A rigorous lower bound solution, with the usage of the finite elements limit analysis, has been obtained for finding the ultimate bearing capacity of two interfering strip footings placed on a sandy medium. Smooth as well as rough footing–soil interfaces are considered in the analysis. The failure load for an interfering footing becomes always greater than that for a single isolated footing. The effect of the interference on the failure load (i) for rough footings becomes greater than that for smooth footings, (ii) increases with an increase in ϕ, and (iii) becomes almost negligible beyond S/B > 3. Compared with various theoretical and experimental results reported in literature, the present analysis generally provides the lowest magnitude of the collapse load. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

An approach based on the category of upper bound theorem of limit analysis is proposed in this article to consider the reinforcing effect of one row of anchors on slope stabilization. The shear strength reduction technique is used in the determination of the safety factor of the slope. The effect of anchor reinforcement is assumed to be an external axial force applied on the slope, and in the formulas of kinematic limit analysis, the work rate done by the anchor can be calculated. So, the stability analysis can be conducted without any assumptions on the acting position and decomposition of the axial force of anchors. Results were compared with those obtained using both the limit equilibrium method and numerical method. A parametric study was carried out to illustrate the effect of anchor orientation and position on slope stabilization. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The formulation of macroscopic poroelastic behavior of a jointed rock is investigated within the framework of a micro–macro approach. The joints are modeled as interfaces, and their behavior is modeled by means of generalized poroelastic state equations. Starting from Hill's lemma extended for a jointed medium and extending the concept of strain concentration to relate the joint displacement jump to macroscopic strain, the overall poroelastic constitutive equations for the jointed rock are formulated. The analysis emphasizes the main differences and similarities of the resulting behavior with respect to that characterizing ordinary porous media. It is shown that, unlike ordinary porous media, conditions on the poroelastic parameters of joints are required for the macroscopic drained stiffness to entirely define the poroelastic behavior. This is achieved, for instance, if the joint network is characterized by a unique Biot coefficient. Extension of the analysis to non-linear poroelasticity is also outlined. Finally, the theoretical formulation is applied to two particular cases of jointed rock for which explicit expressions of the overall poroelastic parameters are derived. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Discretizing a domain of interest into a set of particles for discrete element simulation is the first step to generate a specimen. An improved algorithm, the Seed Expansion Method (SEM), is proposed in this work. A seed is first generated inside a given domain. Then, the domain is filled by the seed expansion based on a local Delaunay tessellation and a distance function. An optional operation, refilling, is suggested to further improve the packing density after the completion of SEM. Polydisperse dense packing can be generated by the proposed method for an arbitrarily shaped domain in both 2D and 3D. A specimen can be obtained that approximately conforms to a specified size distribution and packing density. Multiple subdomains of a domain can be filled by packings with different densities and size distributions. A specimen with higher density can be obtained by comparing it with the existing methods. Mathematically, the features of the method include both simplicity and high efficiency. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The method of smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) has recently been applied to computational geomechanics and has been shown to be a powerful alternative to the standard numerical method, that is, the finite element method, for handling large deformation and post-failure of geomaterials. However, very few studies apply the SPH method to model saturated or submerged soil problems. Our recent studies of this matter revealed that significant errors may be made if the gradient of the pore-water pressure is handled using the standard SPH formulation. To overcome this problem and to enhance the SPH applications to computational geomechanics, this article proposes a general SPH formulation, which can be applied straightforwardly to dry and saturated soils. For simplicity, the current work assumes hydrostatic pore-water pressure. It is shown that the proposed formulation can remove the numerical error mentioned earlier. Moreover, this formulation automatically satisfies the dynamic boundary conditions at a submerged ground surface, thereby saving computational cost. Discussions on the applications of the standard and new SPH formulations are also given through some numerical tests. Furthermore, techniques to obtain the correct SPH solution are also proposed and discussed throughout. As an application of the proposed method, the effect of the dilatancy angle on the failure mechanism of a two-sided embankment subjected to a high groundwater table is presented and compared with that of other solutions. Finally, the proposed formulation can be considered a basic formulation for further developments of SPH for saturated soils. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The strain space multiple mechanism model idealizes the behavior of granular materials on the basis of a multitude of virtual simple shear mechanisms oriented in arbitrary directions. Within this modeling framework, the virtual simple shear stress is defined as a quantity dependent on the contact distribution function as well as the normal and tangential components of interparticle contact forces, which evolve independently during the loading process. In other terms, the virtual simple shear stress is an intermediate quantity in the upscaling process from the microscopic level (characterized by contact distribution and interparticle contact forces) to the macroscopic stress. The stress space fabric produces macroscopic stress through the tensorial average. Thus, the stress space fabric characterizes the fundamental and higher modes of anisotropy induced in granular materials. Herein, the induced fabric is associated with monotonic and cyclic loadings, loading with the rotation of the principal stress, and general loading. Upon loading with the rotation of the principal stress axis, some of the virtual simple shear mechanisms undergo loading whereas others undergo unloading. This process of fabric evolution is the primary cause of noncoaxiality between the axes of principal stresses and strains. Although cyclic behavior and behavior under the rotation of the principal stress axis seem to originate from two distinct mechanisms, the strain space multiple mechanism model demonstrates that these behaviors are closely related through the hysteretic damping factor. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Experimental observations clearly show that the relative humidity (h_r) conditions influence significantly the creep behavior of cement-based materials, indicating that the water present within these materials plays a crucial role. This work presents a creep model for hardened cement pastes (HCP), based on a multiscale homogenization approach. It takes into account both free and adsorbed water contained in the porosity and investigates their effects on the HCP macroscopic creep behavior. The calcium silicate hydrate phase is assumed to be linear viscoelastic, and the Mori–Tanaka scheme is applied in the Laplace–Carson space to the composite formed of porosity, calcium silicate hydrate, and the other main hydrated compounds (which behavior is linearly elastic) by making use of the correspondence principle. With this model, estimations of the evolution of the macroscopic creep behavior of HCP submitted to constant external loading are examined under different h_r and compared with available experimental data. Finally, a method for implementing the model in a finite element code is proposed, and simulations of standard creep tests are performed to assess its validity. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Multi-scale investigations aided by the discrete element method (DEM) play a vital role for current state-of-the-art research on the elementary behaviour of granular materials. Similar to laboratory tests, there are three important aspects to be considered carefully, which are the proper stress/strain definition and measurement, the application of target loading paths and the designed experiment setup, to be addressed in the present paper. Considering the volume sensitive characteristics of granular materials, in the proposed technique, the deformation of the tested specimen is controlled and measured by deformation gradient tensor involving both the undeformed configuration and the current configuration. Definitions of Biot strain and Cauchy stress are adopted. The expressions of them in terms of contact forces and particle displacements, respectively, are derived. The boundary of the tested specimen consists of rigid massless planar units. It is suggested that the representative element uses a convex polyhedral (polygonal) shape to minimize possible boundary arching effects. General loading paths are described by directly specifying the changes in the stress/strain invariants or directions. Loading can be applied in the strain-controlled mode by specifying the translations and rotations of the boundary units, or in the stress-controlled mode by using a servo-control mechanism, or in the combination of the two methods to realize mixed boundary conditions. Taking the simulation results as the natural consequences originated from a complex system, virtual experiments provide particle-scale information database to conduct multi-scale investigations for better understanding in granular material behaviours and possible development of the constitutive theories provided the qualitative similarity between the simulation results from virtual experiments and observations on real material behaviour. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

A simple model for the corrosion-induced loss of stiffness and strength of the steel strips of earth-reinforced walls was introduced in a finite element simulation of the long-term behavior of the wall, in which the backfill-strips interactions are taken into account by means of a generalized homogenization procedure (called a multiphase model). The results show an initial phase of slow displacements induced by the loss of stiffness, followed after a few decades by a steep acceleration of the displacements, leading to wall failure. The influences of the parameter controlling corrosion, the backfill cohesion and the heterogeneity of the corrosion process are discussed. Results are used to discuss a strategy for reinforced earth wall surveillance. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Measurements on a 14.5-m diameter bored tunnel have shown that the mechanised assembly of a segmented tunnel lining results in a permanent longitudinal bending moment in the tunnel lining. An analytical model for the beam action of the tunnel lining during the construction phase of bored tunnels is presented. The model incorporates many of the essentials in staged beam construction. It takes into account the influence of forces from the TBM, the loading of the tunnel lining by the grout in the liquid phase, and linear elastic properties of the tunnel lining and soil. Calculations are compared with measurements at the Groene Hart Tunnel (GHT), 20 km south of Amsterdam: the bending moment curve and vertical inclination of tunnel lining segments were compared. The measured bending moment curve is well reproduced. The measured vertical inclination of the lining segments is found to be governed by the beam action of the tunnel lining plus the influence of shear force in the lining. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

