scholarly journals A Unified Elastoplastic Model of Unsaturated Soils Considering Capillary Hysteresis

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
Tiantian Ma ◽  
Changfu Wei ◽  
Pan Chen ◽  
Huihui Tian ◽  
De'an Sun
Keyword(s):  
Soil Water ◽  
Unsaturated Soil ◽  
Unsaturated Soils ◽  
Mechanical Response ◽  
Internal State ◽  
Degree Of Saturation ◽  
State Variables ◽  
Soil Behavior ◽  
Capillary Hysteresis ◽  
Modified Cam Clay

Unlike its saturated counterparts, the mechanical behavior of an unsaturated soil depends not only upon its stress history but also upon its hydraulic history. In this paper, a soil-water characteristic relationship which is capable of describing the effect of capillary hysteresis is introduced to characterize the influence of hydraulic history on the skeletal deformation. The capillary hysteresis is viewed as a phenomenon associated with the internal structural rearrangements in unsaturated soils, which can be characterized by using a set of internal state variables. It is shown that both capillary hysteresis and plastic deformation can be consistently addressed in a unified theoretical framework. Within this context, a constitutive model of unsaturated soils is developed by generalizing the modified Cam-Clay model. A hardening function is introduced, in which both the matric suction and the degree of saturation are explicitly included as hardening variables, so that the effect of hydraulic history on the mechanical response can be properly addressed. The proposed model is capable of capturing the main features of the unsaturated soil behavior. The new model has a hierarchical structure, and, depending upon application, it can describe the stress-strain relation and the soil-water characteristics in a coupled or uncoupled manner.

scholarly journals Relative performance of two unsaturated soil models using different constitutive variables

2014 ◽  
Vol 51 (12) ◽  
pp. 1423-1437 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martí Lloret-Cabot ◽  
Simon J. Wheeler ◽  
Jubert A. Pineda ◽  
Daichao Sheng ◽  
Antonio Gens
Keyword(s):  
Unsaturated Soil ◽  
Unsaturated Soils ◽  
Water Retention ◽  
Experimental Tests ◽  
Experimental Results ◽  
Degree Of Saturation ◽  
State Variables ◽  
Retention Behaviour ◽  
Model Predictions ◽  
Water Retention Behaviour

Mechanical and water retention behaviour of unsaturated soils is investigated in the context of two well established coupled constitutive models, each of which is formulated in terms of a different set of stress state variables or constitutive variables. Incremental relationships describing the volume change and variation of the degree of saturation are derived for each model. These incremental relationships are used to simulate a set of experimental tests on compacted Speswhite kaolin previously reported in the literature. Six individual tests, involving isotropic compression and various forms of shearing, are analyzed in the context of the incremental forms developed, and the model predictions are then compared against experimental results. The results show that, although each constitutive model uses a different set of constitutive variables and a different scheme for coupling mechanical and water retention behaviour, the two sets of model predictions are similar and both sets provide a reasonable match to the experimental results, suggesting that both models are able to capture the relevant features of unsaturated soil behaviour, despite expressing the constitutive laws in different ways.

Predicting the permeability function for unsaturated soils using the soil-water characteristic curve

1994 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 533-546 ◽  
Author(s):  
D.G. Fredlund ◽  
Anqing Xing ◽  
Shangyan Huang
Keyword(s):  
Water Content ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Unsaturated Soil ◽  
Unsaturated Soils ◽  
Characteristic Curve ◽  
Degree Of Saturation ◽  
Residual Water ◽  
Soil Water Characteristic Curve ◽  
Coefficient Of Permeability ◽  
Permeability Function

The coefficient of permeability for an unsaturated soil is primarily determined by the pore-size distribution of the soil and can be predicted from the soil-water characteristic curve. A general equation, which describes the soil-water characteristic curve over the entire suction range (i.e., from 0 to 106 kPa), was proposed by the first two authors in another paper. This equation is used to predict the coefficient of permeability for unsaturated soils. By using this equation, an evaluation of the residual water content is no longer required in the prediction of the coefficient of permeability. The proposed permeability function is an integration form of the suction versus water content relationship. The proposed equation has been best fit with example data from the literature where both the soil-water characteristic curve and the coefficient of permeability were measured. The fit between the data and the theory was excellent. It was found that the integration can be done from zero water content to the saturated water content. Therefore, it is possible to use the normalized water content (volumetric or gravimetric) or the degree of saturation data versus suction in the prediction of the permeability function. Key words : coefficient of permeability, soil-water characteristic curve, unsaturated soil, water content, soil suction.

