Elastic-Plastic Triaxial Tests

GEO-SLOPE International Ltd, Calgary, Alberta, Canada www.geo-slope.
com
SIGMA/W Example File: Elastic-Plastic triaxial tests.doc (pdf) Page 1 of 13
Verification of the Elastic-Plastic Soil Model by
Triaxial Test Simulations
1 Introduction
This example simulates a series of triaxial tests, which can be used to verify that the elastic-plastic
constitutive model is functioning properly. The simulations include:
Consolidating the sample to an initial isotropic stress state
Drained strain-controlled tests
Load-unload-reload tests
Extension tests
Consolidation with back-pressure
The verification includes comparisons with hand-calculated values and discussions relative to the elastic-
plastic theoretical framework.
2 Feature Highlights
GeoStudio feature highlights include:
Using the axisymmetric option to simulate a triaxial test
Displacement type boundary conditions to simulate a strain-controlled test
A displacement boundary function to simulate loading, unloading, and reloading
Use of total stress and effective stress soil parameters
3 General Methodology
All but one of the simulated shearing phases are preceded by the simulation of the consolidation phase of
a triaxial test. Consolidation is isotropic with the confining pressure equal to 100 kPa. The isotropic
stress state is simulated by applying a normal stress on the top and on the right side of the sample equal to
100 kPa. The consolidation stage is set as the Parent; that is, the initial condition, for the subsequent
simulations involving shearing.
GEO-SLOPE International Ltd, Calgary, Alberta, Canada www.geo-slope.com
metres (x 0.001)
-10 0 10 20 30 40
m
e
t
r
e
s

(
x

0
.
0
0
1
)
-10
0
10
20
30
40
50
60

Figure 1 Triaxial test configuration for establishing initial stress state
The shearing phase of the analysis is simulated as a strain-rate controlled test. The definition of the
strain-rate involves defining the number of time steps and the displacement that occurs over each step.
Although the time steps are being defined, it is more appropriate to think of the time steps as load steps.
Absolute time has no meaning in the context of these analyses. The number of load steps defined in the
shear stage simulations is generally 50 or 75 and the incremental y-displacement (i.e. the boundary
condition) at the top of the specimen is defined as -0.0002 m (per load step), where the negative sign
indicates downward displacement. Consequently, 50 and 75 load steps multiplied by a y-displacement of
-0.0002 m per load step results in a total vertical displacement of 0.01 m and 0.015 m, respectively.
Symmetry is assumed about the vertical and horizontal centre-lines; consequently, only of the specimen
is simulated. The dimensions of the simulation portion of the specimen are 0.025 m by 0.05 m, which is
half of the width and height of a conventionally sized triaxial specimen. Total vertical y-displacements of
0.01 m and 0.015 m produce axial strains of 0.2 (or 20%) and 0.3 (30%), respectively.
Notice that Linear-Elastic parameters are used when setting up confining stresses; non-linear models are not
required for this and the value of E is not relevant
4 Analysis A-Cohesion only
An unconfined compression test is simulated in this example; therefore, the consolidation phase is not
simulated (there is no Parent analysis). The unconfined compressive strength C
u
of the soil is 50 kPa and
the E is 1000 kPa.
Figure 2 shows the SIGMA/W simulated stress-strain curve. The unconfined compressive strength
defines the maximum shear stress that can be obtained, which is defined as:

max
= (
1

3
) / 2
The vertical stress reaches 100 kPa and the horizontal stress
3
is zero because this is an unconfined test.
Consequently,
max
is equal to the undrained strength of 50 kPa. The soil is linear elastic until the stress
path reaches the failure line. Afterwards, the soil behavior becomes perfectly plastic. The (triaxial)
deviatoric stress (
1

3
) at failure is equal to the maximum vertical stress (Figure 3).

y-total stress: axial strain
Y
-
T
o
t
a
l

S
t
r
e
s
s

(
k
P
a
)
Y-Strain
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2

Figure 2 Stress-strain curve for unconfined compression test
Deviatoric stress
D
e
v
i
a
t
o
r
i
c

S
t
r
e
s
s

(
q
)

(
k
P
a
)
Y-Strain
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2

Figure 3 Deviatoric stress for unconfined compression test
5 Analysis 1 C only - confined
A confined triaxial compression test is simulated on a specimen with an undrained strength of 100 kPa.
Figure 4 and Figure 5 present the y-total stress and deviator stress versus axial strain. The maximum
vertical stress increases to 200 kPa because the initial confining stress was 100 kPa. The deviatoric stress
(
1

3
) remains the same as that simulated by unconfined compression test and
max
remains equal to 50
kPa = (200 100)/2.
Y
-
T
o
t
a
l

S
t
r
e
s
s

(
k
P
a
)
Y-Strain
100
120
140
160
180
200
220
0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2

Figure 4 Stress-strain curve for confined compression test
Deviatoric stress
D
e
v
i
a
t
o
r
i
c

S
t
r
e
s
s

(
q
)

