Framework Of Soil Mechanics Research Articles

Path and Slip Dependent Behavior of Shallow Subduction Shear Zones During Fluid Overpressure

AbstractElevated pore fluid pressure is proposed to contribute to slow earthquakes along shallow subduction plate boundaries. However, the processes that create high fluid pressure, disequilibrium compaction and dehydration reactions, lead to different effective stress paths in fault rocks. These paths are predicted by granular mechanics frameworks to lead to different strengths and deformation modes, yet granular mechanics do not predict their effects on fault stability. To evaluate the role of fluid overpressure on shallow megathrust strength and slip behavior, we conducted triaxial shear experiments on chlorite and celadonite rich gouge layers. Experiments were conducted at constant temperature (130 and 100°C), confining pressure (130 and 140 MPa), and pore fluid pressures (between 10 and 120 MPa). Fluid overpressure due to disequilibrium compaction was simulated by increasing confining and pore fluid pressure synchronously without exceeding the target effective pressure, whereas overpressure due to dehydration reactions was simulated by first loading the sample to a target isotropic effective pressure and then increasing pore fluid pressure to reduce the effective pressure. We find that the effects of fluid pressure and stress path on the mechanical behavior of the chlorite and celadonite gouges can generally be described using the critical state soil mechanics (CSSM) framework. However, path effects are more pronounced and persist to greater displacements in chlorite because its microstructure is more influenced by stress path. Due to its effects on microstructure, the stress path also imparts greater control on the rate‐dependence of chlorite strength, which is not predicted by CSSM.

Cyclic liquefaction resistance of MICP- and EICP-treated sand in simple shear conditions: a benchmarking with the critical state of untreated sand

In the present study, the undrained cyclic behaviour of biotreated sands using microbial and enzyme-induced carbonate precipitation was investigated for a wide range of initial void ratio after consolidation (e0\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$e_{0}$$\\end{document}), initial effective normal stress (σN0′\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\sigma^{\\prime }_{{{\ ext{N}}_{0} }}$$\\end{document}) and calcium carbonate content (CC) under direct simple shear (DSS) testing conditions. The critical state soil mechanics framework for untreated sand was first established using a series of drained and undrained (constant volume) tests, which served as a benchmark for evaluating the undrained cyclic liquefaction behaviour of untreated and biotreated sands. The results indicated that the modified initial state parameter (ψm0\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\psi_{{{\ ext{m}}_{{0}} }}$$\\end{document}) in DSS condition showed a good correlation with instability states and phase transformation under monotonic shearing. In undrained cyclic DSS loading condition, samples displayed cyclic mobility indicated by an abrupt accumulation of large strain or σN0′\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\sigma^{\\prime }_{{N_{0} }}$$\\end{document} transiently reaching zero or a sudden build-up of excess pore water pressure. The linkage between static and cyclic liquefaction was established for untreated and biotreated sand specimens based on the equivalence of characteristic soil states. The number of cycles before liquefaction (NL) for the biotreated sand specimens was mainly controlled by the cyclic stress ratio, e0\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$e_{0}$$\\end{document}, σN0′\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\sigma^{\\prime }_{{{\ ext{N}}_{{0}} }}$$\\end{document} and CC. For a similar initial state prior to undrained cyclic loading, the biotreated specimens required a larger NL compared to the untreated sand. The cyclic resistance ratio at NL = 15 (CRR15) increased with decreasing ψm0\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\psi_{{{\ ext{m}}_{{0}} }}$$\\end{document} for the untreated sand, while the CRR15 for biotreated sand increased with increasing CC and decreasing σN0′\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\sigma^{\\prime }_{{N_{0} }}$$\\end{document}.

