Modeling and Testing of Cohesive Soil Using Disturbed-State Concept

Abstract

A new constitutive model for predicting the undrained stress-deformation and pore water pressure response of saturated cohesive soils subjected to cyclic loading is developed using the disturbed-state concept (DSC). The model takes into account inelastic response during loading (virgin) and unloading-reloading (nonvirgin) behavior. Comprehensive laboratory tests have been performed on undisturbed soft (marine) clay samples procured from a site at Sabine Pass, near Houston, Tex. The tests include conventional cylindrical triaxial tests and cyclic triaxial tests in the multiaxial device with pore-water-pressure measurements. The model is verified with respect to the observed behavior of undisturbed clay samples.Verification is performed with respect to laboratory tests that were used, and the independent tests that were not used in the calibration of the model. Overall, the proposed model provides highly satisfactory predictions of the observed behavior during virgin and nonvirgin loading.