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.     

Undrained cavity expansion in anisotropic soils with isotropic and frictional destructuration

This paper proposes a semi-analytical solution of undrained cylindrical cavity expansion in anisotropic soils with both isotropic and frictional destructuration. The rigorous derivation based on the general form of the SANICLAY model with destructuration is provided following a standardized solving procedure, and the features of anisotropy and structuration are then invoked in the cavity expansion solution by adopting the non-associated hierarchical model. Cavity expansion tests in both structured and unstructured clays with various overconsolidation ratio are conducted to investigate the evolutions of effective stresses, excess pore pressure, anisotropic parameters and structuration factors during cylindrical expansion. The results show that the effective stresses at the cavity wall are lower after expansion and the cavity excess pore pressure is oppositely higher in structured clays with slightly smaller plastic regions. The evolutions of anisotropy for structured clays appear to follow similar patterns to unstructured cases, whereas the degree of anisotropy is further developed with gradual loss of inter-particle bonds. Finally, the proposed solution is applied to predict the limit pressure of pressuremeter tests in Bothkennar clay, showing its ability for interpretation of in situ testing data in natural structured clays.

     

Constitutive modeling of the destructuration and anisotropy of natural soft clay

The mechanical behavior of natural clays is affected by their inherent anisotropy and metastable soil structure. A simple hierarchical model that considers initial anisotropy and destructuration was formulated within the framework of critical state soil mechanics. In the proposed model, stress sensitivity and a destructuration index were introduced to account for the degree of bonding and the rate of destructuration, respectively. An inclined yield surface was used to incorporate the effect of the initial anisotropy. The proposed model can be degenerated to the Modified Cam Clay model by setting the initial stress sensitivity equal to unity and using a horizontal yield surface. Reasonable agreement between the model simulations and the experimental results on a variety of stress paths demonstrated that the proposed model can capture well the deformation behavior of natural clay and reconstituted soil. The model was implemented into the finite element program for the numerical analysis of an embankment on soft clay improved with prefabricated vertical drains. The numerical predictions were compared with the field-measured data in terms of embankment settlement. Additionally, the numerical simulations were analyzed in terms of horizontal displacements, excess pore water pressure, mean effective stress and volumetric strain. All of the simulations and comparisons indicate the importance of considering the effects of plastic anisotropy, interparticle bonding and destructuration caused by loading beyond yield stress and field disturbance in analyzing the behavior of an embankment on natural soft clay.     

天然沉积结构性黏土原位压缩规律及预测模型研究

通过天然沉积黏土的原状样与重塑样的压缩对比试验,揭示了屈服后土结构性的渐进性破损过程以及由常规 曲线确定的压缩指数 随固结压力呈非线性变化性状给实际工程沉降计算参数选取带来不便。采用 双对数坐标表示方法,通过不同初始结构大小的黏土试验数据证实了 压缩曲线在屈服前后段具有良好的线性关系,实现了结构屈服应力、屈服前后压缩指标有效统一确定。在该坐标体系下给出了考虑取样扰动影响的原位压缩曲线恢复方法,建立了结构性黏土的双线性压缩模型,结合文中与文献中试验数据给出了结构屈服应力与不排水强度、屈服后压缩指标与稳定指数SI和液限wL的经验关系。研究结果可为天然沉积土地基固结沉降计算参数的合理选取提供依据。     

关于结构土屈服破坏的探讨

天然沉积土往往均为结构土,结构土的屈服破坏是研究结构土力学性状的关键问题之一。但是,结构土的屈服破坏至今没有合理明确的定义。对两种天然沉积软粘土的高质量不扰动土样进行了固结压缩试验和三轴等向固结不排水剪切试验以探讨结构土的力学性状。基于结构土的强度特性,提出了当外加应力达到固结屈服应力时结构土达到完全屈服破坏的新概念,并且初步探讨了结构土的强度性状与变形特性的本质联系与其耦合问题。     

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.     

An elastoplastic description of frictional destructuration in natural clays and shales

The existence of structuration in natural clays and shales is believed to change their stiffness, yielding, dilatancy and strength characteristics. These constitutive features are widely known to ultimately reunite with those of the reconstituted parent soil upon large straining. However, some experimental results show that such reunification may not occur in isotropic/one-dimensional compression, especially with regard to the critical state friction angle. This peculiar phenomenon has been barely addressed in constitutive models for natural geomaterials. Hence, the present study aims at introducing a structure-dependent critical state friction angle within the subloading yield framework. A new internal variable is introduced in the model of Nakai et al. (Soils Found 51(6):1149–1168, 2011) to capture subtle irreversible degradation of the structured critical state line which also serves as the threshold between contractive and dilatant volume changes. Additionally, a new evolution rule for the proposed destructuration factor is developed by considering important microstructural information revealed by discrete element method simulations. The proposed new modifications not only enhance the model capabilities in predicting bonding effects, but also enrich the classical stress-dilatancy equation by rendering it a function of void ratio, mean stress and the microstructural state. Model simulations of laboratory experimental tests on the Colorado shale as well as Bacinetto clay are presented in order to illustrate the improved predictive capabilities of the new model.     