(
k
P
a
)
Y-Strain
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2

Figure 5 Deviatoric stress versus strain for confined compression test

6 Analysis 2 Phi>0; c=0
A confined triaxial compression test is simulated on a specimen with = 30 and c = zero. Figure 6
presents the y-total stress versus axial strain. For a purely frictional soil, the principal stress ratio at the
point where the stress level reaches the soil strength is,
1
3
1 sin
1 sin
which is equal to 3 if is 30 degrees.
The confining stress (
3
) is 100 kPa; therefore,
1
at failure should be 300 kPa. Note the starting stress is
100 kPa and the failure stress is 300 kPa. The maximum deviatoric stress is 200 kPa (300 100 = 200
kPa).
Y
-
T
o
t
a
l

S
t
r
e
s
s

(
k
P
a
)
Y-Strain
100
150
200
250
300
350
0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3 0.35

Figure 6 Stress-strain curve for sand with no cohesion

7 Analysis: 3 Phi=30, C=20
Analysis 3 is a repeat of the previous case, but now the soil has some cohesive strength (c = 20 kPa).
Figure 7 presents the y-total stress versus axial strain. For a Mohr-Coulomb strength envelope in a
triaxial test the vertical stress
1
is,
1 3
1 sin
2 cos
1 sin 1 sin
c

The confining stress
3
is 100 kPa. The maximum
1
then will be 369.28 kPa. The deviatoric stress is
269.28 kPa.
Y
-
T
o
t
a
l

S
t
r
e
s
s

(
k
P
a
)
Y-Strain
100
200
300
400
0 0.1 0.2 0.3

Figure 7 Stress-strain curve for = 30 and c = 20 kPa

8 Analysis 4 Coupled undrained
Analysis 4 simulates a consolidated undrained test on sand with pore-pressure measurements. This is
accomplished in SIGMA/W using a coupled analysis with the hydraulic boundary conditions set as no
flow (Q = 0) along the perimeter of the sample.
The sand properties are = 30 and c = zero.
A very important observation about the elastic-plastic model is that the effective stress path (q-p) is vertical during
undrained loading. In other words, the mean effective stress remains a constant under triaxial loading conditions.
Figure 8 confirms this important characteristic of the elastic-plastic model under undrained loading
conditions.
p':q stress path
D
e
v
i
a
t
o
r
i
c

S
t
r
e
s
s

(
q
)

(
k
P
a
)
Mean Effective Stress (p') (kPa)
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
50 60 70 80 90 100 110

Figure 8 Effective q-p stress path under undrained conditions
The deviatoric stress is 120 kPa when the sample becomes plastic is 120 kPa, which corresponds to
1

must be 220 kPa with
3
being 100 kPa.
In this case the pore-pressure will increase while the soil is elastic and then remain constant when the soil
becomes plastic, as illustrated in Figure 9.
The maximum pore-pressure is 40 kPa. This makes
3
= 60 and
1
= 180. The ratio of
1 /
3
= 180 / 60
= 3.
pore-pressure:axial strain
P
o
r
e
-
W
a
t
e
r

P
r
e
s
s
u
r
e

(
k
P
a
)
Y-Strain
0
10
20
30
40
0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2

Figure 9 Pore-pressure response under undrained loading

9 Analysis 5 Coupled drained
This analysis repeats the previous case, but with drained conditions. Drained conditions can be simulated
by specifying the pore-pressure as a boundary condition at all the nodes. In this case the boundary
condition at each node is specified as u = zero or H = y.
metres (x 0.001)
-10 0 10 20 30 40
m
e
t
r
e
s

(
x

0
.
0
0
1
)
-10
0
10
20
30
40
50
60

Figure 10 Specification of pore-pressure for drained test
In this test the total stresses are the same as the effective stresses, since the pore-pressure is zero.
Once again the ratio of
1 /
3
must be 3 when the soil becomes plastic. Therefore, the maximum
1
will
be 300 kPa.
Y
-
T
o
t
a
l

S
t
r
e
s
s

(
k
P
a
)
Y-Strain
100
150
200
250
300
350
0 0.1 0.2 0.3

Figure 11 Stress-strain curve for coupled analysis under drained conditions
The effective p-q stress path now is the same as the total stress path, and under triaxial condition will
have a slope of 1h:3v. The change in p is 66.67 and the change in q is 200 or 3 times 66.67 kPa
confirming the correct behavior.
p':q stress path
D
e
v
i
a
t
o
r
i
c

S
t
r
e
s
s

(
q
)

(
k
P
a
)
0
50
100
150
200
250
40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180

Figure 12 Total and effective stress path under drained conditions
10 Analysis 6 Coupled undrained C=20
This is a coupled undrained analysis, but with cohesion specified as 20 kPa.
As noted previously, the q-p effective stress path is a vertical straight line for the elastic-plastic
constitutive model, which is confirmed in Figure 13. The maximum deviatoric stress is 160 kPa.
q - p'
D
e
v
i
a
t
o
r
i
c