The apparent viscosity to model the behaviour of liquefied sands

The liquefaction induced loss of soil strength and stiffness marks a change of soil state, that switches from solid to liquid. Recently, the research has revealed that when liquefaction is attained, the soil behaves as a non-Newtonian fluid. Therefore, the framework of soil mechanics cannot be adopted and then the soil behaviour should be studied using a fluid mechanic approach. Several research works highlighted the large potentiality of the apparent viscosity () as the parameter ruling both the liquefaction triggering and the behaviour of liquefied sands. Mele (2022) showed that liquefied sands exhibit a shear-thinning behavior (i.e. decreasing viscosity with increasing shear strain rate), highlighting the direct link between k and n (parameters of shear-thinning model) to the soil demand (CSR). This paper aims to confirm the proposed correlations of Mele (2022) passing from small to full scale. To do that, the results of 1D non-linear site response analysis of the well-known case study of Treasure Island (California), affected by extensive liquefaction phenomena during the 1989, have been studied and interpreted with a “viscous perspective”. The good agreement of the calibrated pseudo-plastic law with the results of the dynamic analysis confirms, the relevance of as physically based parameter for the correct modeling of the behaviour of liquefied sandy soils.

Liquefaction susceptibility of clayey sands under saturated and partially saturated conditions

Experiences from previous earthquake events have indicated that sands containing non-plastic (silt) or plastic (clay) fines are susceptible to liquefaction. These experiences underline the need for improving the fundamental understanding of the seismic behaviour of silty and clayey sands and for developing appropriate methods to evaluate their liquefaction potential. This paper presents an attempt to elucidate the integrated effects of fines (non-plastic silt and plastic clay) inclusion and degree of saturation on the cyclic behaviour and liquefaction resistance of sands based on systematic experiments. One of the notable findings of the study is that, apart from the familiar mode of cyclic mobility, clayey sand can also undergo flow-type failure under either fully or partially saturated conditions. The unified correlation between the cyclic resistance ratio and the state parameter (ψ), established earlier for clean and silty sand in the framework of critical state soil mechanics, is found to work for clayey sand as well. Furthermore, it is shown that the impact of saturation on the cyclic strength of clean and clayey sands can be reasonably characterised using the compression wave velocity normalised by the shear wave velocity.

Case Study: Slope Stability Assessment Considering 3D Nonlinear Shear Strength

In this paper, factor of safety (FOS) considering three-dimensional (3D) and nonlinear shear strength of geomaterials is formulated based on the modified spatial mobilized plane (MSMP) model. The MSMP model has the desirable features of considering 3D strength and the nonlinear shear behavior of soils, compared with the widely used Mohr-Coulomb (M-C) model. The MSMP model is developed from the spatial mobilized plane model by relating the internal friction angle to the mean effective stress within the framework of critical state soil mechanics. Based on the developed MSMP model and the geometric relationships in the mobilized effective normal-shear stress plane, the nonlinear 3D FOS is defined as the ratio of mobilized shear strength to shear stress. The developed nonlinear 3D FOS is applied to slope parametric and case studies. The parametric studies show significant differences between the nonlinear 3D FOS by the MSMP model and the traditional linear two-dimensional (2D) FOS by the M-C model. The case study shows that the MSMP model and nonlinear 3D FOS can better capture the developed failure slope zone than the M-C model and linear 2D FOS.

Comparison of a tailings material and a natural sand in seismic site response analyses

This article investigates the seismic response of a tailings sand material in the context of site response analysis. The computed response is contrasted with that obtained for an equivalent deposit consisting of a well-characterised natural sand. Initially, the fundamental properties of both materials are used to interpret and compare their behaviour in the framework of Critical State Soil Mechanics (CSSM). Subsequently, both materials' monotonic and cyclic responses are calibrated for an advanced bounding surface plasticity model. Finally, the impact of different calibration approaches is examined through site response analyses under a strong motion. This process identifies fundamental differences between the two geo-materials, impacting the single elements simulations, especially the accuracy of undrained cyclic triaxial tests. The site response analyses examined herein show the impact of the calibrations adopted for both materials in terms of acceleration response spectra, displacements, and excess of pore water pressures (PWP). Although a relatively deep phreatic surface is adopted, the cyclic resistance and permeability of both materials plays a dominant role in the site response characteristics, controlling the excess PWP generation and hence the non-linear behaviour in the soil deposit. Finally, parametric studies are also conducted to explore the impact of permeability of the sands in the site response.