An efficient finite–discrete element method applicable for the analysis of quasi-static nonlinear soil–structure interaction problems involving large deformations in three-dimensional space was presented in this paper. The present method differs from previous approaches in that the use of very fine mesh and small time steps was not needed to stabilize the calculation. The domain involving the large displacement was modeled using discrete elements, whereas the rest of the domain was modeled using finite elements. Forces acting on the discrete and finite elements were related by introducing interface elements at the boundary of the two domains. To improve the stability of the developed method, we used explicit time integration with different damping schemes applied to each domain to relax the system and to reach stability condition. With appropriate damping schemes, a relatively coarse finite element mesh can be used, resulting in significant savings in the computation time. The proposed algorithm was validated using three different benchmark problems, and the numerical results were compared with existing analytical and numerical solutions. The algorithm performance in solving practical soil–structure interaction problems was also investigated by simulating a large-scale soft ground tunneling problem involving soil loss near an existing lining. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The distinct lattice spring model (DLSM) is a newly developed numerical tool for modeling rock dynamics problems, i.e. dynamic failure and wave propagation. In this paper, parallelization of DLSM is presented. With the development of parallel computing technologies in both hardware and software, parallelization of a code is becoming easier than before. There are many available choices now. In this paper, Open Multi-Processing (OpenMP) with multicore personal computer (PC) and message passing interface (MPI) with cluster are selected as the environments to parallelize DLSM. Performances of these parallel DLSM codes are tested on different computers. It is found that the parallel DLSM code with OpenMP can reach a maximum speed-up of 4.68× on a quad-core PC. The parallel DLSM code with MPI can achieve a speed-up of 40.886× when 256 CPUs are used on a cluster. At the end of this paper, a high-resolution model with four million particles, which is too big to handle by the serial code, is simulated by using the parallel DLSM code on a cluster. It is concluded that the parallelization of DLSM is successful. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Because of the simplicity and the speed of execution, methods used in static stability analyses have yet remained relevant. The key-block method, which is the most famous of them, is used for the stability analysis of fractured rock masses. The KBM method is just based on finding key blocks, and if no such blocks are found to be unstable, it is concluded that the whole of the rock mass is stable. Literally, though groups of ‘stable’ blocks are taken together into account, in some cases, it may prove to be unstable. An iterative and progressive stability analysis of the discontinuous rock slopes can be performed using the key-group method, in which groups of collapsible blocks are combined. This method is literally a two-dimensional (2D) limit equilibrium approach. Because of the normally conservational results of 2D analysis, a three-dimensional (3D) analysis seems to be necessary.

In this paper, the 2D key-group method is developed into three dimensions so that a more literal analysis of a fractured rock mass can be performed. Using Mathematica software, a computer program was prepared to implement the proposed methodology on a real case. Then, in order to assess the proposed 3D procedure, its implementation results are compared with the outcomes of the 2D key-group method. Finally, tectonic block No.2 of Choghart open pit mine was investigated as a case study using the proposed 3D methodology. Results of the comparison revealed that the outcomes of the 3D analysis of this block conform to the reality and the results of 2D analysis. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Modelling of failure under dynamic conditions in geomaterials with finite elements presents a series of complex problems, among which we can mention those of (i) volumetric locking, which results on higher failure loads, (ii) influence of mesh alignment, resulting to unrealistic failure surfaces, (iii) diffusion of the shear band over some element widths, (iv) nonoptimal propagation properties (numerical diffusion and dispersion), (v) fulfilling Babuska–Brezzi conditions when using the same order of interpolation for displacement and pressures in coupled problems and (vi) large deformation analysis.

This paper is based on previous work done by the authors, who developed a mixed approximation based on (i) casting the dynamic problem in the form of a system of first order PDEs and (ii) using stresses and velocities as nodal variables. The equations were discretized following a Taylor–Galerkin algorithm, first in time using a Taylor expansion and then in space using Galerkin method. The model was limited to small deformations.

The purpose of this paper is to show how Taylor–Galerkin method can be extended to meshless formulations, such as the SPH method. The algorithm consists of (i) discretizing in time using a Taylor series expansion complemented with integration of source terms using a Runge–Kutta scheme and then (ii) discretizing in space using the SPH method. It is shown how the proposed method keeps the advantages of the Taylor–Galerkin method in Finite Elements (good propagation properties and capturing of shear bands) and avoids the tensile instability. A set of test problems ranging from elastic propagation of a wave in a bar to failure of a slope on a cohesive softening material are used to assess the performance of the method. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

This article presents a method for the nonlinear analysis of laterally loaded rigid piles in cohesive soil. The method considers the force and the moment equilibrium to derive the system equations for a rigid pile under a lateral eccentric load. The system equations are then solved using an iteration scheme to obtain the response of the pile. The method considers the nonlinear variation of the ultimate lateral soil resistance with depth and uses a new closed-form expression proposed in this article to determine the lateral bearing factor. The method also considers the horizontal shear resistance at the pile base, and a bilinear relationship between the shear resistance and the displacement is used. For simplicity, the modulus of horizontal subgrade reaction is assumed to be constant with depth, which is applicable to piles in overconsolidated clay. The nonlinearity of the modulus of horizontal subgrade reaction with pile displacement at ground surface is also considered. The validity of the developed method is demonstrated by comparing its results with those of 3D finite element analysis. The applications of the developed method to analyze five field test piles also show good agreement between the predictions and the experimental results. The developed method offers an alternative approach for simple and effective analysis of laterally loaded rigid piles in cohesive soil. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

This article revisits the influences of axial load on the lateral response of single pile with integral equation method. The problem is formulated by decomposing the pile soil system into an extended elastic soil and a fictitious pile, the former of which is analyzed by making use of the fundamental Mindlin's solution for a concentrated horizontal load whereas the latter is modeled by the conventional beam bending theory. According to the rotation compatibility condition between the fictitious pile and the extended soil, a Fredholm integral equation of the second kind is established with the shear strain and rotation angle of the fictitious pile being the basic unknowns. The bending moment and displacement distribution along the pile are subsequently obtained. Comparison with existing solutions validates the accuracy and applicability of the present formulation. The results of parametric analysis indicate that the influences of axial load on the lateral response of single piles could be significant, and in general, the bending moment and horizontal displacement distributions along the pile increase considerably with the increase of axial load. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

We develop a new computational methodology for solving two-phase flow in highly heterogeneous porous media incorporating geomechanical coupling subject to uncertainty in the poromechanical parameters. Within the framework of a staggered-in-time coupling algorithm, the numerical method proposed herein relies on a Petrov–Galerkin postprocessing approach projected on the Raviart–Thomas space to compute the Darcy velocity of the mixture in conjunction with a locally conservative higher order finite volume discretization of the nonlinear transport equation for the saturation and an operator splitting procedure based on the difference in the time-scales of transport and geomechanics to compute the effects of transient porosity upon saturation. Notable features of the numerical modeling proposed herein are the local conservation properties inherited by the discrete fluxes that are crucial to correctly capture the fingering patterns arising from the interaction between heterogeneity and nonlinear viscous coupling. Water flooding in a poroelastic formation subject to an overburden is simulated with the geology characterized by multiscale self-similar permeability and Young modulus random fields with power-law covariance structure. Statistical moments of the poromechanical unknowns are computed within the framework of a high-resolution Monte Carlo method. Numerical results illustrate the necessity of adopting locally conservative schemes to obtain reliable predictions of secondary recovery and finger growth in strongly heterogeneous deformable reservoirs. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

In this paper, we introduce a novel stochastic model for the permeability tensor associated with stationary random porous media. In the light of recent works on mesoscale modeling of permeability, we first discuss the physical interpretation of the permeability tensor randomness. Subsequently, we propose a nonparametric prior probabilistic model for non-Gaussian permeability tensor random fields, making use of the information theory and a maximum entropy procedure, and provide a physical interpretation of the model parameters. Finally, we demonstrate the capability of the considered class of random fields to generate higher levels of statistical fluctuations for selected stochastic principal permeabilities. This unique flexibility offered by the parameterization of the model opens up many new possibilities for both forward simulations (e.g. for uncertainty propagation in predictive simulations) and stochastic inverse problem solving. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

