Application of a state-dependent sand model in simulating the cone penetration tests

Abstract

A critical-state sand model with density- and the third stress invariant-dependence is combined into a large deformation finite element method to numerically study the cone penetration process in sands. A fully implicit stress integration algorithm is developed to implement the constitutive equations. The large deformation simulations are achieved through the adaptive remeshing technique based on the Arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian (ALE). A series of CPT calibration chamber tests are simulated to validate the soil model and numerical approach, followed by discussions on the effect of the soil density on the cone penetration resistance as well as the changes of the sand mechanical properties induced by the penetration process. Lastly, the validated numerical technique is applied to study the extent of sand disturbed by the process of pile driving.