Deformation and Failure in Wet Clay Soil: Part 3, Finite Element Analysis of Cutting of Wet Clay by Tines

Abstract

The finite element method (FEM) was used to model cutting of wet clay by a wide tine using measured soil stress-strain characteristics as input data. The incremental method was used to deal with this geometrically nonlinear problem and correspondingly a revised tangent stiffness formula was derived and employed in the calculation. The incompressible property of the saturated clay soil was considered when determining Poisson's ratio of the soil. A continuously updated interface element was used to simulate the behaviour at the soil-tool interface. Calculation results provided soil displacement, strain, stress and failure state, and tool force-displacement curves. Calculated soil deformation patterns were qualitatively similar to those measured and tool forces were close to measured values.