Modelling of mechanical behaviour of naturally anisotropic soft soils

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Project objective

Research objectives and content The proposed research project aims to develop and verify an anisotropic constitutive model to describe the mechanical behaviour of natural anisotropic soft soils, and to implement this model within a suitable finite element code. The model can then be used as a design tool for practical geotechnical problems. Such a tool is needed, as more and more construction is now forced to concentrate on densely populated urban areas, and consequently, there is an increasing need to construct on subsoils considered as unsuitable just a couple of decades ago. Examples can be found all over Europe. For realistic description of the soil behaviour, the model needs to incorporate both initial and stress-induced anisotropy, and it has to be simple in terms of parameter determination for practical purposes. Hence, the model proposed by Prof. Wheeler seems applicable. The model needs to be extended to general three dimensional stress states for solving real engineering problems. This development will be performed by the applicant at the University of Glasgow in collaboration with Prof. Wheeler and his co-workers during 1998. The Glasgow team will also advise on the subsequent numerical implementation of the model, which will be conducted at Helsinki University of Technology (HUT). Training content (objective, benefit and expected impact) The proposed project will provide the applicant with the possibility to obtain deeper knowledge and wider competence in the area of constitutive modelling, and acquire fresh knowledge of numerical modelling techniques. It will also enhance collaboration between Glasgow University and HUT in an area which is a major research interest of both universities. Hence the project would give significant benefits not just to the applicant in her professional career, but for both institutions. Links with industry / industrial relevance (22) An industrial advisory group will be established in Finland to ensure the applicability of the research. The advisory group will be chaired by Mr Aarno Valkeisenmdki from the Finnish National Road Administration. The other members will represent the Geotechnical Department of the City of Helsinki and the major Finnish consulting firms.

Original text from CORDIS.

Participants

• UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOW · GLASGOWCoordinatorUnited Kingdom
• Not availableCity levelFinland

Links

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