Showing papers in "International Journal for Numerical and Analytical Methods in Geomechanics in 2002"

Upper bound limit analysis using linear finite elements and non-linear programming

Abstract: A new method for computing rigorous upper bounds on the limit loads for one-, two- and three-dimensional continua is described. The formulation is based on linear finite elements, permits kinematically admissible velocity discontinuities at all interelement boundaries, and furnishes a kinematically admissible velocity field by solving a non-linear programming problem. In the latter, the objective function corresponds to the dissipated power (which is minimized) and the unknowns are subject to linear equality constraints as well as linear and non-linear inequality constraints. Provided the yield surface is convex, the optimization problem generated by the upper bound method is also convex and can be solved efficiently by applying a two-stage, quasi-Newton scheme to the corresponding Kuhn–Tucker optimality conditions. A key advantage of this strategy is that its iteration count is largely independent of the mesh size. Since the formulation permits non-linear constraints on the unknowns, no linearization of the yield surface is necessary and the modelling of three-dimensional geometries presents no special difficulties. The utility of the proposed upper bound method is illustrated by applying it to a number of two- and three-dimensional boundary value problems. For a variety of two-dimensional cases, the new scheme is up to two orders of magnitude faster than an equivalent linear programming scheme which uses yield surface linearization. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Self-similar solution of a plane-strain fracture driven by a power-law fluid

Abstract: This paper analyses the problem of a hydraulically driven fracture, propagating in an impermeable, linear elastic medium. The fracture is driven by injection of an incompressible, viscous fluid with power-law rheology and behaviour index n⩾0. The opening of the fracture and the internal fluid pressure are related through the elastic singular integral equation, and the flow of fluid inside the crack is modelled using the lubrication theory. Under the additional assumptions of negligible toughness and no lag between the fluid front and the crack tip, the problem is reduced to self-similar form. A solution that describes the crack length evolution, the fracture opening, the net fluid pressure and the fluid flow rate inside the crack is presented. This self-similar solution is obtained by expanding the fracture opening in a series of Gegenbauer polynomials, with the series coefficients calculated using a numerical minimization procedure. The influence of the fluid index n in the crack propagation is also analysed. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Three-dimensional finite element analysis of the interaction between tunneling and pile foundations

Abstract: This paper concerns analysis of the impact of construction of urban tunnels on adjacent pile foundations. It is carried out using an elastoplastic three-dimensional finite element modelling. Numerical simulations are performed in two stages, which concern, respectively, the application of the pile axial loading and the construction of the tunnel in presence of the pile foundations. Analysis is carried out for both single piles and groups of piles. Results of numerical simulations show that tunneling induces significant internal forces in adjacent piles. The distribution of internal forces depends mainly on the position of the pile tip regarding the tunnel horizontal axis and the distance of the pile axis from the centre of the tunnel. Analysis of the interaction between tunneling and a group of piles reveals a positive group effect with a high reduction of the internal forces in rear piles.

Numerical analysis of pile behaviour under lateral loads in layered elastic–plastic soils

Abstract: SUMMARY This paper presents results from a flnite element study on the behavior of a single pile in elastic{plastic soils. Pile behavior in uniform sand and clay soils as well as cases with sand layer in clay deposit and clay layer in sand deposit were analyzed and cross compared to investigate layering efiects. Finite element results were used to generate p i y curves and then compared with those obtained from methods commonly used in practice.

Coupled damage and plasticity modelling in transient dynamic analysis of concrete

Abstract: In a concrete structure subjected to an explosion, for example a concrete slab, the material is subjected to various states of stress which lead to many modes of rupture. Closer to the explosive, a state of strong hydrostatic compression is observed. This state of stress produces an irreversible compaction of the material. Away from the zone of explosion, confinement decreases and the material undergoes compression with a state of stress, which is slightly triaxial. Finally, the compression wave can be reflected on a free surface and becomes a tensile wave, which by interaction with the compression wave, produces scabbing. We present, in this paper, a model aimed at describing these three failure modes. It is based on visco-plasticity and rate dependent damage in which a homogenization method is used in order to include the variation of the material porosity due to compaction. The model predictions are compared with several experiments performed on the same concrete. Computations of split Hopkinson tests on confined concrete, a tensile test with scabbing, and an explosion on a concrete slab are presented.