考虑饱和黏土初始各向异性的循环边界面塑性模型

天然土体的初始各向异性通常可对其后继循环特性产生显著影响。现有考虑循环载荷作用的土体弹塑性模型,往往采用类似修正剑桥模型的椭圆形屈服面,已有研究表明,该椭圆形屈服面因其拉伸弹性区域偏大,针对天然K0固结状态的土体,其计算精度较差。基于新近提出的广义各向同性硬化准则,在边界面方程中引入初始各向异性张量,并采用空间滑动面破坏准则（SMP）的变换应力法,建立了能考虑饱和黏土初始各向异性的循环边界面塑性模型。分别针对等压和偏压固结的饱和黏土静、动三轴试验进行模拟,结果表明,该模型能合理反映土体的初始各向异性及其后继循环动力特性。     

Sensitive bounding surface constitutive model for structured clay

The main purpose of the paper is to present a relatively simple, yet realistic, constitutive model for simulations of structured sensitive clays. The proposed constitutive model can simulate 1‐D and isotropic consolidation, and drained and undrained shear response of sensitive structured clay. The proposed sensitive bounding surface model is based on concepts from the modified Cam clay model 8 and bounding surface plasticity 27 , with the addition of a simple degradation law. The key material parameters are M, λ, κ, and ν from the modified Cam clay framework, h from the bounding surface framework to model a smoothed elasto‐plastic transition, and ω_v, ω_q, and S_sr to model softening associated with destructuration. The model has separate parameters to model destructuration caused by volumetric strain and deviatoric strain. The model is capable of modeling unusual behavior of strain softening during 1‐D compression (i.e., a reduction of effective stress as void ratio decreases). A good match between test results and the model simulation is demonstrated. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A bounding surface model for anisotropically overconsolidated clay incorporating thermodynamics admissible rotational hardening rule

A bounding surface model is formulated to simulate the behavior of clays that are subject to an anisotropic consolidation stress history. Conventional rotational hardening is revisited from the perspective of thermodynamics. As the free energy cannot be accumulated infinitely upon critical state failure, the deviatoric back stress must vanish. This requires the rotated yield surface to be turned back to eventually align on the hydrostatic axis in the stress plane. Noting that most of the previous propositions violate this restriction, an innovative rotational hardening rule is formulated that is thermodynamically admissible. The bounding surface framework that employs the modified yield surface is applied to simulate elastoplastic deformations for overconsolidated clays, with which the overprediction of strength on the “dry” side can be greatly improved with reasonable results. Other important features, including contractive or dilative response and hardening or softening behavior, can also be well-captured. It has been shown that the model can simulate three types of reconstituted clays that are sheared with initial conditions over a wide range of anisotropic consolidation stress ratios and overconsolidation ratios under both triaxial undrained and drained conditions. Limitations and potential improvement of the model regarding the fabric anisotropy at critical state have been discussed.     

Modified Structured Cam Clay: A generalised critical state model for destructured,naturally structured and artificially structured clays

This paper presents a generalised constitutive model for destructured, naturally structured and artificially structured clays that extends the Structured Cam Clay (SCC) model. This model is designated as “Modified Structured Cam Clay (MSCC) model”. The influence of structure and destructuring on the mechanical behaviour of clay can be explained by the change in the modified effective stress, which is the sum of the current mean effective stress and the additional mean effective stress due to structure (structure strength). The presence of structure increases the modified mean effective stress and yield surface, enhancing the cohesion, peak strength and stiffness. The destructuring begins when the stress state is on the virgin yield surface. After the failure (peak strength) state, the abrupt destructuring occurs as the soil–cementation structure is crushed; hence the strain softening. The soil structure is completely removed at the critical state when the yield surface becomes identical to the destructured surface. The destructuring law is proposed based on this premise. In the MSCC model, the yield function is the same shape as that of the Modified Cam Clay (MCC) model. A plastic potential is introduced so as to account for the influence of structure on the plastic strain direction for both hardening and softening behaviours. The required model parameters are divided into those describing destructured properties and those describing structured properties. All the parameters have physical meaning and can be simply determined from the conventional triaxial tests. Thus, the MSCC model is a useful tool for geotechnical practitioners. The capability of the model is verified by the test results of destructured, natural structured and artificially structured clays.     

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.     

