Uncertainties in Modeling Undrained Shear Strength of Sensitive Clays Using Finite-Element Method

Abstract

The present paper deals with uncertainties related to modeling undrained shear strength of soft sensitive clays using finite-element effective stress–based soil models. Two effective stress soil models, the isotropic Soft Soil and the anisotropic S-CLAY1S models, are used in this study. The performance of the two models is evaluated by comparing the simulated undrained shear strength, resulting from undrained stress paths, to an existing multivariate database of undrained shear strength data points from 24 test sites from Finland. Finite-element model parameters are derived from existing correlations based on basic clay properties. Furthermore, the modeled data points are compared with the undrained shear strength predicted by some existing correlations for Scandinavian clays. Bias and uncertainties of the simulated data points associated with the multivariate database and the correlations are calculated. The results presented appear to be satisfactory, considering that the finite-element input parameters are based on soil plasticity and consolidation stresses.