Modelling of hygro-thermal behaviour and damage of concrete at temperature above the critical point of water

Abstract: In this paper, a model for the analysis of the behaviour of concrete at temperature largely exceeding critical point of water, is presented. In this temperature range liquid phase, i.e. capillary phase, and gas phase cannot be distinguished and only the latter exists. Consequently, capillary pressure has no more physical meaning above this point and liquid water is present only as physically adsorbed water. In this work, we give a different physical interpretation to the capillary pressure and use it still for the description of the hygrometric state of concrete in the zone, where temperature exceeds the critical point of water. Considerable thermal dilatation of the liquid water and the real behaviour of water vapour close to critical temperature are taken into account. Moreover, a special switching procedure in order to avoid the Stefan-like problem, which subsequently arises, is described and employed in the calculations. Finally, several numerical examples demonstrating the robustness of the adopted solution have been shown. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Micromechanics of saturated and unsaturated porous media

Abstract: The homogenization method is used to determine the formulation of the behaviour of both saturated and unsaturated porous media. This approach makes it possible to assess the validity of the effective stress concept as a function of the properties of the porous media at the microscopic scale. Furthermore, the influence of the morphologies of the solid and fluid phases on the macroscopic behaviour is studied. The strain induced by drying is examined as a function of the morphological properties. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Solute transport through a deforming porous medium

Abstract: Solute transport through a porous medium is typically modelled assuming the porous medium is rigid. However, many applications exist where the porous medium is deforming, including, municipal landfill liners, mine tailings dams, and land subsidence. In this paper, mass balance laws are used to derive the flow and transport equations for a deforming porous medium. The equations are derived in both spatial and material co-ordinate systems. Solute transport through an engineered landfill liner is used as an illustrative example to show the differences between the theory for a rigid porous medium, and small and large deformation analysis of a deforming porous medium. It is found that the large deformation model produces shorter solute breakthrough times, followed by the small deformation model, and then the rigid porous medium model. It is also found that it is important to include spatial and temporal void ratio variations in the large deformation analysis. It is shown that a non-linear large deformation model may greatly reduce the solute breakthrough time, compared to a standard transport analysis typically employed by environmental engineers. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

A shear‐dilation‐based model for evaluation of hydraulically stimulated naturally fractured reservoirs

Abstract: The role of shear dilation as a mechanism of enhancing fluid flow permeability in naturally fractured reservoirs was mainly recognized in the context of hot dry rock (HDR) geothermal reservoir stimulation. Simplified models based on shear slippage only were developed and their applications to evaluate HDR geothermal reservoir stimulation were reported. Research attention is recently focused to adjust this stimulation mechanism for naturally fractured oil and gas reservoirs which reserve vast resources worldwide. This paper develops the overall framework and basic formulations of this stimulation model for oil and gas reservoirs. Major computational modules include: natural fracture simulation, response analysis of stimulated fractures, average permeability estimation for the stimulated reservoir and prediction of an average flow direction. Natural fractures are simulated stochastically by implementing ‘fractal dimension’ concept. Natural fracture propagation and shear displacements are formulated by following computationally efficient approximate approaches interrelating in situ stresses, natural fracture parameters and stimulation pressure developed by fluid injection inside fractures. The average permeability of the stimulated reservoir is formulated as a function of discretized gridblock permeabilities by applying cubic law of fluid flow. The average reservoir elongation, or the flow direction, is expressed as a function of reservoir aspect ratio induced by directional permeability contributions. The natural fracture simulation module is verified by comparing its results with observed microseismic clouds in actual naturally fractured reservoirs. Permeability enhancement and reservoir growth are characterized with respect to stimulation pressure, in situ stresses and natural fracture density applying the model to two example reservoirs. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Evaluation of a constitutive model for clays and sands: Part I: sand behaviour