This article deals with the effect of grain crushing on shear localization in granular materials during plane strain monotonic compression tests under constant lateral pressure. The grain diameter and the initial void ratio were stochastically distributed using a spatial correlation. To describe the mechanical behavior of cohesionless granular materials during a monotonic deformation path in plane strain compression, we used a micropolar hypoplastic constitutive model that is able to describe the salient properties of granular bodies including shear localization. The model was extended by introducing changes to the grain diameter with varying pressure using formulae from breakage mechanics proposed for crushable granulates. The initial void ratios and grain diameters took the form of correlated random spatial fields described by both symmetric and nonsymmetric random distributions using a homogeneous correlation function. The field realizations were generated with the help of an original conditional rejection method. A few representative samples of the random fields selected from the generated set were taken into account in numerical calculations. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

An investigation is made to present analytical solutions provided by a Winkler model approach for the analysis of single piles and pile groups subjected to vertical and lateral loads in nonhomogeneous soils. The load transfer parameter of a single pile in nonhomogeneous soils is derived from the displacement influence factor obtained from Mindlin's solution for an elastic continuum analysis, without using the conventional form of the load transfer parameter adopting the maximum radius of the influence of the pile proposed by Randolph and Wroth. The modulus of the subgrade reaction along the pile in nonhomogeneous soils is expressed by using the displacement influence factor related to Mindlin's equation for an elastic continuum analysis to combine the elastic continuum approach with the subgrade reaction approach. The relationship between settlement and vertical load for a single pile in nonhomogeneous soils is obtained by using the recurrence equation for each layer. Using the modulus of the subgrade reaction represented by the displacement influence factor related to Mindlin's solution for the lateral load, the relationship between horizontal displacement, rotation, moment, and shear force for a single pile subjected to lateral loads in nonhomogeneous soils is available in the form of the recurrence equation. The comparison of the results calculated by the present method for single piles and pile groups in nonhomogeneous soils has shown good agreement with those obtained from the more rigorous finite element and boundary element methods. It is found that the present procedure gives a good prediction on the behavior of piles in nonhomogeneous soils. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

We derive the governing equations for the dynamic response of unsaturated poroelastic solids at finite strain. We obtain simplified governing equations from the complete coupled formulation by neglecting the material time derivative of the relative velocities and the advection terms of the pore fluids relative to the solid skeleton, leading to a so-called u^s − p^w − p^a formulation. We impose the weak forms of the momentum and mass balance equations at the current configuration and implement the framework numerically using a mixed finite element formulation. We verify the proposed method through comparison with analytical solutions and experiments of quasi-static processes. We use a neo-Hookean hyperelastic constitutive model for the solid matrix and demonstrate, through numerical examples, the impact of large deformation on the dynamic response of unsaturated poroelastic solids under a variety of loading conditions. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Recently, the shear behavior of a cohesionless granular strip that is in contact with a very rough surface of a moving bounding structure has been numerically investigated by several authors by using a micropolar hypoplastic continuum model. It was shown that the micropolar boundary conditions assumed along the interface have a strong influence on the deformations within the granular layer. In previous investigations, only interface friction angles for very rough bounding structures were assumed. In contrast, the focus of the present paper is on the influence of the interface roughness on the deformation behavior of the granular strip when the interface friction angle is lower than the peak friction angle of the granular material. In addition to the interface friction angle, particular attention is also paid to the influence of the mean grain diameter, the solid hardness, the initial void ratio, and the vertical stress on the maximum horizontal shear displacement within the granular layer before sliding is started. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

This article presents an equivalent stress approach that can be used in many elastoplastic constitutive models for unsaturated soils. The use of the equivalent stress leads to a modified yield locus that is independent of the suction. In addition, the equivalent stress becomes the major stress variable, with suction required only as an additional variable in calculations. The model on the basis of equivalent stress predicts exactly the same soil behaviour, with the sole difference being the use of equivalent stress instead of original stress variables. This article also presents the equivalent stress formulations of several constitutive models for unsaturated soils, including the Barcelona Basic Model. The predictions from these models remain unchanged, with the only difference being in their implementation. Finally, the equivalent stress approach and the net stress approach are compared for the Barcelona Basic Model. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Micro–macro relations for discrete element method (DEM) media are derived using both classical and micropolar elasticity theories. The DEM media are classified into two main categories: dense packing, and loose packing. For both categories, relations for Young modulus (E), Poisson's ratio (ν) to represent static behaviors, and wave velocities (P-wave and S-wave) to represent dynamic behaviors are derived using the internal DEM parameters (k_n, k_s) and compared with values obtained from static and dynamic numerical tests. Whereas the dynamic behaviors for the two categories and the static behaviors for the dense packing match the analytical relations, the static behavior for the loose packing does not. Micropolar elasticity theory is also used to study the behaviors of the DEM media, where it is shown that if element rotation is included, DEM media behave according to linear elasticity theory. However, if element rotation is constrained, asymmetrical stresses arise in the DEM media, and a new expression is derived for the S-wave, which allows it, under certain conditions, to travel faster than the P-wave. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

A boundary integral equation method is presented for a rigid cylindrical pipe-pile of finite length embedded in a transversely isotropic half-space under lateral loads. In the framework of three-dimensional elastostatics, the complicated soil-structure interaction problem is shown to be reducible to three coupled Fredholm integral equations. Through an analysis of the associated Cauchy singular kernels, the intrinsic singular characteristics of the radial, angular, and vertical interfacial load transfers are rendered explicit. By means of a complicated numerical procedure, detailed results on the three-dimensional load–transfer process are provided for benchmark comparison and practical applications. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Nonphysical pressure oscillations are observed in finite element calculations of Biot's poroelastic equations in low-permeable media. These pressure oscillations may be understood as a failure of compatibility between the finite element spaces, rather than elastic locking. We present evidence to support this view by comparing and contrasting the pressure oscillations in low-permeable porous media with those in low-compressible porous media. As a consequence, it is possible to use established families of stable mixed elements as candidates for choosing finite element spaces for Biot's equations. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

This paper presents a three-dimensional energy-based solution for the time-dependent response of a deeply embedded and unsupported semi-infinite tunnel of circular cross-section. The tunnel is taken to be excavated quasi-instantaneously from an infinite rock body that initially exhibits an isotropic stress state and that is made up of a homogeneous, isotropic and viscoelastic material. The viscoelastic behaviour is modelled by means of Burger's model, and the rock is taken to behave volumetrically linear elastic and to exhibit exclusively deviatoric creep. This viscoelastic problem is transformed into the Laplace domain, where it represents a quasi-elastic problem. The displacement fields in the new solution are taken to be the products of independent functions that vary in the radial and longitudinal directions. The differential equations governing the displacements of the system and appropriate boundary conditions are obtained using the principle of minimum potential energy. The solutions for these governing equations in the Laplace domain are then obtained analytically and numerically using a one-dimensional finite difference technique. The results are then transformed back into the time domain using an efficient numerical scheme. The accuracy of the new solution is comparable with that of a finite element analysis but requires much less computation effort. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

An elastoplastic model has been developed for the finite elements modelling of repeated load triaxial tests. This model is based on the shakedown theory established by Zarka for metallic structures. To the previous works, which were based on the Drucker–Prager yield surface and the plastic potential of Von Mises, a compression cap has been added to each one. The model straightforwardly determines the purely elastic state or the elastic shakedown state or the plastic shakedown state and calculates the deviatoric and the volumetric plastic strains. The calibration of the elastoplastic model has been carried out with DEM simulations and an unbound granular material for roads under repeated load triaxial tests using finite element method. The calculations underline the capabilities of the model to take into account, with a unique formalism, the accumulation of the deviatoric and volumetric plastic strains along the loading cycles. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The determination of ultimate capacity (Q) of driven piles in cohesionless soil is an important task in geotechnical engineering. This article adopts Multivariate Adaptive Regression Spline (MARS) for prediction Q of driven piles in cohesionless soil. MARS uses length (L), angle of shear resistance of the soil around the shaft (ϕ_shaft), angle of shear resistance of the soil at the tip of the pile (ϕ_tip), area (A), and effective vertical stress at the tip of the pile as input variables. Q is the output of MARS. The results of MARS are compared with that of the Generalized Regression Neural Network model. An equation has been also presented based on the developed MARS. The results show the strong potential of MARS to be applied to geotechnical engineering as a regression tool. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The scaled boundary finite-element method (SBFEM), a novel semi-analytical technique, is applied to the analysis of the confined and unconfined seepage flow. This method combines the advantages of the finite-element method and the boundary element method. In this method, only the boundary of the domain is discretized; no fundamental solution is required, and singularity problems can be modeled rigorously. Anisotropic and nonhomogeneous materials satisfying similarity are modeled without additional efforts. In this paper, SBFE equations and solution procedures for the analysis of seepage flow are outlined. The accuracy of the proposed method in modeling singularity problems is demonstrated by analyzing seepage flow under a concrete dam with a cutoff at heel. As only the boundary is discretized, the variable mesh technique is advisable for modeling unconfined seepage analyses. The accuracy, effectiveness, and efficiency of the method are demonstrated by modeling several unconfined seepage flow problems. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

