Mojtaba Rahimi

Bio: Mojtaba Rahimi is an academic researcher from University of Alberta. The author has contributed to research in topics: Constitutive equation & Plasticity. The author has an hindex of 4, co-authored 6 publications receiving 57 citations. Previous affiliations of Mojtaba Rahimi include Islamic Azad University.

Bounding Surface Constitutive Model for Cemented Sand under Monotonic Loading

Abstract: This paper presents a critical state constitutive model for cemented sand. The model uses a single capped yield surface as a function of the void ratio, confining pressure, preconsolidation pressure, and stress ratio at the peak of the undrained effective stress path. To model the cemented materials, the formulation of the yield function, elastic moduli, plastic modulus, flow rule, and other components of the model have been modified. Having incorporated the tensile strength and cohesion, the radial-mapping formulation of the bounding surface plasticity is incorporated in the model. The modified model has been calibrated and verified based on experimental results.

Constitutive model for monotonic and cyclic responses of loosely cemented sand formations

Abstract: This paper presents a model to simulate the monotonic and cyclic behaviours of weakly cemented sands. An elastoplastic constitutive model within the framework of bounding surface plasticity theory is adopted to predict the mechanical behaviour of soft sandstone under monotonic and cyclic loadings. In this model, the loading surface always passes through the current stress state regardless of the type of loading. Destruction of the cementation bonds by plastic deformation in the model is considered as the primary mechanism responsible for the mechanical degradation of loosely cemented sands/weak rock. To model cyclic response, the unloading plastic and elastic moduli are formulated based on the loading/reloading plastic and elastic moduli. The proposed model was implemented in FLAC2D and evaluated against laboratory triaxial tests under monotonic and cyclic loadings, and the model results agreed well with the experimental observations. For cyclic tests, hysteresis loops are captured with reasonable accuracy.

Constitutive model for cyclic behaviour of cohesionless sands

Abstract: This paper presents a constitutive model for describing the stress-strain response of sands under cyclic loading. The model, formulated using the critical state theory within the bounding surface plasticity framework, is an upgraded version of an existing model developed for monotonic behaviour of cohesionless sands. With modification of the hardening law, plastic volumetric strain increment and unloading plastic modulus, the original model was modified to simulate cyclic loading. The proposed model was validated against triaxial cyclic loading tests for Fuji River sand, Toyoura sand and Nigata sand. Comparison between the measured and predicted results suggests that the proposed modified model can capture the main features of cohesionless sands under drained and undrained cyclic loading.

Review of Proposed Stress-dilatancy Relationships and Plastic Potential Functions for Uncemented and Cemented Sands

Abstract: Stress-dilatancy relationship or plastic potential function are crucial components of every elastoplastic constitutive model developed for sand or cemented sand. This is because the associated flow rule usually does not produce acceptable outcomes for sand or cemented sand. Many formulas have been introduced based on the experimental observations in conventional and advanced plasticity models in order to capture ratio of plastic volumetric strain increment to plastic deviatoric strain increment (i.e. dilatancy rate). Lack of an article that gathers these formulas is clear in the literature. Thus, this paper is an attempt to summarize plastic potentials and specially stress-dilatancy relations so far proposed for constitutive modelling of cohesionless and cemented sands. Stress-dilatancy relation is usually not the same under compression and extension conditions. Furthermore, it may also be different under loading and unloading conditions. Therefore, the focus in this paper mainly places on the proposed stress-dilatancy relations for compressive monotonic loading. Moreover because plastic potential function can be calculated by integration of stress-dilatancy relationship, more weight is allocated to stress-dilatancy relationship in this research.

State-of-the-Art Review of Microbial-Induced Calcite Precipitation and Its Sustainability in Engineering Applications

Abstract: Microbial-induced calcite precipitation (MICP) is a promising new technology in the area of Civil Engineering with potential to become a cost-effective, environmentally friendly and sustainable solution to many problems such as ground improvement, liquefaction remediation, enhancing properties of concrete and so forth. This paper reviews the research and developments over the past 25 years since the first reported application of MICP in 1995. Historical developments in the area, the biological processes involved, the behaviour of improved soils, developments in modelling the behaviour of treated soil and the challenges associated are discussed with a focus on the geotechnical aspects of the problem. The paper also presents an assessment of cost and environmental benefits tied with three application scenarios in pavement construction. It is understood for some applications that at this stage, MICP may not be a cost-effective or even environmentally friendly solution; however, following the latest developments, MICP has the potential to become one.

Stress-Strain-Strength Response and Ductility of Gravels Improved by Polyurethane Foam Adhesive

Abstract: Polyurethane foam adhesive (PFA), a product resulting from exothermic chemical polymerization reactions between the diisocyanate functional group and polyol monomers, can form a closed cell...

Stiffness Behavior of Soil Stabilized with Alkali-Activated Fly Ash from Small to Large Strains

Abstract: Alkaline activation of fly ash creates a geopolymeric cement that can replace ordinary portland cement in several applications such as soil improvement, with the advantage of much lower carbon dioxide emissions and reusing an industrial by-product otherwise landfilled, which averts several environmental problems. In this paper, the behavior of a silty sand improved by the alkaline activation of fly ash is analyzed from small to large strains by presenting uniaxial and drained triaxial compression test results and seismic wave velocities measured throughout the curing period. The dynamic, cyclic, and static tests showed a significant increase in stiffness with curing time, even beyond the 28-day curing period. On the basis of the nondestructive wave-propagation technique, the increase of the shear and compression wave velocities with time were drawn, giving the evolution of the elastic shear modulus and the Poisson ratio values. The dynamic Young modulus was compared to the correspondent secant You...

Liquefaction Modeling for Biocemented Calcareous Sand

Abstract: A thermodynamics-based constitutive model is developed for calcareous sand treated by microbially induced calcite precipitation (MICP) to describe the effects of biocementation and its degr...