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Lecture 3
Constative models

ENG. MAHMOUD ALI

MSC, GEO. ENGINEERING, CAIRO UNIVERSITY
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Finite Element

 A numerical technique to find an approximate solution for a (set of) partial differential
equation(s).
 The Finite Element Method for deformations is based on the following principles:
• Equilibrium (between external forces and internal stresses)
• Kinematics (displacements and strains)
• Constitutive relation (material behaviour)
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Iteration Process
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Finite Element Method (FEM)
Mesh Element
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Finite Element Method (FEM)
Mesh Element and Node
 Predicted Surface Settlement Behind Wall
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• MC predicts unrealistic surface heave 4 mm

• HS & HSsmall predict max. surface settlement 9 mm

 Predicted Wall Resultant Displacement
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• MC predicts unrealistic surface heave 4 mm
• HS & HSsmall predict max. surface settlement 9 mm
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Types of stress-strain behaviour

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Model parameters in Hooke’s law
Linear Elastic
Used for stiff structures in the soil
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Alternative parameters in Hooke’s law
Linear Elastic
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Failure in a simple shear test

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Mohr-Coulomb Model

Linear-elastic perfectly-plastic stress-strain relationship

- Elasticity: Hooke’s law
- Plasticity: Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion

LEPP model with Mohr-Coulomb failure contour is in PLAXIS called the Mohr-Coulomb model

For this model: Plasticity = Failure

This does NOT apply to all models!!!
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Mohr-Coulomb Model
Linear-elastic perfectly-plastic stress strain relationship.
A yield function, f, is introduced a function of stress and strain.
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Mohr-Coulomb Model
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Mohr-Coulomb Model
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Material Type
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Mohr-Coulomb Model
Young’s modulus (stiffness), E

Young’s modulus (stiffness), E

• Use Eo for highly over consolidated clays and rocks

with a large linear elastic range.
• Use E50 for sands and normally consolidated clays.
• Use Eur in case of unloading problems (tunneling
and excavations).
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Mohr-Coulomb Model
Stiffness parameter - suggestions
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Mohr-Coulomb Model
Stiffness parameter - suggestions
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Mohr-Coulomb Model
Stiffness parameter - suggestions
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Mohr-Coulomb Model
Stiffness parameter - suggestions
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Mohr-Coulomb Model
Stiffness parameter - suggestions
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Mohr-Coulomb Model
Stiffness parameter - suggestions
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Mohr-Coulomb Model

Cohesion, c
Cohesionless soil: c = 0.2 kPa

Friction angle, φ
Avoid values higher than 35° when performing
preliminary computations to save computing
time.
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Mohr-Coulomb Model

Dilatancy angle, ψ

Dilatancy angle,
Cohesive soil: zero
Cohesionless soil ( φ> 30o): φ– 30o
Cohesionless soil (φ < 30o): zero (-ve only in extremely loose sands)
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Mohr-Coulomb Model

Advantages:

• Simple and clear model.

• First order approach of soil behavior in general.
• Suitable for many practical applications.
• Limited number and clear parameters.
• Good representation of failure behavior (drained).
• Dilatancy can be included.
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Mohr-Coulomb Model

Disadvantages:
• Isotropic and homogeneous behavior.
• Until failure linear elastic behavior.
• No stress/stress-path/strain-dependent stiffness.
• No distinction between primary loading and
• unloading or reloading.
• Dilatancy continues for ever.
• Be careful with undrained behaviour
• No time-dependency (creep).
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Example 1 29
Example 1 30
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Material Type

Drained:
 No excess pore pressures are generated.
 Dry soil
 Sands: full drainage and high permeability.
 Low rate of loading.
 Long term behavior of cohesive soil.
 Use effective model parameters: E’, ν’, c’, φ’
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Material Type

Undrained:
 Excess pore pressures are developed.
 Clays: flow of pore water can be neglected due to low permeability.
 High rate of loading.
 Short term behavior of cohesive soil.
 Use effective model parameters: E’, ν’, c’, φ’
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Material Type

