function corresponds to the dissipation power which is to be minimized and an upper bound to the plastic limit load of a structure can then be calculated by solving the minimum optimization problem. An effective, direct iterative algorithm has been developed to solve the resulting nonlinear programming formulation. The calculation is based purely on kinematically admissible velocities. The stress field does not need to be calculated and the failure mode of structures can be obtained. The proposed method can be used to calculate the bearing capacity of clay soils in a direct way. Some examples are given to illustrate the validity and effectiveness of the proposed method.     

Implicit and explicit integration schemes in the anisotropic bounding surface plasticity model for cyclic behaviours of saturated clay

Two integration algorithms, namely the implicit return mapping and explicit sub-stepping schemes, are adopted in the anisotropic bounding surface plasticity model for cyclic behaviours of saturated clay and are implemented into finite element code. The model is a representative of a series of bounding surface models that have typical characteristics, including isotropic and kinematic hardening rules and a rotational bounding surface to capture complex but important cyclic behaviours of soils, such as cyclic shakedown and degradation. However, there is no explicit current yield surface in the model to which the conventional implicit algorithm returns the stress state back or the sub-stepping integration corrects the drift of the stress state. Hence, necessary modifications have been made for both of the integration schemes. First, the image stress point is mapped or corrected to the bounding surface instead of mapping back or correcting the stress state to the yield surface. Second, the unloading–loading criterion is checked to determine the image stress point rather than checking the yield criterion after giving the trial stress state in a conventional way. Comparative studies on the accuracy, stability and efficiency of the two integration schemes are conducted not only at the element level but also in solving boundary value problems of monotonic and cyclic bearing behaviours of rigid footings on saturated clay. For smaller strain increments, there is no significant difference in the accuracy between the two integration schemes, but the explicit integration shows a higher efficiency and accuracy. For relatively larger increments, the implicit return mapping algorithm presents good accuracy and more robustness, while the sub-stepping algorithm shows deteriorating accuracy and suffers the convergence problem. With the tolerance used in the present model, the bearing capacity of the rigid footing predicted by the return mapping algorithm is closer to the available analytical and numerical solutions, while the bearing capacity predicted by the sub-stepping algorithm shows a marginal increase.     

Adaptive integration of constitutive rate equations

In finite element calculations the constitutive model plays a key role. The evaluation of the stress response of the constitutive relation for a given strain increment, which is a time integration in the case of models of the rate type, is a typical sub task in such calculations. Adaptive behaviour of the time integration is essential to assure numerical stability and to control the accuracy of the solution. An adaptive second order semi-implicit method is developed in this paper. Its numerical behaviour is compared with an adaptive second order explicit scheme. The two proposed methods control the local error and guarantee numerical stability of the time integration. We include several numerical geotechnical element tests using hypoplasticity with intergranular strain. The element tests simulate the behaviour of a finite element method based on the displacement formulation.     

Axisymmetric compression of a Mohr–Coulomb medium around a circular hole

An analytical solution is presented for the stress and strain fields in a Mohr–Coulomb material in plane strain around a circular hole when it is compressed by an axisymmetric far-field pressure. It is shown that several solutions arise involving one to three plastic zones depending on the values of Poisson's ratio and the friction angle. The solution chosen for presentation was obtained and used to validate the functioning of the Mohr–Coulomb yield condition that was added to the NONSAP finite element code. Stress and strain field comparisons are made.     

基于剪切滑移的圆形洞室应力状态研究

引入一种基于滑移线上非线性本构关系的圆形洞室计算模型,并从这个模型推导得出洞室开挖后应力状态的非连续表达式。在该表达式中围岩的应力分区以及其中的应力值由一个不定的荷载参数控制。通过引入边界条件的方法确定荷载参数,解决了荷载参数不确定的问题。从围岩的应力分布状态确定荷载参数的取值范围,并计算得到不同荷载参数范围内围岩应力分布曲线。将围岩应力状态的解析解与局部剪切应变二维有限元程序的数值解进行比较验证,一致性较好。     

A micromorphic elastoplastic model and finite element simulation on failure behaviors of granular materials

One of the purposes in this study is to develop a modified micromorphic continuum model for granular materials on the basis of a micromechanics approach. A symmetric curvature tensor is proposed in this model, and a symmetric couple stress tensor is derived conjugating the symmetric curvature tensor. In addition, a correct derivation is presented to obtain the symmetric stress tensor conjugated with the symmetric strain tensor. The modified model provides a complete deformation mode for granular materials by considering the decomposition for motions (displacement and rotation) of particles. Consequently, the macroscopic constitutive relationships and constitutive moduli are derived in expressions of the microstructural information. Furthermore, the balance equations and boundary conditions are obtained for the modified micromorphic model. By considering the extended Drucker-Prager yield criterion, the micromorphic elastoplastic model is developed. Another purpose of this study is to derive the finite element formulation for the developed micromorphic elastoplastic model. Based on the ABAQUS user element (UEL) interface, numerical simulations investigated the load-displacement relationship and the strain localization behavior of granular materials and investigated the influence of microscopic parameters in the micromorphic model on these macroscopic mechanical responses. Numerical results illustrate the presented model's capability of simulating the strain-softening and strain localization behaviors, and the capability of considering the influence of microstructural information on the macroscopic mechanical behaviors of granular materials.     

Finite element analysis of two cylindrical expansion problems involving nearly incompressible material behaviour

The displacement formulation of the finite element method is well suited to the analysis of elasto-plasticity problems involving compressible material behaviour, but it is well known that numerical difficulties occur when the material is incompressible or nearly incompressible. The effect of these additional constraints depends on both element formulation and mesh topology. A two-dimensional plane strain finite element formulation suitable for the solution of problems involving large strains and displacements (but small rotations) based on the isoparametric approach is described. The kinematics of deformation are defined in terms of the Eulerian strain rates that are invariably used in small strain analysis; the formulation therefore retains some of the character of small strain theory but includes additional geometrically non-linear terms. The results of a series of plane strain finite element analyses of two cylindrical expansion problems are presented. These results confirm the previously observed trend that as Poisson's ratio approaches 0·5 then the quality of the calculated stress deteriorates. The study also indicates that the solution quality depends increasingly on mesh topology as perfect incompressibility is reached.