Abstract: The undrained response of cohesive soils is of paramount importance in geomechanics and it has been modelled extensively for the last 50 years. In comparison, drained behaviour of clays has received only modest attention. Drained and undrained behaviour is significantly affected by past consolidation stress history. This paper evaluates the capabilities of the MIT-S1 effective stress model, described in a companion paper, for predicting the anisotropic stress–strain–strength behaviour of clays. The paper illustrates the selection of model parameters for Lower Cromer Till, using data from standard types of laboratory tests. Comparison of model simulations with measured response for Lower Cromer Till and Boston Blue Clay illustrate model capabilities. The work focuses initially on comparisons of model predictions with measurements from undrained triaxial and plane strain tests on initially K0-consolidated specimens. Comparisons with measured data from undrained shear tests performed in different modes of shearing for LCT and BBC show that the model: (a) gives excellent predictions of maximum shear stress conditions and accurately describes the non-linear shear stress–strain behaviour; (b) accurately describes the anisotropic shear stress–strain–strength conditions for different consolidation stress histories; and (c) gives realistic description of mobilized friction angles, especially at large OCR's. The paper then focuses on the effects of consolidation stress history for isotropically consolidated specimens of resedimented Lower Cromer Till and Boston Blue Clay. Finally, the paper compares model predictions for drained shear tests on K0 and isotropically consolidated specimens with overconsolidation ratios, OCR⩽10, used to evaluate particular aspects of the critical state framework of soil behaviour. Overall, the model gives excellent predictions of the effect of initial anisotropy and overconsolidation stress history on the shear stress–strain and volumetric behaviour of clays. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

A theoretical framework for constructing elastic/plastic constitutive models of triaxial tests

Abstract: Modern ideas of thermomechanics are used to develop families of models describing the elastic/plastic behaviour of cohesionless soils deforming under triaxial conditions. Once the form of the free energy and dissipation potential functions have been specified, the corresponding yield loci, flow rules, isotropic and kinematic hardening rules as well as the elasticity law are deduced in a systematic manner. The families contain the classical linear frictional (Coulomb type) models and the classical critical state models as special cases. The generalized models discussed here include non-associated flow rules, shear as well as volumetric hardening, anisotropic responses and rotational yield loci. The various parameters needed to describe the models can be interpreted in terms of ratio of the plastic work, which is dissipated, to that which is stored. Non-associated behaviour is found to occur whenever this division between dissipated and stored work is not equal. Micro-level interpretations of stored plastic work are discussed. The models automatically satisfy the laws of thermodynamics, and there is no need to invoke any stability postulates. Some classical forms of the peak-strength/dilatancy relationship are established theoretically. Some representative drained and undrained paths are computed. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

A complex variable solution for a deforming buoyant tunnel in a heavy elastic half-plane

Abstract: An analytical solution is presented for a buoyant tunnel in an elastic half-plane. The tunnel undergoes a prescribed displacement along its boundary, and the surface of the half-plane is stress-free. The solution uses the complex variable method and consists of conformally mapping the hole and half-plane to an annular region. The complex potentials each contain two logarithmic terms due to the resultant buoyancy force acting on the tunnel, and as a result the displacements at infinity are unbounded. An example is presented for the case of a rigid buoyant tunnel in a half-plane with gravity loading. Even though the tunnel does not deform, the buoyancy effect can be clearly seen in the contours of the displacements and stresses. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Microstructural deformation mechanisms of unsaturated granular soils

Abstract: A discrete model for unsaturated granular soils has been developed. Three discrete entities have been defined: particles, water menisci and pores. Local interaction forces and water transfer mechanisms have been integrated into a model through the appropriate equilibrium and balance equations. The results of several numerical tests using this model have been described and discussed. Simulations include wetting and drying under load tests, the application of suction cycles and the effect of a deviatoric stress ratio on wetting-induced collapse. The model reacts just as true granular soil samples behave in laboratory tests. The model provides a new insight into the internal mechanisms leading to large-scale features of behaviour such as wetting-induced collapse or the increase in soil strength provided by suction. The paper also stresses that matric suction changes acting on a granular structure are capable of explaining most of the macroscopic features of stress–strain behaviour. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

A Generalized Backward Euler algorithm for the numerical integration of an isotropic hardening elastoplastic model for mechanical and chemical degradation of bonded geomaterials

Abstract: SUMMARY An extended version of the classical Generalized Backward Euler (GBE) algorithm is proposed for the numerical integration of a three-invariant isotropic-hardening elastoplastic model for cemented soils or weak rocks undergoing mechanical and non-mechanical degradation processes. The restriction to isotropy allows to formulate the return mapping algorithm in the space of principal elastic strains. In this way, an efficient and robust integration scheme is developed which can be applied to relatively complex yield surface and plastic potential functions. Moreover, the proposed algorithm can be linearized in closed form, thus allowing for quadratic convergence in the global Newton iteration. A series of numerical experiments are performed to illustrate the accuracy and convergence properties of the algorithm. Selected results from a finite element analysis of a circular footing on a soft rock layer undergoing chemical weathering are then presented to illustrate the algorithm performance at the boundary value problem level. Copyright # 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

