Numerical analysis of wetting-induced instabilities in partially saturated soils under plane strain conditions |
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Authors: | Giada M. Rotisciani Augusto Desideri Claudio di Prisco |
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Affiliation: | 1. Dipartimento Ingegneria Strutturale e Geotecnica, Università di Roma La Sapienza, Via Eudossiana 18, Rome, 00184 Italy;2. Dipartimento di Ingegneria Civile e Ambientale, Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, Milan, 20133 Italy |
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Abstract: | This paper concerns the hydromechanical stability of partially saturated soils during wetting. The response of a loose silty sand is numerically/theoretically investigated with the main aim of identifying both triggering mechanisms and predisposing factors to instability. This latter is testified by both a rapid increase in the pore water pressure and an unexpected loss of numerical convergence. The study has been conducted at different scales from laboratory tests to boundary value problems, and in both cases, the controllability theory has been employed to both interpret and justify the numerical results. |
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Keywords: | controllability material stability unsaturated soils wetting |
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