A continuum theory of soils: Viewed as peculiar immiscible mixtures

Abstract

In this work, we construct an atypical continuum theory in order to describe the behaviour of soils: they have a particulate structure and fluids can seep through pores, mechanically interacting with the solid skeleton. We use a model of immiscible mixtures consisting of a porous elastic solid with very large lacunae (a continuum with ellipsoidal microstructure) partially, or totally, filled by a classical fluid inclusion.