Parameter Evaluation for a Unified Constitutive Model

Abstract

Parameters for the unified constitutive model MATMOD [1] were evaluated for rock salt (NaCl) by using nonlinear least squares to fit the model to isothermal laboratory data. MATMOD incorporates two internal variables that represent the effects of both kinematic and isotropic hardening. The constitutive equations contain nine parameters that must be evaluated to model isothermal deformation. Laboratory data from stress relaxation, constant strain rate, and long-term creep tests were used. The latter two test types included staged tests in which the strain rate or stress was changed step-wise during the test. The test conditions were precisely controlled by a computer and the constitutive equations were integrated to simulate the laboratory conditions closely. The MATMOD parameters were then evaluated by fitting the integrated equations to the laboratory data using nonlinear least squares. The model fits the data well, but the fit may be improved by changing the evolutionary equation for the internal variable that accounts for isotropic hardening.