A methodology has been developed to extend the incremental (Eulerian) Digital Image Correlation (DIC) technique to enable a Lagrangian-based large-strain analysis framework to examine the nature of strain and kinematic nonuniformity within shear bands in sands. Plane strain compression tests are performed on dense sands in an apparatus that promotes unconstrained persistent shear band formation. DIC is used to capture incremental, grain-scale displacements in and around shear bands. The performance of the developed accumulation algorithm is validated by comparing accumulated displacements with two sources of reference measurements. A comparison between large and infinitesimal rotation is performed, demonstrating the nature of straining within shear bands in sands and the necessity of using a finite strain formulation to characterize ensuing behavior. Volumetric strain variation along the shear band is analyzed throughout macroscopic postpeak deformation. During softening, volumetric activity within the shear band is purely dilative. During the global critical state, the shear band material is seen on the average to deform at zero volumetric strain; however, locally, the sand is seen to exhibit significant nonzero volumetric strain, putting into question the current definition of critical state. At the softening-critical state transition, a spatially periodic pattern of alternating contraction and dilation along the shear band is evidenced, and a preliminary evaluation indicates that the periodicity appears to be a physical phenomenon dictated only in part by median grain size. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The paper presents an experimental and numerical study to investigate the behavior of desiccated clayey soils. The performed tests permit to evaluate the crack pattern as well as the tensile strength as a function of suction. A new model that relates the porosity evolution to the suction and to the tensile strength was developed and implemented in the finite element program CODE_BRIGHT. The proposed model captured the initiation and propagation of cracks in a thin layer of desiccated clay and predicted crack patterns in terms of the Minkowski densities (i.e. average crack length and crack intensity factor). The effect of the heterogeneity of the tested specimens, modeled by random clusters, was also quantified. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Seawater intrusion is one of the most serious environmental problems in many coastal regions all over the world. Mixing a small quantity of seawater with groundwater makes it unsuitable for use and can result in abandonment of aquifers. Therefore, seawater intrusion should be prevented or at least controlled to protect groundwater resources. This paper presents development and application of a simulation-optimization model to control seawater intrusion in coastal aquifers using different management scenarios; abstraction of brackish water, recharge of freshwater, and combination of abstraction and recharge. The model is based on the integration of a genetic algorithm optimisation technique and a coupled transient density-dependent finite element model. The objectives of the management scenarios include determination of the optimal depth, location and abstraction/recharge rates for the wells to minimize the total costs for construction and operation as well as salt concentrations in the aquifer. The developed model is applied to analyze the control of seawater intrusion in a hypothetical confined coastal aquifer. The efficiencies of the three management scenarios are examined and compared. The results show that combination of abstraction and recharge wells is significantly better than using abstraction wells or recharge wells alone as it gives the least cost and least salt concentration in the aquifer. The results from this study would be useful in designing the system of abstraction/recharge wells to control seawater intrusion in coastal aquifers and can be applied in areas where there is a risk of seawater intrusion. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The paper presents a mechanical model for non-isothermal behaviour of unsaturated soils. The model is based on an incrementally non-linear hypoplastic model for saturated clays and can therefore tackle the non-linear behaviour of overconsolidated soils. A hypoplastic model for non-isothermal behaviour of saturated soils was developed and combined with the existing hypoplastic model for unsaturated soils based on the effective stress principle. Features of the soil behaviour that are included into the model, and those that are not, are clearly distinguished. The number of model parameters is kept to a minimum, and they all have a clear physical interpretation, to facilitate the model usefulness for practical applications. The step-by-step procedure used for the parameter calibration is described. The model is finally evaluated using a comprehensive set of experimental data for the thermo-mechanical behaviour of an unsaturated compacted silt. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Understanding rock material characterizations and solving relevant problems are quite difficult tasks because of their complex behavior, which sometimes cannot be identified without intelligent, numerical, and analytical approaches. Because of that, some prediction techniques, like artificial neural networks (ANN) and nonlinear regression techniques, can be utilized to solve those problems. The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of the cycling integer of slake durability index test on intact rock behavior and estimate some rock properties, such as uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) and modulus of elasticity (E) from known rock index parameters using ANN and various regression techniques. Further, new performance index (PI) and degree of consistency (Cd) are introduced to examine the accuracy of generated models. For these purposes, intact rock dataset is established by performing rock tests including uniaxial compressive strength, modulus of elasticity, Schmidt hammer, effective porosity, dry unit weight, p-wave velocity, and slake durability index tests on selected carbonate rocks. Afterward, the models are developed using ANN and nonlinear regression techniques. The concluding remark given is that four-cycle slake durability index (I_d4) provides more accurate results to evaluate material characterization of carbonate rocks, and it is one of the reliable input variables to estimate UCS and E of carbonate rocks; introduced performance indices, both PI and Cd, may be accepted as good indicators to assess the accuracy of the complex models, and further, the ANN models have more prediction capability than the regression techniques to estimate relevant rock properties. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The effectiveness and accuracy of the superposition method in assessing the dynamic stiffness and damping coefficients (impedance functions) of embedded footings supported by vertical piles in homogeneous viscoelastic soil is addressed. To this end, the impedances of piled embedded footings are compared to those obtained by superposing the impedance functions of the corresponding pile groups and embedded footings treated separately, with the magnitude of the relative average differences being around 10–30%. The results are presented in a set of dimensionless graphs and simple expressions that can be used to estimate the dynamic stiffness and damping of piled embedded footings, provided that the impedance functions of the two individual components are known. This is precisely the reason why the superposition approach studied here is appealing, because such impedance functions for both embedded footings and pile groups are available for a wide range of cases. How to estimate the kinematic response functions of the system when those of the individual components are known is also discussed.

To address the problem, parametric analyses performed using a 3D frequency-domain elastodynamic BEM-FEM formulation are presented for different pile–soil stiffness contrasts, embedment depths, pile-to-pile separations and excitation frequencies. Vertical, horizontal, rocking, and cross-coupled horizontal-rocking impedance functions, together with translational and rotational kinematic response functions, are discussed. The results suggest that the superposition concept, in conjunction with a correction strategy as that presented herein, can be employed in geotechnical design. For kinematic effects, the response functions of the embedded footing are found to provide reasonable estimates of the system's behaviour. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

We present a method for solving steady-state flow with a free surface in porous media. This method is based on a finite volume approach and is halfway between a fixed and an adaptive mesh method, taking advantage of both approaches: computational efficiency and localization accuracy. Most of the mesh remains fixed during the iterative process, while the cells in contact with the free surface (free surface cells) are being reshaped. Based on this idea, we developed two methods. In the first one, only the volumes of the free surface cells are adapted. In the second one, the computational nodes of the free surface cells are relocated exactly at the free surface. Both adaptations are designed for a better application of the free surface boundary conditions. Implementation details are given on a regular finite volume mesh for the case of homogeneous and heterogeneous rectangular dams in 2D and 3D. Accuracy and convergence properties of the proposed approach are demonstrated by comparison with an analytical solution and with existing references. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the change of scale techniques developed for granular materials. The proposed approach consists in considering an intermediate scale between the macroscales and microscales, called the mesoscale, using the classical homogenization scheme. In this approach, the mesoscale for 2D granular materials was defined at the level of local volumes, called mesodomains, which are local closed structures composed of particles in contact. In this paper, we focused on defining a local stress field at this scale. Two different methods are proposed, both based on the equivalent continuum mean stress but using different approximations of the mean stress tensor for each mesodomain. The two proposed methods were then compared to each other. Analyses performed on the stress field at the mesoscale show that this local field is heterogeneous and, in particular, that its heterogeneity is significantly structured at this scale. The distribution of the local mean stress (first invariant of the local stress tensor) is uniform in any mesodomain, whereas the distribution of the stress deviator (second invariant of the deviatoric part of the local stress tensor) is significantly dependent on the elongation direction and on the elongation degree of the mesodomains. The local stress ratio (ratio of the stress deviator to the mean stress) is higher within the mesodomains that are elongated in the global compression direction than that within the ones elongated in the global extension direction. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

