Thermo-plasticity of clays: An isotropic yield mechanism

Numerical modelling of the thermo-mechanical behaviour of soils is an important issue in the analysis of problems such as nuclear waste isolation or geothermal structures. The purpose of this paper is to present a new thermo-plastic mechanism for isotropic thermo-mechanical paths including thermal hardening. It is based on considerations of the thermal effect on void ratio. After a discussion of the experimental evidence, the formulation of the thermo-plastic yield mechanism is introduced. Typical features are analysed and the responses of the model discussed. The proposed model is validated on the basis of experimental results on two different clays.     

A THERMO-VISCOPLASTIC CONSTITUTIVE MODEL FOR CLAYS

The effect of heat on clay behaviour is characterized by non-linearity and irreversibility. Due to the complex influence of temperature, thermomechanical factors have to be taken into account for the numerical simulation of the behaviour of such materials. A cyclic thermo-viscoplastic model is developed for this purpose. It includes thermal hardening and the evolution of yield surfaces with temperature. From the physical point of view, it is built on the basis of available experimental results for a temperature range in which no phase change occurs. Conceptually, it is the generalization of an isothermal multimechanism cyclic model. A thermoplastic formulation of the model is also derived. The results obtained from numerical simulations compare well with experiments. © 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Thermodynamical approach for CamClay-family models with Roscoe-type dilatancy rules

The CamClay model has been extensively used in numerous research programmes for constitutive modelling in Soil Mechanics during the past quarter of a century. Several derivations of this model are now available and routinely used for numerical simulations in the geomechanical engineering field. However, to the authors' knowledge the thermodynamical basis of this model in its original form has never been established, at least in a modern thermodynamics framework. The thermodynamics principle proposed by Ziegler is very expedient for this purpose as the non-associated flow rule may be considered. This approach is applied to the CamClay model with the Roscoe dilatancy rule. A dissipation function and free energy are specified in terms of kinematic variables (i.e. state and internal variables), and the material response is derived entirely from these functions.     

Fabric evolution during hydromechanical loading of a compacted silt

A study was undertaken on a compacted silt to determine fabric modifications induced by suction and/or stress variations. The link between fabric and hydromechanical behaviour was also investigated. A suction-controlled oedometer, using air overpressure, was developed for this purpose and mercury intrusion porosimetry was employed to determine sample fabric. The initial samples fabric was made of macro and micropores. It was shown that suction increase produced a strong decrease in the macroporosity associated with an increase in microporosity. However, some macropores were not significantly affected by the suction increase; this phenomenon might be related to the initial fabric of the samples. Second, it appears that loading under saturated conditions also produces strong fabric modification: the higher the applied stress, the lower the macroporosity. Soil fabric depends on the maximum stress experienced by the soil. Finally, some tests have shown the influence of suction, as well as the role of the degree of saturation, on the deformation process and the mechanical behaviour. The test results show that in the case of unsaturated mechanical loading, all macropores are not destroyed by the mechanical loading. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Experimental study of thermal effects on the mechanical behaviour of a clay

The paper presents the results of an experimental study of thermal effects on the mechanical behaviour of a saturated clay. The study was performed on CM clay (Kaolin) using a temperature-controlled triaxial apparatus. Applied temperatures were between 22 and 90°C. A comprehensive experimental program was carried out, including: (i) triaxial shear tests at ambient and high temperatures for different initial overconsolidation ratios; (ii) consolidation tests at ambient and high temperatures; and (iii) drained thermal heating for different initial overconsolidation ratios. The obtained results provide observations concerning a wide scope of the thermo-mechanical behaviour of clays. Test results obtained at 90°C were compared with tests performed at ambient temperature. Based on these comparisons, thermal effects on a variety of features of behaviour are presented and discussed. Focus is made on: (i) induced thermal volume change during drained heating; (ii) experimental evidence of temperature influence on preconsolidation pressure and on compressibility index; (iii) thermal effects on shear strength and critical state; and (iv) thermal effects on elastic modulus. Thermal yielding is discussed and yield limit evolution with temperature is presented. The directions of the induced plastic strains are also discussed. Several remarks on the difference in the mechanical behaviour at ambient and high temperatures conclude the paper. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Cell-free soil bio-cementation with strength,dilatancy and fabric characterization

Acta Geotechnica - A multi-disciplinary approach is adopted in the present work towards investigating bio-cemented geo-materials which extends from sample preparation, to microstructural inspection...     