A fractal comminution approach to evaluate the drilling energy dissipation

Abstract: The drilling comminution is theoretically and experimentally analysed by a fractal approach. An extension of the Third Comminution Theory is developed to evaluate the energy dissipation in the process: it occurs in a fractal domain intermediate between a surface and a volume. The theoretical assumption of a material ‘quantum’ is experimentally observed. The experimental fragment analysis evidences the characteristic size of separation between primary cutting and secondary milling. A global power balance for the drilling process is also presented and permits the prediction of drilling velocity. It shows also how the dissipation energy density (drilling strength) is not a constant parameter, but decreases considerably with the size scale. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Drained cavity expansion in sands exhibiting particle crushing

Abstract: The expansion of cylindrical and spherical cavities in sands is modelled using similarity solutions. The conventional Mohr–Coulomb failure criterion and the state parameter sand behaviour model, which enables hardening–softening, are used in the analysis. The sand state is defined in terms of a new critical state line, designed to account for the three different modes of compressive deformation observed in sands across a wide range of stresses including particle rearrangement, particle crushing and pseudoelastic deformation. Solutions are generated for cavities expanded from zero and finite radii and are compared to those solutions where a conventional critical state line has been used. It is shown that for initial states typical of real quartz sand deposits, pseudoelastic deformation does not occur around an expanding cavity. Particle crushing does occur at these states and causes a reduction in the stress surrounding the cavity. This has major implications when using cavity expansion theory to interpret the cone penetration test and pressuremeter test. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Mechanical behaviour of Lixhe chalk partly saturated by oil and water : Experiment and modelling

Abstract: Two or more different fluids generally saturate chalk in oil reservoir, and therefore its behaviour can be very complicated. In this paper, a constitutive law is proposed for modelling the mechanical behaviour of a chalk saturated by two non-miscible fluids, water and oil. The effects of the capillary pressure or suction are taken into account. They are considered as an independent variable, as in the Barcelona's basic model developed for unsaturated soils. On the other hand, internal friction and pore collapse are modelled as independent mechanisms. The determination of the parameters is based on triaxial and oedometer tests. Finally, in order to validate the model, predictions are compared with experimental results of water-flooding test. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The point‐estimate method with large numbers of variables

Abstract: SUMMARY Rosenbleuth’s point-estimate method has become widely used in geotechnical practice for reliability calculations. Although the point-estimate method is a powerful and simple method for evaluating the moments of functions of random variables, it is limited by the need to make 2 n evaluations when there are n random variables. Modifications of the method reduce this to 2n evaluations by using points on the diameters of a hypersphere instead of at the corners of the inscribed hypercube. However, these techniques force the co-ordinates of the evaluation points farther from the means of the variables; for a bounded variable, the points may easily fall outside the domain of definition of the variable. The problem can be avoided by using other techniques for some special cases or by reducing the number of random variables that must be considered. Copyright # 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Effect of property variation and modelling on convection in a fluid overlying a porous layer

Abstract: An accurate computational analysis is presented for the onset of thermal convection in a two-layer system which is comprised of a saturated layer of porous material described by Darcy's law, over which lies a layer of the same saturating fluid. The two-layer system is heated from below and the upper (fluid) surface is allowed to be fixed or stress free. The onset of convection may have a bi-modal nature in which convection may be dominated by the porous medium or by the fluid depending on the depths of the relative layers, but this is strongly controlled by material parameters. The effect of variation of relevant fluid and porous material properties is investigated in detail, as is the effect of the interface boundary condition between the fluid and the porous medium. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Micromechanical modelling of monotonic drained and undrained shear behaviour of granular media using three dimensional DEM

