Three-dimensional constitutive model for cyclic behavior of soil-structure interfaces

Abstract

Many soil-structure interaction systems experience a three-dimensional loading condition (i.e. shear coupling) at their interfaces. In this study, an elasto-plastic constitutive formulation for interfaces in soil-structure interaction problems is proposed considering the effects of 3D shear coupling loading conditions. The proposed model is capable of simulating granular soil-structure interfaces for both monotonic and cyclic loading over a wide range of normal stress and normal stiffness using a single set of eleven calibration parameters. The model is capable of simulating a number of complex interface behaviour, including hardening and softening, compaction, dilation and phase transformation, stress path dependency, accumulative contraction and stabilization, stress degradation and particle breakage under monotonic and cyclic loading. The constitutive model performance is examined using available experimental data for gravelly and sandy soil-structure interfaces subjected to monotonic and cyclic loads involving shear coupling.