Characteristics of MICP- and EICP-treated sands in simple shear conditions: a benchmarking with the critical state of untreated sand

Microbial- or enzyme-induced calcium carbonate (CaCO3) precipitation (MICP and EICP) are relatively new ground improvement techniques. In this study, the mechanical behaviour of biotreated (MICP/EICP) and untreated sands was investigated in light of the critical state soil mechanics framework using a series of direct simple shear (DSS) tests. A wide range of calcium carbonate content (CC), initial void ratio after consolidation (e0) and effective initial normal stress ([Formula: see text]) was considered. The biotreated specimens showed improved shear strength and dilative tendency compared to untreated specimens with similar initial states. The ultimate state (US) for the biotreated sand shifted towards a smaller void ratio (e) than the value of e at the critical state of untreated sand at the same σ′N in e–log σ′N space. Compared to untreated sand, a significantly larger US stress ratio was achieved for the biotreated sand, particularly at high CC and low [Formula: see text]. The characteristic features of undrained behaviour, such as instability stress ratio, stress ratio at phase transformation and flow potential showed good relationships with modified initial state parameter, void ratio after biotreatment and CC. The bonding ratio, (τ/σ′N)bond, was used to quantify the interparticle bonding. The peak value of (τ/σ′N)bond for the biotreated sand was significantly larger than zero, particularly at high CC and low [Formula: see text], while the peak (τ/σ′N)bond for the untreated sand was negligible. It was also observed that the mobilisation and degradation of calcium carbonate bonds in biotreated sand during DSS shearing are influenced by both CC and [Formula: see text].

Investigation of the critical state behavior of unsaturated silty sand with different fine contents in terms of net and effective stresses

This paper investigates the effect of fine content and matric suction on the behavior of silty sand soil through both net and effective stress variables in the critical state soil mechanics framework. For this purpose, a set of CD triaxial tests in saturated and unsaturated states were performed on the samples of sand with different fine contents. The results showed that in term of net stress variables the position of the critical state line (CSL) in stress space for a given non-plastic fine depend on suction. However, these lines approach each other by choosing a proper effective stress relationship. The CSLs in the coordinates of the void ratio in the term of effective stress changed as a function of the non-plastic fine content and matric suction. However, using the concept of the equivalent intergranular void ratio and considering a special mean effective stress variable depending on suction, the CSLs were converged so that a single line can be defined to describe the behavior of the silty sand at the critical state. Finally, the stress-dilatancy relationship of two constitutive models was examined and it was shown that the use of the equivalent state parameter could facilitate the use of these relationships.

Probabilistic Liquefaction Assessment Based on an In-situ State Parameter Considering Soil Spatial Variability and Various Uncertainties

The state parameter (ψ) is based on a framework of critical state soil mechanics, which reflects the influences of soil compactness and stress level and has significant advantages for liquefaction analysis. In engineering practice, a simplified procedure based on the cone penetration test (CPT) to assess the liquefaction potential in the field involves model and parameter uncertainties. Furthermore, the use of limited CPT measurements involves project-specific test uncertainties, and the spatial variability of soil properties has a remarkable effect on soil liquefaction. To tackle these challenges, this study develops a ψ-based liquefaction probability framework to integrate the prior information of project-specific CPT, and uses limited tests to characterize the 2D spatial distribution of liquefaction potential with proper consideration of various uncertainties and soil spatial variability. The framework is developed based on simulation of Gaussian stationary random fields and Markov Chain Monte Carlo simulation. The proposed method is demonstrated using real CPT data from the 2011 Tohoku-Oki earthquake in Japan. The results indicate that the ψ-based evaluation performs well and can reasonably assess the liquefaction phenomenon of heterogeneous soils. This study incorporating the spatial variability of ψ into the liquefaction probability framework provides valuable information for geotechnical engineering design.