A practical and efficient approach of implementing second-order reliability method (SORM) is presented and illustrated for cases related to foundation engineering involving explicit and implicit limit state functions. The proposed SORM procedure is based on an approximating paraboloid fitted to the limit state surface in the neighborhood of the design point and can be easily carried out in a spreadsheet. Complex mathematical operations are relegated to relatively simple user-created functions. The failure probability is calculated automatically based on the reliability index and principal curvatures of the limit state surface using established closed-form SORM formulas. Four common foundation engineering examples are analyzed using the proposed method and discussed: immediate settlement of a flexible rectangular foundation, bearing capacity of a shallow footing, axial capacity of a vertical single pile, and deflection of a pile under lateral load. Comparisons with Monte Carlo simulations are made. In the case of the laterally loaded pile, the friction angle of the soil is represented as a one-dimensional random field, and pile deflections are computed based on finite element analysis on a stand-alone computer package. The implicit limit state function is approximated via the response surface method using two quadratic models. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The sawing rate is one of the most significant and effective parameters in extracting building stones via diamond wire sawing. This parameter designates the capability of diamond wire sawing for sawing different stones; in addition, the parameter gives rise to economical considerations for quarry designers. In this study, the existent relations between stone geotechnical parameters and the sawing rate of stones via diamond wire sawing were analyzed using regression and correlation coefficient as well as the collected data from Marmarit stone quarries. Moreover, we estimated the sawing rate of Marmarit using the dimensional stone rock mass rating (DSRMR); upon comparison of the data obtained from DSRMR our pre-collected data on quarries, we did not gain satisfactory results from DSRMR, hence we used artificial neural network (ANN). The results showed that the percentage of Silica, the coefficient of water absorption, the uniaxial compressive strength (UCS), and abrasive hardness are the proper parameters for creating the ANN. Discontinuities have the least effects possible on diamond wire sawing. Having given the training possibility of the ANN, and its ability to evaluate relations among input parameters, the ANN, which was being trained with Marmarit's traits, was an accurate network for estimating diamond wire sawing in Marmarit quarries, although it could not generalize this network for other stones such as Chini and Crystal. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The finite-element (FE) method is used for modeling geotechnical and pavement structures exhibiting significant non-homogeneity. Property gradients generated due to non-homogeneous distributions of moisture is one such example for geotechnical materials. Aging and temperature-induced property gradients are common sources of non-homogeneity for asphalt pavements. Investigation of time-dependent behavior combined with functionally graded property gradation can be accomplished by means of the non-homogeneous viscoelastic analysis procedure. This paper describes the development of a generalized isoparametric FE formulation to capture property gradients within elements, and a recursive formulation for solution of hereditary integral equations. The formulation is verified by comparison with analytical and numerical solutions. Two application examples are presented: the first describes stationary crack-tip fields for viscoelastic functionally graded materials, and the second example demonstrates the application of the proposed procedures for efficient and accurate simulations of interfaces between layers of flexible pavement. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

A novel three-dimensional particle-based technique utilizing the discrete element method is proposed to analyze the seismic response of soil-foundation-structure systems. The proposed approach is employed to investigate the response of a single-degree-of-freedom structure on a square spread footing founded on a dry granular deposit. The soil is idealized as a collection of spherical particles using discrete element method. The spread footing is modeled as a rigid block composed of clumped particles, and its motion is described by the resultant forces and moments acting upon it. The structure is modeled as a column made of particles that are either clumped to idealize a rigid structure or bonded to simulate a flexible structure of prescribed stiffness. Analysis is done in a fully coupled scheme in time domain while taking into account the effects of soil nonlinear behavior, the possible separation between foundation base and soil caused by rocking, the possible sliding of the footing, and the dynamic soil-foundation interaction as well as the dynamic characteristics of the superstructure. High fidelity computational simulations comprising about half a million particles were conducted to examine the ability of the proposed technique to model the response of soil-foundation-structure systems. The computational approach is able to capture essential dynamic response patterns. The cyclic moment–rotation relationships at the base center point of the footing showed degradation of rotational stiffness by increasing the level of strain. Permanent deformations under the foundation continued to accumulate with the increase in number of loading cycles. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

A numerical model describing the flow of multiphase, immiscible fluids in a deformable, double-porosity featured soil has been developed. The model is focused on the modelling of the secondary porosity features in soil, which is more relevant to groundwater contamination problems. The non-linear saturation and relative permeabilities were expressed as functions of the capillary pressures. The governing partial differential equations in terms of soil displacement and fluid pressures were solved numerically. Galerkin's weighted-residual finite element method was employed to obtain the spatial discretization whereas temporal discretization was achieved using a fully implicit scheme. The model was verified against established, peer-reviewed works, and the assumption that the immiscible fluids (non-aqueous phase liquids) will flow preferentially through the secondary porosity features in soil was validated. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Realistic texture-based modelling methods, that is microstructural modelling and micromechanical modelling, are developed to simulate the rock aggregate breakage properties on the basis of the rock actual microstructure obtained using microscopic observations and image analysis. The breakage properties of three types of rocks, that is Avja, LEP and Vandle taken from three quarries in Sweden, in single aggregate breakage tests and in inter-aggregate breakage tests are then modelled using the proposed methods. The microstructural modelling directly integrates the microscopic observation, image analysis and numerical simulation together and provides a valuable tool to investigate the mechanical properties of rock aggregates on the basis of their microstructure properties. The micromechanical modelling takes the most important microstructure properties of rock aggregates into consideration and can model the major mechanical properties. Throughout this study, it is concluded that in general, the microstructure properties of rock aggregate work together to affect their mechanical properties, and it is difficult to correlate a single microstructure property with the mechanical properties of rock aggregates. In particular, for the three types of rock Avja, LEP and Vandle in this study, crack size distribution, grain size and grain perimeter (i.e. grain shape and spatial arrangement) show good correlations with the mechanical properties. The crack length and the grain size negatively affect the mechanical properties of Avja, LEP and Vandle, but the perimeter positively influences the mechanical properties. Besides, the modelled rock aggregate breakage properties in both single aggregate and inter-aggregate tests reveal that the aggregate microstructure, aggregate shape and loading conditions influence the breakage process of rock aggregate in service. For the rock aggregate with the same microstructure, the quadratic shape and good packing dramatically improve its mechanical properties. During services, the aggregate is easiest to be fragmented under point-to-point loading condition, and then in the sequence of multiple-point, point-to-plane and plane-to-plane loading conditions. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Theoretical analysis and computational simulations have been carried out to investigate how medium and pore-fluid compressibility affects the chemical-dissolution front propagation, which is associated with a fully-coupled nonlinear problem between porosity, pore-fluid pressure, pore-fluid density and reactive chemical-species transport within a deformable and fluid-saturated porous medium. When the fully-coupled nonlinear system is in a subcritical state, some analytical solutions have been derived for a special case, in which the ratio of the equilibrium concentration to the solid molar density of the chemical species is approaching zero. To investigate the effect of either medium compressibility or pore-fluid compressibility on the evolutions of chemical dissolution fronts in supercritical chemical dissolution systems, numerical algorithms and procedures have been also proposed. The related theoretical and numerical results have demonstrated that: (i) not only can pore-fluid compressibility affect the propagating speeds of chemical dissolution fronts in both subcritical and supercritical systems, but also it can affect the growth and amplitudes of irregular chemical dissolution fronts in supercritical systems; (ii) medium compressibility may have a little influence on the propagating speeds of chemical dissolution fronts, but it can have significant effects on the growth and amplitudes of irregular chemical dissolution fronts in supercritical systems; and (iii) both medium and pore-fluid compressibility may stabilize irregular chemical-dissolution-fronts in supercritical chemical dissolution systems. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

In this paper, a new homogenization-based finite element model to compute masonry structures with compressible joints is proposed. It is an extension of the model proposed by De Felice et al. (Int. J. Numer. Anal. Meth. Geomech. 2010; 34(3):221–247) for dry block structures where strain hardening was neglected. The proposed strain hardening incremental elasto-plastic model is obtained by means of a new step-by-step homogenization method for a running bond masonry structure made of elastic bricks jointed by an elasto-plastic ram. The numerical implicit integration of the model is carried out following an iterative implicit procedure in which the elastic trial stress state is corrected through a return mapping algorithm. The procedure has been implemented in the ABAQUS finite element software and applied to the computation of thermal stresses for the hearths made of small carbon refractory bricks surrounded by very compressible joints. Indeed, during its working, the hearth of the blast furnace is submitted to a high thermal gradient in the radial direction because of the inner heating and the outer cooling imposed to the wall. In our application we evaluate the effect of the joints on the thermal stress distribution within the hearth. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