Abstract: In this paper, numerical simulation results of isotropic compression and triaxial static shear tests under drained and undrained stress paths on polydisperse assembly of loose and dense spheres are presented. An examination of the micromechanical behaviour of loose and dense assemblies under drained and undrained conditions, considering the particulate nature of granular materials, has been carried out to explain micromechanically the granular material behaviour at the grain scale level. The numerical simulations have been carried out using a discrete element model (DEM) which considers a 1000 sphere particle polydisperse assembly with periodic space representing an infinite three-dimensional space. In this paper, we present how DEM simulations can contribute to developments in constitutive modelling of granular materials through micromechanical approach using information on microstructure evolution. A series of numerical tests are performed using DEM on 3-D assemblages of spheres to study the evolution of the internal variables such as average co-ordination number and induced anisotropy during deformation along with the macroscopic behaviour of the assemblage in drained and undrained shear tests. In a qualitative sense, the macroscopic stress-strain results and stress path evolution in these simulations using 3-D assemblies demonstrate that DEM simulations are capable of reproducing ealistic compression and shear behaviour of granular materials.

Comments on use of the Barcelona Basic Model for unsaturated soils

Abstract: The paper discusses some aspects of the Barcelona Basic Model (BBM), which is one of the most widely used elasto-plastic models for unsaturated soils. In addition to modelling those unsaturated soils where the collapse potential increases with increasing net stress (as envisaged by the original authors), the BBM can also be used to model soils where the collapse potential decreases with increasing net stress, by selecting suitable values for the model parameters r and pc. A practical procedure is suggested for selecting a value for the important model parameter pc from laboratory test data. Problems with use of the BBM are discussed, including the difficulty of correctly matching the locations of the normal compression lines for different values of suction and the possibility of non-convexity of the yield curve.

Consistent tangent operators for constitutive rate equations

Abstract: A general approach for obtaining the consistent tangent operator for constitutive rate equations is presented. The rate equations can be solved numerically by the user's favourite time integrator. In order to obtain reliable results, the substepping in integration should be based on a control of the local error. The main ingredient of the consistent tangent operator, namely the derivative of the stress with respect to the strain increment must be computed simultaneously with the same integrator, applied to a numerical approximation of the variational equations. This information enables finite-element packages to assemble a consistent tangent operator and thus guarantees quadratic convergence of the equilibrium iterations. Several numerical examples with a hypoplastic constitutive law are given. As numerical integrator we used a second-order extrapolated Euler method. Quadratic convergence of the equilibrium iteration is shown. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

A visco‐plastic constitutive model for granular soils modified according to non‐local and gradient approaches

Abstract: An already available non-associated elastic-viscoplastic constitutive model with anisotropic strain hardening is modified in order to describe both the constitutive parameter dependency on relative density and the spatio-temporal evolution of strain localization. To achieve this latter goal, two distinct but similar approaches are introduced: one inspired by the gradient theory and one by the non-local theory. A one-dimensional case concerning a simple shear test for a non-homogeneous infinitely long dense sand specimen is numerically discussed and a finite difference scheme is employed for this purpose. The results obtained by following the two different approaches are critically analysed and compared.

Numerical simulation of the fracture process in cutting heterogeneous brittle material

Abstract: The process of cutting homogeneous soft material has been investigated extensively. However, there are not so many studies on cutting heterogeneous brittle material. In this paper, R-T2D (Rock and Tool interaction), based on the rock failure process analysis model, is developed to simulate the fracture process in cutting heterogeneous brittle material. The simulated results reproduce the process involved in the fragmentation of rock or rock-like material under mechanical tools: the build-up of the stress field, the formation of the crushed zone, surface chipping, and the formation of the crater and subsurface cracks. Due to the inclusion of heterogeneity in the model, some new features in cutting brittle material are revealed. Firstly, macroscopic cracks sprout at the two edges of the cutter in a tensile mode. Then with the tensile cracks releasing the confining pressure, the rock in the initially high confining pressure zone is compressed into failure and the crushed zone gradually comes into being. The cracked zone near the crushed zone is always available, which makes the boundary of the crushed zone vague. Some cracks propagate to form chipping cracks and some dip into the rock to form subsurface cracks. The chipping cracks are mainly driven to propagate in a tensile mode or a mixed tensile and shear mode, following curvilinear paths, and finally intersect with the free surface to form chips. According to the simulated results, some qualitative and quantitative analyses are performed. It is found that the back rake angle of the cutter has an important effect on the cutting efficiency. Although the quantitative analysis needs more research work, it is not difficult to see the promise that the numerical method holds. It can be utilized to improve our understanding of tool–rock interaction and rock failure mechanisms under the action of mechanical tools, which, in turn, will be useful in assisting the design of fragmentation equipment and fragmentation operations. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