Whole-life modelling of anchor capacity for floating systems: The RSN[sbnd]CSI approach

Successive episodes of cyclic loading cause the strength of soft soils to reduce, through pore pressure build-up, and then recover, through consolidation, as shown by model testing, field studies and theoretical considerations. These ‘whole-life’ changes in soil strength affect the capacity of anchoring systems for offshore infrastructure such as floating turbines or platforms. This paper introduces a new macro-model for assessing the through-life changes in seabed strength and anchor capacity as a result of variable cyclic loading and concurrent consolidation. The model combines SN curves for damage accumulation with a critical state soil mechanics framework for changes in soil strength and anchor capacity. These methods allow the full operational lifetime of an anchoring system to be rapidly analysed, encompassing timescales from individual wave-induced load cycles, through to annual seasons and soil consolidation processes. The approach provides a new basis for whole-life modelling of anchoring systems that is sufficiently fast to allow reliability-based assessments via a Monte Carlo method. In soft soils that exhibit beneficial gains in capacity, this method provides a basis for more efficient design through reductions in anchor size.

A Unified Approach for the Analysis of CPT Partial Drainage Effects within a Critical State Soil Mechanics Framework in Mine Tailings

Results from both laboratory and in-situ cone penetration tests (CPTs) on predominantly sandy silt platinum tailings from an operational mine in South Africa are reported. The CPTs were conducted with four different cone diameters at varied penetration rates. With the results interpreted in terms of the normalized tip resistance and the initial state parameter, in addition to dissipation tests, it was possible to identify the CPTs affected by significant partial drainage effects. A review of the partial drainage concept enabled the formulation of a novel characteristic surface approach, which uses a unified continuous equation to estimate the state parameter from the CPT data from drained to partially drained and undrained regimes and from contractive to dilative states. A review of different methods for the estimation of the coefficient of consolidation, and hence the normalized penetration velocity, enables a comparison of the estimated state parameter with independent values calculated from recovered saturated samples, showing the ability of this technique to infer the state parameter from CPT tests where partial drainage occurs.

Lateral force on buried pipelines caused by seabed slides using a CFD method with a shear interface weakening model

With the extensive laying of subsea pipe networks, interactions between seabeds and pipelines are attracting increasing attention; nevertheless, the study of buried pipelines impacted by sliding seabed sediments with low strength and high sensitivity characteristics has been overlooked. In this paper, a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model considering the interface shear weakening effect of seabed sediment and a pipeline is proposed to simulate the impact of seabed sediments with shear behavior of non-Newtonian fluids on pipelines buried at different depths in the overlying water. The CFD method is validated using analytical solutions, numerical solutions, and physical model experiments. Various CFD-based cases with different pipeline burial depths and interface contact coefficients are then systematically investigated. The lateral bearing capacity of seabed sediments on pipelines is quantified in the framework of soil mechanics, and the pipeline buried depth and interface contact coefficient significantly affect the lateral bearing capacity. The lateral bearing capacity factor gradually increases and tends to stabilize with increasing pipeline buried depth, reaching a maximum gap of 62%, and the critical buried depth is 2–3 times the pipeline diameter. The lateral bearing capacity factor increases with increasing interface contact coefficient, reaching a maximum gap of 57%. Variations in the velocity, pressure, and shear rate of the seabed sediment are discussed, revealing the physical mechanism leading to changes in bearing capacity factors. Finally, a method to evaluate the lateral bearing capacity factor is established, providing a reference for pipeline design, construction, and safe operation.

Modeling of granular soil-structure interface under monotonic and cyclic loading with the nonlinear approach

A constitutive model that can accurately predict the behavior of the soil-structure interface is beneficial to the analysis and design for foundation engineering performance. This paper develops a new model with the nonlinear approach for simulating the monotonic and cyclic behaviors of the granular soil-structure interface. Based on the hyperbolic function, the concept of normalized shear displacement is proposed, and the basic model for the effects of the normal stress, the nonlinear shear modulus, and the friction angle on shear strength during shearing is deduced. On this basis, the Pyke criterion is modified to describe the cyclic loading responses. The relation between the friction angle and the state parameter of the interface in different interface states is established under the framework of critical state soil mechanics (CSSM) theory to further reflect the interface behaviors corresponding to the changes of void. Taking the phase transformation state as a reference state of volume increment, the incremental equation of stress-dilatancy induced by shearing is developed. In addition, the basic model is extended to be able to describe the interface mechanical behaviors under constant normal load (CNL), constant stiffness (CNS), and constant volume (CV) conditions by considering the characteristics of three typical stress loading paths. Only 10 calibrated parameters are required to reproduce the complex properties in the monotonic and cyclic behaviors. The predictive performance of the proposed interface model is examined by the previous experimental results.

