Numerical Analysis of Soils in Simple Shear Devices

Abstract

ABSTRACT The results of finite element analyses of soils in simple shear devices, assuming that these soils can be modelled either as an elastic or an elastoplastic material, are presented. The results indicate that an elastic analysis produces larger levels of stress concentrations than an analysis using the modified Cam-clay model. The predicted stress-strain behavior of a very loose sand and speswhite kaolin using the modified Cam-clay model agrees very well with simple shear test results deduced from measurements made at the sample core of the top boundary of the samples for constant load tests. A satisfactory match of experimental and modified Cam-clay stress-strain results was not obtained for the constant height test. The simple shear devices (Norwegian Geotechnical Institute and Cambridge types) can be expected to give good quality results for monotonic loading from carefully prepared samples if measurements of stress and pore water pressures are made at the sample core on either the top or bottom or both horizontal boundaries of the sample.