Thermo-hydro-mechanical simulation of ATLAS in situ large scale test in Boom Clay

Following the need for understanding and quantifying the effect of temperature on the response of a candidate host formation for radioactive waste disposal, finite element modelling of an in situ thermal experiment has been carried out. Based on a thermo-hydro-mechanical (THM) finite element approach including a consistent thermo-plastic constitutive model, it has been possible to reproduce the THM response of a clay formation submitted to in situ thermal loading. The simulated large-scale experiment, called ATLAS was designed in the underground research facility (HADES-URF) in Mol, Belgium. After an extensive literature analysis on the thermal, hydraulic and mechanical characteristics of Boom Clay, laboratory tests were simulated to calibrate model parameters. The results of the finite element modelling of the ATLAS experiment were compared with in situ measurements and revealed the necessity to account for flow diffusion in all three directions through a 2D axisymmetric analysis. Finally, those results were interpreted in the light of elasto-thermoplasticity, which emphasizes the significant role of thermo-plastic processes in the global THM response of the clay formation.     

Discrete element modelling of drying shrinkage and cracking of soils

This paper is aimed at showing the efficiency of discrete element modelling for the prediction and understanding of drying shrinkage and associated cracking. The discrete element approach used is presented first. Cohesive forces between grains, as well as drying shrinkage deformation, are included in the formulation. A numerical model is then used to simulate drying shrinkage experiments conducted on a fine-grained soil. The numerical simulations agree well with the experimental measurements. When drying shrinkage is constrained at the boundaries, and when moisture gradients develop in the drying soil, the model is able to predict the time of the occurrence of cracking, as well as the crack pattern formed. Finite element simulations and the discrete element approach both predict similar behaviours before cracking occurs. The proposed discrete element approach is highly promising for studying the origins and causes of cracking in soils.     

Numerical analysis of canister movements in an engineered barrier system

The mid-term safety of deep geological nuclear waste repositories is based in part on the presence of a buffer, the main role of which is to isolate the environment from radionuclides. A design evaluation of such a repository is necessary to assess the potential vertical canister movement inside the drift that could reduce the buffer efficiency. A thermo-hydro-mechanical (THM) simulation is performed in a vertical cross-section of the drift. The THM couplings are described, and their influences on the mid-term (300 years) response of the engineered barrier system (EBS) are revealed. This study uses an advanced constitutive model to simulate the THM processes that occur in a specific EBS design case. The near-field simulations of the nuclear waste canister are performed in a two-dimensional finite element configuration that considers the effect of gravity. The focus of this study is on the mechanical behaviour of the buffer, which consists of two different forms of bentonite. Such an approach allows realistic consideration of the effect of the wetting and drying of the buffer material in non-isothermal conditions. Due to a specific design that includes bentonite blocks and pellets, the canister is observed to heave slightly during the re-saturation period, which extends up to 100 years.     

Numerical analysis of the geotechnical behaviour of energy piles

Energy geostructures are rapidly gaining acceptance around the world; they represent a renewable and clean source of energy that can be used for the heating and cooling of buildings and for de‐icing of infrastructures. This technology couples the structural role of geostructures with the energy supply, using the principle of shallow geothermal energy. The geothermal energy exploitation represents an additional thermal loading, seasonally cyclic, which is imposed on the soil and the structure itself. Because the primary role of the piles is the stability of the superstructure, this aspect needs to be ensured even in the presence of the additional thermal load. The goal of this paper is to numerically investigate the behaviour of energy pile foundations during heating–cooling cycles. For this purpose, the finite element method is used to simulate both a single and a group of energy piles. The piles are subjected to a constant mechanical load and a seasonally cyclic thermal load over several years, imposed in terms of injected–extracted thermal power. The soil and the pile–soil interface behaviours are reproduced using a thermoelastic‐thermoplastic constitutive model. The thermal‐induced stresses inside the piles and the additional displacements of the foundations are discussed. The group model is used to investigate the interactions between the piles during thermo‐mechanical loading. The presented results are specific to the studied cases but lead to the conclusion that both the thermal‐induced displacements and stresses, despite being acceptable under normal working conditions, deserve to be taken into account in the geotechnical design of energy piles. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.