An analytical solution to 1D coupled water infiltration and deformation in layered soils is derived using a Laplace transformation. Coupling between seepage and deformation, and initial conditions defined by arbitrary continuous pore-water pressure distributions are considered. The analytical solutions describe the transient pore-water pressure distributions during 1D, vertical infiltration toward the water table through two-layer unsaturated soils. The nonlinear coupled formulations are first linearized and transformed into a form that is solvable using a Laplace transformation. The solutions provide a reliable means of comparing the accuracy of various numerical methods. Parameters considered in the coupled analysis include the saturated permeability (k_s), desaturation coefficient (α), and saturated volumetric water content (θ_s) of each soil layer, and antecedent and subsequent rainfall infiltration rates. The analytical solution demonstrates that the coupling of seepage and deformation plays an important role in water infiltration in layered unsaturated soils. A smaller value of α or a smaller absolute value of the elastic modulus of the soil with respect to a change in soil suction (H) for layered unsaturated soils means more marked coupling effect. A smaller absolute value of H of the upper layer soil also tends to cause more marked coupling effect. A large difference between the saturated coefficients of permeability for the top and bottom soil layers leads to reduced rainfall infiltration into the deep soil layer. The initial conditions also play a significant role in the pore-water pressure redistribution and coupling effect. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

A novel conceptual model of the mechanics of sands is developed within an elastic–plastic framework. Central to this model is the realization that volume changes in anisotropic granular materials occur as a result of two fundamentally different mechanisms. The first is purely kinematic, dilative, and is the result of the changes in anisotropic fabric. There is also a second volume change in granular media that occurs as a direct response to changes in stress as in a standard elastic/plastic continuum. The inclusion of the two sources of volume change results in three important datum states. When subjected to isotropic strains, the resulting stress state in granular materials is not isotropic but lies upon the kinematic normal consolidation line. There exists a state at which the fabric-induced volumetric strain rate becomes equal to the stress-induced volumetric strain rate making the total plastic volumetric strain rate equal to zero. Granular response changes from contractive to dilative at this phase transformation line. The third datum state is the one in which the stress-induced volumetric strain rate is zero. The sand, however, continues to dilate at this state with the difference between stress and dilation ratio a constant as predicted by Taylor's stress–dilatancy rule. These predictions are shown in accordance with experimental data from a series of drained tests and undrained on Ottawa sand. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Displacement measurement-based estimations of loads and utilization degrees in shotcrete tunnel shells as part of the New Austrian Tunneling Method (NATM), have become standard tools in tunnel practice; their quality, however, may crucially depend on the knowledge of the actual shotcrete composition after spraying. To shed light on this issue, we here determine, based on experimentally validated micromechanical representations of shotcrete, the hydration degree-dependent elastic, creep, and strength properties of different shotcretes, characterized by water cement ratios (w/c) between 0.4 and 0.6, aggregate cement ratios (a/c) between 3.5 and 5, and Young's modulus of aggregates (E_agg) between 40 and 80 GPa. These properties are fed into a structural shell model of the Sieberg tunnel, and this model is subjected to displacement fields approximated from daily displacement measurements at five selected points along the shell's inner surface. Resulting stresses and forces in the tunnel shell allow for analyzing the influence of shotcrete composition on load-level estimation in NATM tunnel shells: The magnitudes of circumferential and longitudinal normal forces increase significantly with decreasing w/c, while a/c and E_agg have the inverse and relatively minor effect. The utilization degree is virtually insensitive to changes in w/c(especially at early ages), and only slightly decreases with decreasing a/c and E_agg. The location of maximum loading is unaffected by the shotcrete composition underlying the analysis. Conclusively, location and magnitude of maximum utilization degrees are very robust estimates (not affected by limited knowledge on the shotcrete composition), whereas realistic estimation of stresses and forces does require more accurate consideration of shotcrete composition. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Spatial variability of material properties is inherent in both natural soil deposits and earth structures, yet it is often ignored during geotechnical design. With the objective of developing novel methods for assessing the effects of soil variability on groundwater flow, this study presents a stochastic finite element model of seepage through a flood defense embankment with randomly heterogeneous material properties. Stochastic modeling is undertaken by means of a Monte Carlo simulation which involves a large number of finite element analyses, each with randomly varied porosity at element level, which leads to a corresponding random variation of both permeability and water retention properties across the embankment domain. This provides a statistical distribution of responses, such as total flow rate and time to reach steady state, instead of a single deterministic result as in conventional studies of seepage through unsaturated heterogeneous soils. As the degree of heterogeneity increases, water tends to flow along the most permeable paths inside the soil mass, resulting in an irregular shape of the predicted wetting fronts and pore pressure contours. The mean and standard deviation of the computed quantities strongly depend on the statistics of the input porosity field. Simulations are also conducted to compare the statistical variation of flow rate with and without dependency of the water retention curve on porosity. With recent growth in computer speed, stochastic finite element models based on the Monte Carlo approach can become a powerful design tool, especially if a quantitative assessment of geotechnical risks is required. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

In this contribution we model flow-induced anisotropy of polar ice in order to gain a better understanding for the underlying microstructure and its influence on the deformation process. In particular, a continuum-mechanical, anisotropic flow model that is based on an anisotropic flow enhancement factor (CAFFE model) is applied. The polycrystalline ice is regarded as a mixture whose grains are characterized by their orientation. The approach is based on two distinct scales: the underlying microstructure influences the macroscopic material behavior and is taken into account phenomenologically. To achieve this, the orientation mass density is introduced as a mesoscopic field, i.e. it depends on a mesoscopic variable (the orientation) in addition to position and time. The classical flow law of Glen is extended by a scalar, but anisotropic enhancement factor. Four different effects (local rigid body rotation, grain rotation, rotation recrystallization, grain boundary migration) influencing the evolution of the grain orientations are taken into account. All modeling parameters are either measurable in or derivable from field observations or laboratory experiments. A finite volume method is chosen for the discretization procedure. Numerical results simulating the ice flow at the site of the EPICA ice core in Dronning Maud Land (referred to as EDML), Antarctica, are presented. They go beyond earlier results by Seddikit et al. (J. Glaciol. 2008; 54(187):631–642) in which only local rigid body rotation and grain rotation were accounted for. By comparing simulated and observed fabrics, we come up with reference values for the parameters in the constitutive equations for rotation recrystallization and grain boundary migration. Down to 2045 m depth, good agreement can be achieved; however, further down the observed fabric cannot be reproduced well due to numerical issues. Additionally, we study the influence of the two superposed deformation regimes of vertical compression and simple shear separately and demonstrate that the numerical problems are due to the predominant shear regime near the bottom, whereas vertical compression only produces stable results everywhere. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Stress wave attenuation across fractured rock masses is a great concern of underground structure safety. This paper presents an analytical study on wave attenuation across parallel fractures at arbitrary incidence angles, where multiple reflections occurring between fractures are taken into account. Combined with displacement discontinuous model, plane wave analysis and propagator matrix method are applied to develop relations between the first layer and the nth layer with respect to potential amplitudes or displacements and stresses in matrix form. With initial and boundary conditions for different scenarios, potential amplitudes in any layer or displacements and stresses at any point can be obtained by solving corresponding matrixes. After parametric studies, it is found that parameters including incidence angle, normalized fracture stiffness, number of fractures, and fracture spacing have obvious effects on wave attenuation across parallel fractures. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

It is shown that the asymptotic mechanical behaviour (i.e. stresses asymptotically obtained with constant deformation rates) determines the entire mechanical behaviour of granular materials, such as soil. In this paper, a constitutive model, or rather a new theoretical framework, for sand is derived in terms of rational mechanics. The new theory, called ‘barodesy’, has an outstanding simplicity and comprises previously introduced concepts of Soil Mechanics: critical states and barotropy (i.e. power law dependence of stiffness on stress). Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The Barcelona basic model cannot predict the mechanical behaviour of unsaturated expansive soils, whereas the Barcelona expansive model (BExM) can only predict the stress–strain behaviour of unsaturated expansive soils without the water-retention behaviour being incorporated. Moreover, the micro-parameters and the coupling function between micro-structural and macro-structural strains in the BExM are difficult to determine. Experimental data show that the compression curves for non-expansive soils under constant suctions are shifted towards higher void ratios with increasing suction, whereas the opposite is true for expansive soils. According to the observed water-retention behaviour of unsaturated expansive soils, the air-entry value increases with density, and the relationship between the degree of saturation and void ratio is linear at constant suction.

