A model for predicting permanent deformation of unbound granular materials

Abstract

A simple model has been proposed to characterise the accumulation of permanent deformation (PD) in unbound granular materials (UGMs) under cyclic loading of variable magnitudes. The model was developed based on multi-stage (MS) repeated-load triaxial (RLT) tests. The material parameters of this model can be evaluated using an MS RLT test. The model was validated by calibrating it for a few UGMs with a range of grain size distributions, moisture contents and degrees of compaction. The calibrated model was further validated by predicting the PD behaviour of some of these UGMs for different stress conditions. Generally, quite satisfactory predictions were obtained with this model with the advantage of reduced effort required for its calibration compared to some existing models. Additionally, the sensitivity of the parameters of this model to moisture, degree of compaction and grain size distribution was investigated with the aim of incorporating them into the model in future.