On unified characterization of wave velocity of sand: A focus on effect of particle shape

This technical note investigates the wave velocities of sand with different particle shape. The grain shape was evaluated by three shape descriptors, including the sphericity (S), aspect ratio (AR) and roundness (R). It was established that under similar conditions in terms of the packing density and the stress level, the shear and compression wave velocities decrease with the particle roundness. This trend can be predicted using the conventional empirical method. Yet, it needs a significant number of fitting parameters, thus hindering the application of the conventional method in the real problems. To address this concern, a better method was proposed to estimate the wave velocities by introducing the state parameter in the framework of critical state soil mechanics. It is shown that the new method allows a unified characterization of wave velocity in sand, while the combinations of shape descriptors are no longer used in the prediction. The predictive performance of the proposed method was further confirmed by the experiment results of sand with rotund particle shape from the literature.

Double image stress point bounding surface model for monotonic and cyclic loading on anisotropic clays

In this paper, an anisotropic non-associative constitutive model, based on the well-established critical state soil mechanics framework, is developed for the natural and reconstituted clays subjected to monotonic and cyclic loadings. A robust non-elliptical yield surface is implemented in the model which enables it to capture a wide variety of yield stress points. In addition to a realistic soil stiffness simulation, the employed flexible plastic potential surface equips the proposed model to predict a more accurate coefficient of earth pressure at rest. The model uses a combination of conventional volumetric and comprehensive rotational hardening rules to control the evolution of the yield surface caused by plastic strain increments. The adopted rotational hardening rule uses the concept of governing plastic strain increment which not only ensures the existence of the equilibrium state of anisotropy but also takes the effect of plastic strains at different constant stress ratios into account more sensibly. The proposed model is enhanced with a novel double-image stress point bounding surface plasticity type theory to capture nonlinear behaviour inside the yield surface, and also to simulate the cyclic responses. The detailed model formulation is discussed in both triaxial stress space and the e-mathrm{ln}, p plane, and the important features of the model are elaborately explored. The capabilities of the model are also demonstrated by an extensive sensitivity analysis. In the end, the model is used to carry out simulations of monotonic and cyclic element tests on different clays and the results are compared with the available experimental data.

Introduction of unsaturated soil mechanics in Indonesia to improve the understanding on geotechnical engineering-related infrastructure problems

Several geotechnical engineering-related infrastructure problems cannot be quantified comprehensively using classical soil mechanics for saturated soils. This emphasizes the need of analysis using the framework of unsaturated soil mechanics (USM). The graduate course on soil mechanics for unsaturated soils is provided in Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) to answer these challenges. The understanding on geotechnical engineering-related infrastructure problems in Indonesia is improved in the course. The understanding on the basic topics in USM is emphasized throughout the course. The balance between the eagerness for innovative design and the carefulness in the design is conveyed using the course. The laboratory testing apparatuses are being developed as a part of the course as well as a part towards the implementation of USM in Indonesia. An option of stages in introduction of USM in Indonesia is proposed.

Modeling submerged granular flow across multiple regimes using the Eulerian–Eulerian approach with shear-induced volumetric behavior

The behavior of submerged granular flow is strongly dependent on the solid volume fraction and the viscosity discontinuity over a wide range of flow regimes. To obtain a general description of this type of flow, this study proposes a new model to compute solid effective stresses of submerged granular materials across multiple flow regimes. Here, based on the critical state soil mechanics framework, a new equation is proposed to describe the evolution of elastic reference of materials caused by elastoplastic deformation. The evolution of elastic reference subsequently informs the development of static pressure, and together with the dynamic pressure computed using a well-established blended model, resulting in a new approach to compute the solid pressure induced by both dynamic and static effects. The proposed model is then implemented in the Eulerian–Eulerian approach using the finite volume method to simulate the collapses of submerged granular columns, covering different flow regimes from quasi-static to viscous depositions. Simulation results agreeing well with experimental and numerical data in the literature are a testament to the performance of a well-developed constitutive law. In addition, the simulation results comprehensibly demonstrate the important role of interstitial fluid flow as well as the initial solid volume fraction in the collapsing process across different flow regimes with different packing densities. Furthermore, the effects of initial volume fraction, fluid pressure, and phase interaction forces on the flow responses are also discussed.