Method for Quick Prediction of Hydraulic Conductivity and Soil-Water Retention of Unsaturated Soils

2018 ◽  
Vol 2672 (52) ◽  
pp. 108-117 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shaoyang Dong ◽  
Yuan Guo ◽  
Xiong (Bill) Yu
Keyword(s):  
Finite Element ◽  
Hydraulic Conductivity ◽  
Soil Properties ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Unsaturated Soil ◽  
Unsaturated Soils ◽  
Hydraulic Properties ◽  
Water Retention ◽  
Characteristic Curve ◽  
Soil Water Retention

Hydraulic conductivity and soil-water retention are two critical soil properties describing the fluid flow in unsaturated soils. Existing experimental procedures tend to be time consuming and labor intensive. This paper describes a heuristic approach that combines a limited number of experimental measurements with a computational model with random finite element to significantly accelerate the process. A microstructure-based model is established to describe unsaturated soils with distribution of phases based on their respective volumetric contents. The model is converted into a finite element model, in which the intrinsic hydraulic properties of each phase (soil particle, water, and air) are applied based on the microscopic structures. The bulk hydraulic properties are then determined based on discharge rate using Darcy’s law. The intrinsic permeability of each phase of soil is first calibrated from soil measured under dry and saturated conditions, which is then used to predict the hydraulic conductivities at different extents of saturation. The results match the experimental data closely. Mualem’s equation is applied to fit the pore size parameter based on the hydraulic conductivity. From these, the soil-water characteristic curve is predicted from van Genuchten’s equation. The simulation results are compared with the experimental results from documented studies, and excellent agreements were observed. Overall, this study provides a new modeling-based approach to predict the hydraulic conductivity function and soil-water characteristic curve of unsaturated soils based on measurement at complete dry or completely saturated conditions. An efficient way to measure these critical unsaturated soil properties will be of benefit in introducing unsaturated soil mechanics into engineering practice.

Modified state-surface approach to the study of unsaturated soil behavior. Part I: Basic concept

2009 ◽  
Vol 46 (5) ◽  
pp. 536-552 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiong Zhang ◽  
Robert L. Lytton
Keyword(s):  
Unsaturated Soil ◽  
Unsaturated Soils ◽  
Stress Path ◽  
Complex Stress ◽  
Soil Behavior ◽  
Elastic Surface ◽  
Surface Approach ◽  
Basic Model ◽  
Plastic Hardening ◽  
Complex Stress Path

The traditional state-surface approach to the study of unsaturated soil behavior is becoming much less popular these days, as it uses unique constitutive surfaces to represent unsaturated soil behavior. This approach is essentially a nonlinear elastic formation and cannot be used to explain complex stress-path dependency for unsaturated soils. In this paper, a modified state-surface approach (MSSA) is proposed to represent unsaturated soil behavior under isotropic stress conditions in which a conventional void-ratio state surface is considered to be made up of an elastic surface and a plastic hardening surface. The plastic hardening surface remains stationary at all times, whereas the elastic surface remains unchanged when the soil experiences elastic deformation and moves downward when there is plastic hardening occurrence. Using the MSSA, the loading–collapse (LC) and the suction increase (SI) yield curves in the Barcelona basic model (BBM) are derived. The prediction of three typical cases of soils under isotropic conditions and experimental results using the proposed approach confirmed its feasibility, simplicity, and potential for the study of unsaturated soil behavior.

On the Hypothesis of Effective Stress in Consolidation and Strength for Unsaturated Soils

2012 ◽  
Vol 256-259 ◽  
pp. 108-111
Author(s):  
Seboong Oh ◽  
Ki Hun Park ◽  
Oh Kyun Kwon ◽  
Woo Jung Chung ◽  
Kyung Joon Shin
Keyword(s):  
Shear Strength ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Effective Stress ◽  
Unsaturated Soils ◽  
Water Retention Curve ◽  
Triaxial Tests ◽  
Residual Soil ◽  
Soil Behavior ◽  
Soil Water Retention Curve ◽  
Soil Water Retention

The hypothesis on effective stress of unsaturated soils is validated by consolidation strength results of triaxial tests for the compacted residual soil. The effective stress can describe the unsaturated soil behavior, which was defined from shear strength or from soil water characteristic curves. Since the effective stress from consolidation agrees with that from the shear strength, the effective stress from soil water retention curve could describe the unsaturated behavior consistently on both consolidation path and stress at failure. The effective stress can describe the entire unsaturated behavior from consolidation to failure.

Experimental behaviour and modelling of an unsaturated compacted soil

2000 ◽  
Vol 37 (4) ◽  
pp. 748-763 ◽  
Author(s):  
Celestino Rampino ◽  
Claudio Mancuso ◽  
Filippo Vinale
Keyword(s):  
Unsaturated Soils ◽  
Mechanical Response ◽  
Stress Path ◽  
Silty Sand ◽  
Triaxial Tests ◽  
Experimental Program ◽  
State Variables ◽  
Soil Response ◽  
Optimum Water Content ◽  
Triaxial Cell

This paper reports the experimental study and modelling of the mechanical response of a silty sand used in the core of the Metramo dam, Italy. Specimens were prepared by compacting the soil at optimum water content conditions using the modified Proctor technique. Tests were performed under suction-controlled conditions by a stress path triaxial cell and an oedometer. The experimental program consists of 23 tests carried out in the suction range of 0-400 kPa. The findings indicate the strong influence of suction on compressibility, stiffness, and shear strength. The mechanical properties of the soil improve with suction following an exponential law with decreasing gradient. Furthermore, the soil exhibited collapsible behaviour upon wetting even at low stress levels. Interesting results were also achieved in elastoplastic modelling as well. The results led to characterization of soil behaviour with reference to widely accepted modelling criteria for unsaturated soils, providing noteworthy suggestions about their applicability for granular materials with a non-negligible fine component. Finally, some remarks are made for the extension under unsaturated conditions of the "Nor sand" model for saturated granular soils. The proposed approach yields improved predictions of deviator soil response of the tested soil when Cambridge-type frameworks prove invalid.Key words: unsaturated soils, stress state variables, triaxial tests, oedometer tests, constitutive model.