A constitutive model for granular materials with grain crushing and its application to a pyroclastic soil

Abstract: SUMMARY A constitutive model for granular materials is developed within the framework of strain–hardening elastoplasticity, aiming at describing some of the macroscopic effects of the degradation processes associated with grain crushing. The central assumption of the paper is that, upon loading, the frictional properties of the material are modified as a consequence of the changes in grain size distribution. The effects of these irreversible microscopic processes are described macroscopically as accumulated plastic strain. Plastic strain drives the evolution of internal variables which model phenomenologically the changes of mechanical properties induced by grain crushing by controlling the geometry of the yield locus and the direction of plastic flow. An application of the model to Pozzolana Nera is presented. The stress–dilatancy relationship observed for this material is used as a guidance for the formulation of hardening laws. One of the salient features of the proposed model is its capability of reproducing the stress–dilatancy behaviour observed in Pozzolana Nera, for which the minimum value of dilatancy always follows the maximum stress ratio experienced by the material. Copyright # 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

A unified approach to the implicit integration of standard, non‐standard and viscous plasticity models

Abstract: It is shown how modern concepts to integrate the elasto-plastic rate equations of standard plasticity via an implicit algorithm can be generalized to plasticity without an explicitly defined yield surface and to overstress-type models of viscoplasticity, where the stress point can be located outside the loading surface. For completeness, a tangent operator is derived that is consistent with the update algorithm. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

A 2‐D constitutive model for cyclic interface behaviour

Abstract: The paper concerns a 2-D constitutive model for interface behaviour between sand and solid inclusions under cyclic loading. The model is based on the experimental results obtained from laboratory direct shear interface tests conducted under both constant normal load (CNL) and constant normal stiffness (CNS) conditions. The model is formulated in terms of interface stresses and relative velocities and has been derived by extending an elastoplastic isotropic model previously formulated for monotonic loading to stress reversal paths. Such extension consists in adding to the isotropic hardening mechanism a kinematic rotational one defined by an inner conical surface rotating around the origin of the stress space. This allows one to store the memory of the previous stress and relative displacement history giving to the model the capability to analyse the interface behaviour under cyclic loading. After a brief description of the criteria governing the monotonic model, the paper describes in detail the features of the kinematic hardening. Finally, the predictions of the model are compared with the experimental results obtained from CNL and CNS interface tests. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

A simplified analysis method for piled raft and pile group foundations with batter piles

Abstract: A simplified method of numerical analysis has been developed to estimate the deformation and load distribution of piled raft foundations subjected to vertical, lateral, and moment loads, using a hybrid model in which the flexible raft is modelled as thin plates and the piles as elastic beams and the soil is treated as springs. Both the vertical and lateral resistances of the piles as well as the raft base are incorporated into the model. Pile–soil–pile, pile–soil–raft and raft–soil–raft interactions are taken into account based on Mindlin's solutions for both vertical and lateral forces. The validity of the proposed method is verified through comparisons with several existing methods for single piles, pile groups and piled rafts. Workable design charts are given for the estimation of the lateral displacement and the load distribution of piled rafts from the stiffnesses of the raft alone and the pile group alone. Additionally, parametric studies were carried out concerning batter pile foundations. It was found that the use of batter piles can efficiently improve the deformation characteristics of pile foundations subjected to lateral loads. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Modelling of elastoplastic damage in concrete due to desiccation shrinkage

Abstract: We present a numerical modelling of elastoplastic damage due to drying shrinkage of concrete in the framework of mechanics of partially saturated porous media. An elastoplastic model coupled with isotropic damage is first formulated. Two plastic flow mechanisms are involved, controlled by applied stress and suction, respectively. A general concept of net effective stress is used in take into account effects of capillary pressure and material damage on stress-controlled plastic deformation. Damage evolution depends both on elastic and plastic strains. The model's parameters are determined or chosen from relevant experimental data. Comparisons between numerical simulations and experimental data are presented to show the capacity of model to reproduce mains features of concrete behaviour under mechanical loading and during drying shrinkage of concrete. An example of application concerning drying of a concrete wall is finally presented. The results obtained allow to show potential capacity of proposed model for numerical modelling of complex coupling processes in concrete structures. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.