Viscoplastic Finite Element Model for Expansive Soils Hussein El Arabi Assistant Professor, Institut für Statik, Technical University of Braunschweig, Germany

Abstract

Finite element implementation of the constitutive law, which illustrate viscoplastic or time-dependent behaviour of expansive soils is described along with verification of the model with respect to field behaviour of structures built in and on expansive soils. The model takes into account the current stress, water content and clay content as well as environmental factors. Procedures to derive model parameters are presented together with validations of the model. The model is verified with respect to the observed behaviour of expansive clay samples found in literature.

Keywords: Finite element method, expansive soils, clay, swelling

Get the entire paper (zip)