According to the above observation, an elastoplastic constitutive model is developed for predicting the hydraulic and mechanical behaviour of unsaturated expansive soils, based on the existing hydro-mechanical model for non-expansive unsaturated soil. The model takes into consideration the effect of degree of saturation on the mechanical behaviour and that of void ratio on the water-retention behaviour. The concept of equivalent void ratio curve is introduced to distinguish the plastic potential curve from the yield curve. The model predictions are compared with the test results of an unsaturated expansive soil, including swelling tests under constant net stress, isotropic compression tests and triaxial shear tests under constant suction. The comparison indicates that the model offers great potential for quantitatively predicting the hydraulic and mechanical behaviour of unsaturated expansive soils. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

A simplified analysis method has been developed to estimate the vertical movement and load distribution of pile raft foundations subjected to ground movements induced by tunneling based on a two-stage method. In this method, the Loganathan–Polous analytical solution is used to estimate the free soil movement induced by tunneling in the first stage. In the second stage, composing the soil movement to the pile, the governing equilibrium equations of piles are solved by the finite difference method. The interactions between structural members (such as pile–soil, pile–raft, raft–soil, and pile–pile) are modeled based on the elastic theory method of a layered half-space. The validity of the proposed method is verified through comparisons with some published solutions for single piles, pile groups, and pile rafts subjected to ground movements induced by tunneling. Good agreements between these solutions are demonstrated. The method is also used for a parametric study to develop a better understanding of the behavior of pile rafts influenced by tunneling operation in layered soil foundations. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Displacement and mixed finite element formulations of shear localization in materials are presented. The formulations are based on hypoplastic constitutive laws for soils and the mixed enhanced treatment involving displacement, strain and stress rates as independently varied fields. Included in these formulations are the standard displacement method, the three-field mixed formulation, the enhanced assumed strain method and the mixed enhanced strain method. Several numerical examples demonstrating the capability and performance of the different finite element formulations are presented. The numerical results are compared with available experimental data for Hostun RF sand and numerical results for Karlsruhe sand on biaxial tests. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Numerical simulation methods are extensively used to analyze the stress and displacement of concrete-faced rockfill dams (CFRD). The results of these methods are influenced by fuzzy factors, i.e. geometric features, material properties, loads and boundary conditions, which exist widely in the engineering of CFRD as a kind of commonly uncertain factor. To solve this problem, the information entropy theory and the conventional method of structure analysis, namely, finite element method (FEM), were combined in this work. Information entropy, as an effective tool of measuring uncertainty, was used to represent the uncertainty of CFRD. Based on the model that can transform fuzzy information entropy into random information entropy, fuzzy structure can be transformed into equivalent random structure, then mechanical characteristics of CFRD were analyzed by well-developed stochastic FEM. As an example, one CFRD was chosen to analyze the structure, and the result shows that this method is effective. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Small quantities of water in a granular slope increase the overall stability and justify the large slope angle which is sometime observable in nature. However, the evaporation usually changes the water content of soil, especially in very shallow layers, leading to a soil strength reduction and the trigger of erosion processes. This work presents some numerical tests simulating a small slope physical model constituted of monosized glass ballotini in a pendular state. After a brief review of the different theories describing the capillary bridge which forms between two spheres and its effects on inter-particle forces, this paper deals with the implementation of the minimum energy approach within a discrete element model (DEM). Some numerical triaxial tests with different water contents and confinement stresses were performed: the analyses permitted to emphasize the shear strength increase occurring at low water content. Moreover, moving from the observations performed in the physical model, a law relating the evaporation rate with depth and air–water interface was also included in the DEM. Finally, the improved DEM was successfully adopted in the simulation of the erosion process occurring in the physical model: it very well captures the formation of a talus slope profile, typical of the long-term evolution of granular slopes. The monitoring of soil displacements and suction distribution during the numerical test also allows for the evaluation of erosion mechanisms: for instance, both in experimental and numerical tests, it was observed a rigid displacement at the slope toe after the initial phase of shallow erosion. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

An important part of our global wealth depends on the extraction of fluids from porous media. More recently, sequestration of carbon dioxide (rmCO₂) into deep geological layers as a possible measure to mitigate climate change has increased interest in fluid injection into porous media. Sophisticated numerical models play an important role in managing the uncertainties related to the subsurface, and finite element methods are the most versatile tool allowing the coupling of fluid flow, geomechanics and other physical processes. This paper gives insight into two important aspects of fluid injection/extraction in porous media: the correct modeling of the bore hole through specification of initial stresses, which together with a fully coupled strategy allows simulation of nonlinear poromechanics, and the imposition of appropriate boundary conditions that allow the controlled injection/extraction of a total specified amount of fluid in an anisotropic porous medium, without exceeding a safe operating pressure. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

This paper examines the potential of relevance vector machine (RVM) in slope stability analysis. The nonlinear relationship between slope stability and its influence factors is presented by the relevance vector learning mechanism based on a kernel-based Bayesian framework. The six input variables used for the RVM for the prediction of stability slope are density (γ), friction angle (C), friction coefficient (ϕ), slope angle (ϕ_r), slope height (H), and pore water pressure (r_u). Comparison of RVM with some other methods is also presented. RVM has been used to compute the error bar. The results presented in this paper clearly highlight that the RVM is a robust tool for the prediction of slope stability. The experimental results show the effectiveness of the proposed approach. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

This paper completes the study presented in the accompanying paper, and demonstrates a numerical algorithm for parameter prediction from the piezocone test (CPTU) data. This part deals with a development of neural network (NN) models which are able to map multi-variable input data onto typical geotechnical characteristics and constitutive parameters of the modified Cam clay model, which has been applied in this study. The identification procedure is designed for the coupled hydro-mechanical boundary value problem in normally-and lightly overconsolidated clayey soils including partially drained conditions that may appear during cone penetration. The NN models are trained with pseudo-experimental measurements derived with the aid of the numerical model of the piezocone test, presented in the accompanying paper. Different input configurations containing CPTU measurements and some complementary data are studied with respect to the accuracy of predicted parameter values. Finally, the performance of the developed NN predictors is tested with field CPTU data which are derived from three well-documented characterization sites, and the obtained predictions are compared with benchmark laboratory results. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Engineered barriers are basic elements in the design of repositories for the isolation of high-level radioactive waste. This paper presents the thermo-hydro-mechanical (THM) analysis of a clay barrier subjected to heating and hydration. The study focuses on an ongoing large-scale heating test, at almost full scale, which is being carried out at the CIEMAT laboratory under well-controlled boundary conditions. The test is intensely instrumented and it has provided the opportunity to study in detail the evolution of the main THM variables over a long period of time. Comprehensive laboratory tests carried out in the context of the FEBEX and NF-PRO projects have allowed the identification of the model parameters to describe the THM behaviour of the compacted expansive clay. A conventional THM approach that assumes the swelling clay as a single porosity medium has been initially adopted to analyse the evolution of the test. The model was able to predict correctly the global THM behaviour of the clay barrier in the short term (i.e. for times shorter than three years), but some model limitations were detected concerning the prediction of the long-term hydration rate. An additional analysis of the test has been carried out using a double structure model to describe the actual behaviour of expansive clays. The double structure model explicitly considers the two dominant pore levels that actually exist in the FEBEX bentonite and it is able to account for the evolution of the material fabric. The simulation of the experiment using this enhanced model provides a more satisfactory reproduction of the long-term experimental results. It also contributes to a better understanding of the observed test behaviour and it provides a physically based explanation for the very slow hydration of the barrier. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Based on the Fredlund consolidation theory of unsaturated soil, exact solutions of the governing equations for one-dimensional consolidation of single-layer unsaturated soil are presented, in which the water permeability and air transmission are assumed to be constants. The general solution of two coupled homogeneous governing equations is first obtained. This general solution is expressed in terms of two functions ψ₁ and ψ₂, where ψ₁ and ψ₂, respectively, satisfy two second-order partial differential equations, which are in the same form. Using the method of separation of variables, the two partial differential equations are solved and exact solutions for three typical homogeneous boundary conditions are obtained. To obtain exact solutions of nonhomogeneous governing equations with three typical nonhomogeneous boundary conditions, the nonhomogeneous boundary conditions are first transformed into homogeneous boundary conditions. Then according to the method of undetermined coefficients and exact solutions of homogenous governing equations, the series form exact solutions are put forward. The validity of the proposed exact solutions is verified against other analytical solutions in the literature. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The coupled hydro-mechanical state in soils coming from consolidation/subsidence processes and undergoing plasticity phenomena is here evaluated by means of the subloading surface model. The most important feature of this theory is the abolition of the distinction between the elastic and plastic domains, as it happens in the conventional elastoplastic models. This means that plastic deformations are generated whenever there is a change in stress and a smoother elastoplastic transition is produced. The plasticity algorithm has been implemented in the PLASCON3D FE code, coupling hydro-thermo-mechanical fields within a saturated (locally partially saturated) porous medium subjected to external loads and water/gas withdrawals from deep layers (aquifers/reservoirs). The 3D model has been first calibrated and validated against examples taken from the literature, and then subsidence analyses at regional scales due to gas extractions have been developed to predict the evolution of settlements and pore pressure in soils for long-term scenarios. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

