Singular value decomposition of the compliance response matrix for the triaxial stress condition

Performance-based design demands accurate prediction of soil deformation under a working load condition. The nonlinear stress–strain behavior needs to be analyzed quantitatively to advance the understanding of complex soil behavior in the pre-failure condition. The singular value decomposition technique is introduced to quantitatively analyze the compliance matrix representing the strain response envelope (SRE). The rotation of the ellipse of the SRE relates to the anisotropic response of the soil deformation. The off-centered SRE provides evidence of the kinematic hardening plasticity. Quantitative data on the movement of SREs provide us with crucial information to investigate the effect of stress history and the evolution of stiffness anisotropy in soil deformation.