A constitutive model for cyclic densification of coarse-grained soil filler for the high-speed railway subgrade considering particle breakage

PurposeThis study aims to propose a semiempirical and semitheoretical cyclic compaction constitutive model of coarse-grained soil filler for the high-speed railway (HSR) subgrade under cyclic load.Design/methodology/approachAccording to the basic framework of critical state soil mechanics and in view of the characteristics of the coarse-grained soil filler for the HSR subgrade to bear the train vibration load repeatedly for a long time, the hyperbolic empirical relationship between particle breakage and plastic work was derived. Considering the influence of cyclic vibration time and stress ratio, the particle breakage correction function of coarse-grained soil filler for the HSR subgrade under cyclic load was proposed. According to the classical theory of plastic mechanics, the shearing dilatation equation of the coarse-grained soil filler for the HSR subgrade considering particle breakage was modified and obtained. A semiempirical and semitheoretical cyclic compaction constitutive model of coarse-grained soil filler for the HSR subgrade under cyclic load was further established. The backward Euler method was used to discretize the constitutive equation, build a numerical algorithm of “elastic prediction and plastic modification” and make a secondary development of the program to solve the cyclic compaction model.FindingsThrough the comparison with the result of laboratory triaxial test under the cyclic loading of coarse-grained soil filler for the HSR subgrade, the accuracy and applicability of the cyclic compaction model were verified. Results show that the model can accurately predict the cumulative deformation characteristics of coarse-grained soil filler for the HSR subgrade under the train vibration loading repeatedly for a long time. It considers the effects of particle breakage and stress ratio, which can be used to calculate and analyze the stress and deformation evolution law of the subgrade structure for HSR.Originality/valueThe research can provide a simple and practical method for calculating deformation of railway under cyclic loading.

Benefit of Unsaturated Soil Mechanics Approach on the Modeling of Early-Age Behavior of Rammed Earth Building.

Rammed earth has the potential to reduce the carbon footprint and limit the energy consumption in the building sector due to its sustainable characteristics. Still, its use is not generalized due to a lack of understanding of the material behavior, notably its sensitivity to water. The coupled hydro-mechanical behavior has been recently studied in the framework of unsaturated soil mechanics, using suction as the parameter to represent the hydric state. This dependency of the mechanical behavior on the hydric state leads to uncertainty of the drying period required to progress in the construction process. Notably, the drying period before building the next floor is unknown. To determine the drying period, thermo-hydro-mechanical coupled finite element method simulations were carried out on a single wall by using the unsaturated soil mechanics approach and safety criterion recommendations from the practical guide for rammed earth construction in France. It was determined that it takes significant time for the construction of additional floor both in ‘summer-like’ and ‘winter-like’ environmental conditions, whereas the walls were far away from the ultimate failure state. Thus the drying periods were overestimated. It was concluded that the safety criterion from the practical guide is very conservative and drying periods can be reduced without significantly compromising the safety factor.

A Generalised Plastic Model for Gravelly Soils Considering Evolution of Void Ratio and Particle Breakage

Gravelly soils exhibit complicated mechanical behaviours closely related to particle breakage and relative density state. To better capture the mechanical responses of gravelly soils, a generalised plastic model considering evolution of void ratio and particle breakage was developed within the framework of critical state soil mechanics. In the model, particle breakage effect was described by incorporating breakage index to deviate the critical state line off the ideal position. A differential equation relating increment of void ratio to variation of volumetric strain was used to depict the evolution of current void ratio. It indirectly reflected the relative density state of gravelly soils. The model was applied to conducting numerical simulations for a series of triaxial tests on four types of gravelly soils. Comparisons between the test data and the modelling results indicated that considerations of void ratio evolution and particle breakage could better simulate the stress-dependent dilatation/contraction behaviours of gravelly soils.