scholarly journals Unsaturated soils in the context of tropical soils

2021 ◽  
Vol 44 (3) ◽  
pp. 1-25
Author(s):  
José Camapum de Carvalho ◽  
Gilson Gitirana
Keyword(s):  
Unsaturated Soil ◽  
Unsaturated Soils ◽  
Structural Characteristics ◽  
Soil Formation ◽  
Soil Classification ◽  
Tropical Soils ◽  
Engineering Practice ◽  
Soil Behavior ◽  
Specific Behavior ◽  
Engineering Problems

The practice of geotechnical engineering in tropical climate regions must consider the use of unsaturated soil concepts. However, these concepts must also take into account the specific behavior traits of tropical soils, particularly those related to soil aggregation, pore structure, and mineralogy. This paper will initially present considerations on the typical properties of unsaturated tropical soils as well as fundamental concepts. Throughout the article, several engineering problems will be presented alongside reflections on the complex interaction between the numerous variables involved in the modeling and engineering practice of tropical unsaturated soil behavior. The paper addresses issues related to soil formation, chemical and mineral composition, physical properties, tropical soil classification, and structural characteristics of soils. Issues related to compaction and the influence of weathering, geomorphology and bioengineering are also addressed.

Modified state-surface approach to the study of unsaturated soil behavior. Part III: Modeling of coupled hydromechanical effect

2012 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 98-120 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiong Zhang ◽  
Robert L. Lytton
Keyword(s):  
Unsaturated Soils ◽  
Coupling Effect ◽  
Degree Of Saturation ◽  
Compression Tests ◽  
Soil Behavior ◽  
Volume Changes ◽  
Surface Approach ◽  
Soil Skeleton ◽  
Hydromechanical Behavior ◽  
Undrained Conditions

A modified state-surface approach (MSSA) was proposed in the authors’ previous study to investigate volume change of the soil skeleton for unsaturated soils. This paper discussed the coupling effect between volume changes of soil skeleton, water phase, and air phase for unsaturated soils based on the proposed MSSA and experimental results presented by other researchers. The MSSA was further extended to study the coupled hydromechanical behavior for unsaturated soils. Besides void ratio constitutive surface, conventional unique water content and degree of saturation constitutive surfaces were also divided into elastic and plastic regions by loading–collapse (LC) yield curves and simultaneously used to describe the coupled hydromechanical behavior for unsaturated soils. A general theoretic formulation was derived for the simultaneous use of the MSSA under isotropic conditions. Based on the derived formulation, existing elastoplastic models were reviewed, and compatibility and consistency in modeling the mechanical and hydraulic behavior of unsaturated soils were discussed. Afterwards, the results of a number of suction-controlled laboratory isotropic compression tests at different suctions were used to demonstrate the ability of the proposed approach to reproduce the observed soil behavior quantitatively and soil behavior under undrained conditions qualitatively.

Model for the prediction of shear strength with respect to soil suction

1996 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 379-392 ◽  
Author(s):  
S K Vanapalli ◽  
D G Fredlund ◽  
D E Pufahl ◽  
A W Clifton
Keyword(s):  
Shear Strength ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Unsaturated Soil ◽  
Unsaturated Soils ◽  
Characteristic Curve ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Matric Suction ◽  
Glacial Till ◽  
Soil Suction ◽  
Soil Water Characteristic Curve

Experimental studies on unsaturated soils are generally costly, time-consuming, and difficult to conduct. Shear strength data from the research literature suggests that there is a nonlinear increase in strength as the soil desaturates as a result of an increase in matric suction. Since the shear strength of an unsaturated soil is strongly related to the amount of water in the voids of the soil, and therefore to matric suction, it is postulated that the shear strength of an unsaturated soil should also bear a relationship to the soil-water characteristic curve. This paper describes the relationship between the soil-water characteristic curve and the shear strength of an unsaturated soil with respect to matric suction. Am empirical, analytical model is developed to predict the shear strength in terms of soil suction. The formulation makes use of the soil-water characteristic curve and the saturated shear strength parameters. The results of the model developed for predicting the shear strength are compared with experimental results for a glacial till. The shear strength of statically compacted glacial till specimens was measured using a modified direct shear apparatus. Specimens were prepared at three different water contents and densities (i.e., corresponding to dry of optimum, and wet of optimum conditions). Various net normal stresses and matric suctions were applied to the specimens. There is a good correlation between the predicted and measured values of shear strength for the unsaturated soil. Key words: soil-water characteristic curve, shear strength, unsaturated soil, soil suction, matric suction.

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