Non-porous:
 No initial or excess pore pressures.
 Block water flow.
 Used to model concrete.
 Used in combination with the “Linear Elastic Model”.
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Hardening Soil Model
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Hardening Soil Model
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Hardening Soil Model
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Hardening Soil Model

 Difference in behavior for primary loading reloading/unloading

 Nonlinear behavior well below failure conditions
 Stress dependent stiffness
 Plastic deformations for isotropic or Ko-stress paths
 Dilatancy is not constant
 Small strain stiffness
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Hardening Soil Model
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Hardening Soil Model

 Influence of density on strength and

stiffness
 Cannot be accounted for with simple
elastic-perfectly plastic constitutive models.
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Hardening Soil Model
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Hardening Soil Model
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Hardening Soil Model
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Hardening Soil Model

Model parameters
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Hardening Soil Model

Model parameters
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Hardening Soil Model
Model parameters
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Hardening Soil Model

Model parameters
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Hardening Soil Model

Model parameters
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Hardening Soil Model
Model parameters
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Hardening Soil Model
Model parameters

Poisson ratio for unloading ν (-)

ur

ν = 0.2
ur

K -value for normal consolidation

o Knc (-)
o

K = 1- sin φ
o

q /q f a R (-)
f

R = 0.9
f
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Hardening Soil Model
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Hardening Soil Model
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Hardening Soil Model
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Hardening Soil Model
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Hardening Soil Model
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Hardening Soil Model
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Hardening Soil Model
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Hardening Soil Model
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Hardening Soil Model
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Hardening Soil Model
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Hardening Soil Model
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Hardening Soil Model

Model parameters
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Hardening Soil Model
Model parameters
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Hardening Soil Model

Model parameters
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Hardening Soil Model

Model parameters
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Hardening Soil Model

Model parameters
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Hardening Soil Model

Model parameters
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Hardening Soil Model

Model parameters

Dilatancy cut-off
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Hardening Soil Model

Model parameters
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Hardening Soil Model
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Hardening Soil Model
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Hardening Soil Model
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Hardening Soil Model
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Hardening Soil Model
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Hardening Soil Model

Advantages

 Better non-linear formulation of soil behavior in general.

 Distinction between primary loading and unloading
 Different stiffnesses for different stress paths based on standard tests.
 Well suited for unloading situations with simultaneous deviatoric loading
(excavations).
 Large stiffness at small strain levels (vibrations) (HSsmall only)
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Hardening Soil Model

Disadvantages

 No peak strength and softening.

 No secondary compression (Creep).
 No anisotropy
 E50/Eoed > 2 (difficult to input).
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Hardening Soil Model

Examples of parameter selection

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Hardening Soil Model

Examples of parameter selection

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Hardening Soil Model

Examples of parameter selection

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Hardening Soil Model

Examples of parameter selection

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Hardening Soil Model

Examples of parameter selection

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Hardening Soil Model

Examples of parameter selection

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Hardening Soil Model
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Hardening Soil Model
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Hardening Soil Model
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Pre-failure Stress-strain Behaviour

1: Linear elastic, perfectly plastic

2: Hyperbolic stress-strain curve (stiffness degradation for 𝜺𝜺 > 1E-4)
3: Non-linear stiffness from very small strains (1E-6)
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Pre-failure Stress-strain Behaviour
3: Non-linear stiffness from very small strains (1E-6)
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HS small model

Relevance of small-strain stiffness:

• Very stiff behaviour at very small strains (vibrations)
• Reduction of stiffness with increasing strain; restart after load reversal
• Hysteresis in cyclic loading:
• Energy dissipation
• Damping
Also relevant for applications like:
• Excavations (settlement trough behind retaining wall)
• Tunnels (settlement trough above tunnel)
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HS small model
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HS small model
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HS small model
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HS small model
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HS small model
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HS small model
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HS small model
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HS small model
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HS small model
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HS small model
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HS small model
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HS small model
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Soft soil model
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Soft soil model
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Soft soil model
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Soft soil model
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Hoek-Brown Model
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Hoek-Brown Model
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Hoek-Brown Model
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Hoek-Brown Model
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Hoek-Brown Model
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Hoek-Brown Model
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Hoek-Brown Model
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Hoek-Brown Model
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Hoek-Brown Model