One major difficulty in seepage analyses is finding the position of phreatic surface which is unknown at the beginning of solution and must be determined in an iterative process. The objective of the present study is to develop a novel non-boundary-fitted mesh finite-element method capable of solving the unconfined seepage problem in domains with arbitrary geometry and continuously varied permeability. A new non-boundary-fitted finite element method named as smoothed fixed grid finite element method (SFGFEM) is used to simplify the solution of variable domain problem of unconfined seepage. The gradient smoothing technique, in which the area integrals are transformed into the line integrals around edges of smoothing cells, is used to obtain the element matrices. The solution process starts with an initial guess for the unknown boundary and SFGFEM is used to approximate the field variable. The boundary shape is then modified to eventually satisfy nonlinear boundary condition in an iterative process. Some numerical examples are solved to evaluate the applicability of the proposed method and the results are compared with those available in the literature. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Crushability is one of the important behaviors of granular materials particularly under high stress states, and affects both the deformability and strength of the materials that are in essence associated with state-dependent dilatancy. In this presentation, first, a new critical state model is proposed to take into account the three different modes of compressive deformation of crushable granular materials, i.e. particle rearrangement, particle crushing and pseudo-elastic deformation. Second, the governing equations for cavity expansion in crushable granulates are introduced, in which the state-dependent dilatancy as well as the bounding surface plasticity model are used. Then, the procedure to obtain semi-analytical solutions to cavity expansion in the material is described in detail, in which a commercial differential equation solver is employed. Finally, cavity expansion analyses are carried out on Toyoura sand, a well-documented granular material, to demonstrate the effects of crushability and state-dependent dilatancy. The study shows that particle crushing does occur at both high stress and critical states and affects the stress fields and the deformation behavior of the material surrounding the cavity in association with state-dependent dilatancy. This leads to conclusion that particle crushing and state-dependent dilatancy have to be taken into account when cavity expansion theory is used to interpret cone penetration tests and pressuremeter tests. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

In this work, the interface behavior between an infinite extended narrow granular layer and a rough surface of rigid body is investigated numerically, using finite element method in the updated Lagrangian (UL) frame. In this regard, the elasto-plastic micro-polar (Cosserat) continuum approach is employed to remove the limitations caused by strain-softening of materials in the classical continuum. The mechanical properties of cohesionless granular soil are described with Lade's model enhanced by polar terms, including Cosserat rotations, curvatures, and couple stresses. Furthermore, the mean grain diameter as the internal length is incorporated into the constitutive relations accordingly. Here, the evolution and location of shear band, within the granular layer in contact with the rigid body, are mainly focused. In this regard, particular attention is paid to the effects of homogeneous distribution and periodic fluctuation of micro-polar boundary conditions, prescribed along the interface. Correspondingly, the effects of pressure level, mean grain diameter, and stratified soil are also considered. The finite element results demonstrate that the location and evolution of shear band in the granular soil layer are strongly affected by the non-uniform micro-polar boundary conditions, prescribed along the interface. It is found that the shear band is located closer to the boundary with less restriction of grain rotations. Furthermore, the predicted thickness of shear band is larger for higher rotation resistance of soil grains along the interface, larger mean grain diameter, and higher vertical pressure. Regarding the stratified soil, comprising a thin layer with slightly different initial void ratio, the shear band moves towards the layer with initially higher void ratio. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Based on the continuum damage mechanics, a general and comprehensive thermodynamic-based framework for coupling the temperature-dependent viscoelastic, viscoplastic, and viscodamage behaviors of bituminous materials is presented. This general framework derives systematically Schapery-type nonlinear viscoelasticity, Perzyna-type viscoplasticity, and a viscodamage model analogous to the Perzyna-type viscoplasticity. The resulting constitutive equations are implemented in the well-known finite element code Abaqus via the user material subroutine UMAT. A systematic procedure for identifying the model parameters is discussed. Finally, the model is validated by comparing the model predictions with a comprehensive set of experimental data on hot mix asphalt that include creep-recovery, creep, uniaxial constant strain rate, and repeated creep-recovery tests in both tension and compression over a range of temperatures, stress levels, and strain rates. Comparisons between model predictions and experimental measurements show that the presented constitutive model is capable of predicting the nonlinear behavior of asphaltic mixes under different loading conditions. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

A simple and reliable method for predicting the relationship between lateral displacement and earth pressure for rigidly framed earth retaining structures (RFERS) was developed. Closed-form equations were derived such that if one value of displacement or pressure is known (or assumed) the other can be computed for hydrostatic, seismic, uniform, and semi-elliptical earth pressure distributions. Additionally, the general form of the equations can be used to predict the magnitude of the lateral force even if the shape of the earth pressure is unknown, with a reasonable degree of accuracy. The expressions for deflection were derived by treating the structure as an equivalent cantilever beam and calibrating the resulting expression using the finite element method (FEM). A parametric FEM analysis, of 42 000 different RFERS configurations, was performed to calibrate the expressions, using multivariate non-linear regression between the derived expressions and FEM. A Weibull statistical analysis was performed for each equation and determined that the equations had better than 80% probability to yield deflections that are within 25% of the value computed using FEM. Furthermore, there is a 98% certainty that each equation will yield a deflection that is within 50% of that computed using FEM. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

In the past studies on pile vibrations, the soil around the pile is mainly regarded as homogeneous or multi-layered piecewise homogeneous. However, under most engineering conditions, the surrounding soil becomes seriously disturbed due to construction effects. This may strengthen or weaken the shear modulus of the soil resulting in the soil becoming radially inhomogeneous. As a consequence of this, El Naggar extended Novak's plane-strain model to account for the radial inhomogeneity by the use of multiple springs connected in series. Rather than using this approach, this paper proposes a new model which is thought to be theoretically more rigorous and one which may be described as complex stiffness transfer model. It is shown that the solution developed in this study agrees well with the more limited solutions of Novak and Dotson and Veletsos under several special conditions. Finally, the scope of application has been enlarged as a result of the generalizations made in the present model. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The aim of this paper is to present a three-dimensional (3D) finite element modeling of heat and mass transfer phenomena in partially saturated open porous media with random fields of material properties. Randomness leads to transfer processes within the porous medium that naturally need a full 3D modeling for any quantitative assessment of these processes. Nevertheless, the counterpart of 3D modeling is a significant increase in computations cost. Therefore, a staggered solution strategy is adopted which permits to solve the equations sequentially. This appropriate partitioning reduces the size of the discretized problem to be solved at each time step. It is based on a specific iterative algorithm to account for the interaction between all the transfer processes. Accordingly, a suitable linearization of mass convective boundary conditions, consistent with the staggered algorithm, is also derived. After some validation tests, the 3D numerical model is used for studying the drying process of a cementitious material with regard to its intrinsic permeability randomness. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

This paper discusses the quality of the procedure employed in identifying soil parameters by inverse analysis. This procedure includes a FEM-simulation for which two constitutive models—a linear elastic perfectly plastic Mohr–Coulomb model and a strain-hardening elasto-plastic model—are successively considered. Two kinds of optimization algorithms have been used: a deterministic simplex method and a stochastic genetic method. The soil data come from the results of two pressuremeter tests, complemented by triaxial and resonant column testing. First, the inverse analysis has been performed separately on each pressuremeter test. The genetic method presents the advantage of providing a collection of satisfactory solutions, among which a geotechnical engineer has to choose the optimal one based on his scientific background and/or additional analyses based on further experimental test results. This advantage is enhanced when all the constitutive parameters sensitive to the considered problem have to be identified without restrictions in the search space. Second, the experimental values of the two pressuremeter tests have been processed simultaneously, so that the inverse analysis becomes a multi-objective optimization problem. The genetic method allows the user to choose the most suitable parameter set according to the Pareto frontier and to guarantee the coherence between the tests. The sets of optimized parameters obtained from inverse analyses are then used to calculate the response of a spread footing, which is part of a predictive benchmark. The numerical results with respect to both the constitutive models and the inverse analysis procedure are discussed. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.