S
t
r
e
s
s

(
q
)

(
k
P
a
)
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180

Figure 13 Stress path q-p for soil with = 30 and c = 20 kPa
With q
max
= 160,
1
must be 260.
Figure 14 shows that the maximum pore-pressure is 54 kPa. The effective minor principal stress then is
3
= 100 54 = 46 kPa.
pore-pressure:axial strain
P
o
r
e
-
W
a
t
e
r

P
r
e
s
s
u
r
e

(
k
P
a
)
Y-Strain
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2

Figure 14 Pore pressure response for soil with = 30 and c = 20 kPa
As discussed earlier, the major principal stress at the point when the soil becomes plastic must be,
1 3
1 sin
2 cos
1 sin 1 sin
c

With
3
= 46, = 30 and c = 20,
1
= 207.3 kPa as is correctly illustrated in Figure 15.
y-ef f ective stress:starin
Y
-
E
f
f
e
c
t
i
v
e

S
t
r
e
s
s

(
k
P
a
)
Y-Strain
100
120
140
160
180
200
220
0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2

Figure 15 Stress-strain curve for soil with = 30 and c = 20 kPa
11 Analysis 7 Unload-reload
This analysis examines the behavior of a frictional soil under loading, unloading and then reloading.
This loading path can be simulated with a displacement function such as in Figure 16. The negative sign
means the top of the sample is pushed downwards. SIGMA/W is an incremental formulation and
therefore the applied displacement for each load step is the difference between the function value at the
current load step and the function value at the previous load step; that is, it is the incremental change
along the function. This means that where the function changes direction, the sign of the applied
displacement changes and consequently the sample is unloaded.
load-unload-reload
Y
-
D
i
s
p
l
a
c
e
m
e
n
t

(
m
)
Time (sec)
-0.005
-0.01
-0.015
-0.02
0
0 20 40 60 80 100

Figure 16 Loading, unloading and reloading boundary function
With the elastic-plastic constitutive soil model the soil returns to being perfectly elastic when it is
unloaded after having gone plastic. This response is illustrated in Figure 17.
Y
-
T
o
t
a
l

S
t
r
e
s
s

(
k
P
a
)
Y-Strain
100
150
200
250
300
350
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4

Figure 17 Stress-strain during unloading and reloading
12 Analysis 8 Extension test
This analysis simulates an extension test.
This again is a drained test on sand that has a = 30 and c = zero. The confining stress again is 100 kPa.
For a purely frictional soil, the principal stress ratio at the point where the stress level reaches the soil
strength is,
1
3
1 sin
1 sin
which is equal to 3 if is 30 degrees.
The extension test is simulated by pulling upward on the specimen (refer to the associated boundary
condition).
In this case, the confining stress is 100 kPa and is the major principal stress
1
. The vertical stress is the
minor principal stress
3
. Therefore
3
at failure should approach 33.3 kPa. Figure 18 again confirms this.
Note the starting stress is 100 and then drops to 33.3 as it should. The deviatoric stress at the end should
be 66.7 as is correctly shown in Figure 18.
Y
-
T
o
t
a
l

S
t
r
e
s
s

(
k
P
a
)
Y-Strain
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
110
-0.05 -0.1 -0.15 -0.2 0

Figure 18 Stress-strain curve for extension test
Deviatoric stress
D
e
v
i
a
t
o
r
i
c

S
t
r
e
s
s

(
q
)

(
k
P
a
)
Y-Strain
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
-0.05 -0.1 -0.15 -0.2 0

Figure 19 Deviatoric stress for extension test
13 Analysis C Initial with pwp
In this analysis, the initial consolidated effective confining stress state is established by applying a normal
stress of 100 kPa on the top and on the right side of the sample. The initial back pressure of 50 kPa is
specified as an Activation PWP of 50 kPa. This makes the initial effective confining pressure equal to 50
kPa.
14 Analysis 9 Phi>0; C=0 backpressure
This analysis simulates a test with a backpressure but the pore-pressures remain at the backpressure
during the loading. This is done with a Load/Deformation type of analysis using Effective-Drained
strength parameters. The initial effective stress is used to establish the soil parameters, but the pore-
pressures do not change during the loading. This would be like loading a sand stratum that is under water.
Figure 20 shows both the total and effective stress-strain curves.
y-total stress:
axial strain :
(0.0131449,
0.0270671)
y-effective
stress:starin
: (0.0131802,
0.0258657)
k
P
a
Y-Strain
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
200
220
0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2

Figure 20 Total and effective stress-strain curves for test with backpressure
As shown in Figure 20,
3
= 50 kPa.
1
must be 3 times
3
, making it 150 kPa as correctly above.
15 Summary
These triaxial test simulations verify that the elastic-plastic constitutive relationship in SIGMA/W is
functioning and behaving correctly.

Elastic-Plastic Triaxial Tests

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Elastic-Plastic Triaxial Tests

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

GEO-SLOPE International Ltd, Calgary, Alberta, Canada www.geo-slope.

You might also like