A hypoplastic constitutive model for clays

This paper presents a new constitutive model for clays. The model is developed on the basis of generalized hypoplasticity principles, which are combined with traditional critical state soil mechanics. The positions of the isotropic normal compression line and the critical state line correspond to the Modified Cam clay model, the Matsuoka–Nakai failure surface is taken as the limit stress criterion and the non‐linear behaviour of soils with different overconsolidation ratios is governed by the generalized hypoplastic formulation. The model requires five constitutive parameters, which correspond to the parameters of the Modified Cam clay model and are simple to calibrate on the basis of standard laboratory experiments. This makes the model particularly suitable for practical applications. The basic model may be simply enhanced by the intergranular strain concept, which allows reproducing the behaviour at very small strains. The model is evaluated on the basis of high quality laboratory experiments on reconstituted London clay. Contrary to a reference hypoplastic relation, the proposed model may be applied to highly overconsolidated clays. Improvement of predictions in the small strain range at different stress levels is also demonstrated. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A generalized three-dimensional Hoek–Brown strength criterion

Summary  Although the Hoek–Brown strength criterion has been widely used in rock mechanics and rock engineering, it does not take account of the influence of the intermediate principal stress. Much evidence, however, has been accumulating to indicate that the intermediate principal stress does influence the rock strength in many instances. Therefore, researchers have developed three-dimensional (3D) versions of the Hoek–Brown strength criterion. In this paper, three existing 3D versions of the Hoek–Brown strength criterion are reviewed and evaluated. The evaluation shows that all of the three 3D versions of the Hoek–Brown strength criterion have limitations. To address the limitations, a generalized 3D Hoek–Brown criterion is proposed by modifying the generalized Hoek–Brown strength criterion. The proposed 3D criterion not only inherits the advantages of the Hoek–Brown strength criterion but can take account of the influence of the intermediate principal stress. At a 2D stress state (triaxial or biaxial), the proposed 3D criterion will simply reduce to the form of the generalized Hoek–Brown strength criterion. To validate the proposed 3D strength criterion, polyaxial or true triaxial compression test data of intact rocks and jointed rock masses has been collected from the published literature. Predictions of the proposed generalized 3D Hoek–Brown strength criterion are in good agreement with the test data for a range of different rock types. The difference of the proposed generalized 3D Hoek–Brown strength criterion from and its advantages over the existing 3D versions of the Hoek–Brown strength criterion are also discussed. It should be noted that the proposed 3D criterion is empirical in nature because it is an extension of the 2D Hoek–Brown strength criterion, which is empirical. Because of the non-convexity of the yield surface for a biaxial stress state, the proposed 3D criterion may have problems with some stress paths. Correspondence: L. Zhang, Department of Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA     

真三轴条件下非饱和黄土的有效应力屈服特性

为了研究非饱和黄土在有效应力空间的屈服特性,利用真三轴仪对非饱和原状黄土进行了不排水等向净应力压缩固结和不同中主应力参数b值的剪切试验,研究了真三轴压缩条件下非饱和黄土的有效应力屈服变化规律。研究结果表明:有效应力比随着中主应力或净围压的增大而减小,中主应力的增大作用对有效球应力的影响大于广义剪应力;由有效应力比-体应变关系曲线确定的剪缩屈服曲线在有效应力空间具有良好的规律性,屈服点的有效屈服应力随着中主应力和初始吸力的增大而增大;π平面上的有效应力屈服强度面和强度破坏面与SMP强度准则稳合较好,有效球应力和初始吸力越大,屈服强度面和强度破坏面越大。提出了真三轴条件下弹性剪应变和塑性剪应变的计算公式,通过分析有效应力与塑性应变关系得出有效应力空间中不同子午平面内的塑性势面呈椭圆形,且随着中主应力的增大,椭圆屈服面增大。     

海相沉积软黏土的弹塑性本构模型研究

在深入探讨海相沉积原状软黏土压缩、变形等力学特性和详细分析加载屈服面随荷载情况变化的基础上,确认了海相沉积原状软黏土的强度、变形特性与结构屈服应力密切相关。即当固结压力小于结构屈服应力时,其力学特性与超固结重塑土的力学特性类似;当固结压力大于结构屈服应力时,其力学特性与正常固结重塑土的力学特性类似。为描述海相沉积原状软黏土的上述力学特性,将姚仰平等提出的超固结重塑土本构模型引入到海相沉积软黏土弹塑性本构模型的构建中。在本构模型构建过程中,考虑了海相沉积原状软黏土具有的抗拉强度及其演化规律,软黏土强度包线的特点及其进一步修正的表达式,使模型更符合海相原状软黏土的强度、变形特性。最后,将3种不同海相沉积软黏土固结排水剪切试验得到的应力-应变-体变曲线与模型预测结果进行对比。比较结果显示,本文提出的弹塑性本构模型能很好地描述海相沉积原状软黏土的剪缩硬化、剪胀软化以及变形的应力水平依存性等力学特性。     

软土初始应力各向异性弹塑性模型

自然土体处于初始应力状态,其强度和应力-应变关系都呈现出各向异性,而以往广泛使用的剑桥模型是建立在重塑土试验结果的基础上的,因此,计算实际问题时有一定缺陷.在总结了一些在修正剑桥模型基础上进行扩展而得到的各向异性模型,尤其是S-CLAY1模型.然后,假定了初始屈服面的倾角为K0线,这样使S-CLAY1的计算更加简单.此外,还编制了相关程序,进行了比较计算.结果表明,该模型简单合理,参数正确,可以在实际工程中应用.