Two-dimensional analysis of stress and strain in soils, report 5, plane-strain loading of a strain-hardening soil: W. H. Tang and K. Hoeg.U.S. Army Eng. Waterways Experiment Station, Report 5 (Mar. 1968)

Abstract

Abstract : The research is aimed at providing fundamental information on the degree to which modern numerical techniques and the theory of plasticity can be used to simulate actual soil response. It is hoped that the results, examined in the light of experimental data, can be used as a guide in assessing the validity of the application of these methods to more complicated soil-structure interaction and free field response computations being used in the analysis of the effects of nuclear weapons on underground protective structures. Based on recent developments by Roscoe et al (1958) and others, idealized stress-strain relationships for a strain-hardening soil were formulated and discussed. The main objective of this report was to apply the suggested formulation to the simple physical situation of a strip footing in order to evaluate the assumptions used for the strain-hardening behavior. To perform the numerical computations, the soil continuum was replaced by a lumped parameter model, and the resulting algebraic equations were solved by a digital computer. Earlier work at Massachusetts Institute of Technology had developed a computer program for static plane strain analysis, and this report formulated a corresponding analysis for dynamic response. Then the study proceeded to use both these programs to determine the load-settlement curve for a strip footing. The last part of the report evaluates the proposed strain-hardening behavior and includes recommendations for modifications and future work. It is believed that the approach outlined represents a very useful method to improve current understanding of basic soil behavior. (Author)