Advanced Soil Mechanics

Advanced Soil Mechanics

-
-
ES522
ES522
Primary objectives of the course are:
(i) to better understand fundamental aspects of the stress-
strain response of soil,
(ii) to study constitutive concepts for modelling the stress-
strain behaviour of soil,
(iii) to expose the student to laboratory and field testing of
soils,
(iv) to learn through application how soil should be
considered in civil engineering design.
On completion of the course, students are expected to have the
necessary knowledge and skills to approach the design of a number
of challenging geotechnical engineering problems.
Delivery Modes
Delivery Modes
The modes of delivery and expected student effort for the course
are as follows:
Formal Contact Time
(hr)
Supporting Work Time
(hr)
Ratio
Lectures 42 Private study/recommended
reading
84 1:2
Assignments 6 Preparation 24 1:3
Laboratory Classes 12 Lab testing/parameter
determination
72 1:6
Total 60 Total 180 1:3

Course Content
Course Content
Elasticity & stress-strain parameters
Plasticity and yield
Basic soil models
Critical state soil mechanics
Cam Clay model(s)
More complex models & behaviour
Soil sampling / In Situ measurement of soils.
Case studies
Applications of CSSM
Summary
Course Assessment
Course Assessment
Assessment will be based on coursework and two examinations:
(1) Term A Examination: 25% of final mark
(2) Term B Examination: 25% of final mark
(3) Coursework: 50% of final mark
The examinations will be closed book and of two-hour duration
References
References
Atkinson, J .H. (1993). An Introduction to the Mechanics of Soil
and Foundations. McGraw Hill.
Atkinson, J . H. and Bransby, P. L. (1978). The Mechanics of Soils:
An Introduction to Critical State Soil Mechanics. McGraw-Hill.
BrittoA.M. & Gunn M.J . (1987). Critical State Soil Mechanics via
Finite Elements. Ellis Horwood.
Bolton, M. (1987). A Guide to Soil Mechanics. MacMillan
Education.
Mitchell, R.J . (2005). Fundamentals of Soil Behaviour. 3rd
Edition, Wiley.
Wood, D.M. (1988). Soil Behaviour & Critical State Soil
Mechanics. Cambridge University Press.
Coursework
Coursework
1. Assignment 1 Relationship between Basic Soil Parameters and
Fundamental Engineering Parameters.
2. Laboratory 1 - Liquid Limit, Plastic Limit, Natural Moisture Content,
Particle Size Distribution, SEM/XRD.
3. Laboratory 2 - Direct Shear & triaxial (Determine c, ,
res
, )
4. Laboratory 3 Oedometer (e--k, C
v
, etc.)
5. Assignment 2 Collation of lab data into an interpretative report
6. Assignment 3 Predictions of Triaxial Data (Spreadsheet)
7. Laboratory 4 - Hand vane /cone penetration test in block sample
(c
u
, S
t
)
8. Assignment 4 - Develop spreadsheet to predict the change in stress
and strain below an embankment.
9. Assignment 5 - Embankment (Stage Loading)
10. Assignment 6 - Analysis of the Sackville Test Embankment.
Introduction to Course ES522
Introduction to Course ES522
Course is an exploration of the mechanical behaviour of soil when
compressed and sheared
Much of the material is based on ideas that have been taught at
Cambridge over the last 40 years these concepts have flowed into
fundamental research and into practice ever since
Purpose is to convey fundamental understanding of the behaviour of
soil in terms of its mechanics
Approach through theories of CSSM, which provides a simple and
logical method of teaching and also forms a rational basis for design
Seepage and consolidation is not addressed in the course
Classical Soil Mechanics
Classical Soil Mechanics

= tan . c
n f

f
In classical soil mechanics analysis, problems are approached
from two different directions :
(a) Limit Equilibrium Analysis (strength)
No statements about deformations
Rigid body analysis
e.g. slope stability :
Deformation analysis
Deformation analysis
(b) Deformation Analysis (pre-failure)
No statements about stability (strength)
Elasticity
e.g. settlements :
(circular load, elastic 1/2 space)
E
B . w ). 1 (
2

=
w
B
Reality v. models
Reality v. models
q

E
c
u
or
Reality v. models
Reality v. models

v
Compression
Dilation
Critical State Soil Mechanics
Critical State Soil Mechanics
Note there is no overlap between the two classical
approaches - critical state theory draws together these
ideas of strength and deformation
Hence CSSM considers the importance of addressing
volume change during shearing and changes of effective
stress
It helps build rational models of soil behaviour that link
these two phenomena and can provide excellent
qualitative models for soil
Can also give quantitative information and the critical
state parameters (e.g. , M, ) can be related to more
classical parameters (e.g. w
L
, , C
c
)
Example 1
Example 1

progressive failure
progressive failure
q

A
B
C

a

b

c

a

b

c
Example 2
Example 2

critical loading states

critical loading states
q
p, p'
Critical state line
p'
Critical state line
e
Normal compression line
q
b
q
c
[TSP]
B
C
[ESP]
A
B
C
A
Example 2
Example 2

critical loading states

critical loading states
q
p, p'
Critical state line
p'
Critical state line
e
Normal compression line
q
d
q
b
B
C
[ESP]
A
D
[TSP]
B
D
A,C
Example 3
Example 3
-
-
stress path methods
stress path methods
Example 3
Example 3
-
-
stress path methods
stress path methods
As an example of the use of stress paths we will consider an
element of soil underneath a circular water tank on a soft
clay stratum :
z
Tank
Centreline
Soil
element
(clay)
G.L. & WT
Example (cont..)
Example (cont..)
q
p, p'
B
C
DE
[TSP] [ESP]
A'
B'
C'
D'
E'
u
o
Assume soil is 1-D consolidated (A').
Current effective stress state at B'
(lightly overconsolidatedand total stress
at B). In situ pore pressure u
o
=p
b
-p
b
'
Total stress changes BCD will result
from tank loading
If tank filled rapidly, soil response will
be undrained and the effective stress
path shows no change in p' until current
yield locus reached B' to C'.
The effective stress path becomes non-
linear and as soil yields (C'D') and extra
pore pressures are generated. If tank
left, pore pressures will dissipate back to
in situ. Effective stress path will show
increase in p' to E', with little change in
total stress.
Critical state line
1D-Consolidation
(Ko) line
Example 4
Example 4
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-
complex boundary value problems
complex boundary value problems
Stress history
Stress history
Discretization
Discretization
of domain
of domain
Constitutive model
Constitutive model
J
2
p'
d
p
X
Critical State

o
/2
o
F(0)
Q(0)
Triaxial Plane -Plane

1
'

2
'

3
'
Results
Results
75
95
115
135
155
175
0 1000 2000
Time (Days)
P
o
r
e

P
r
e
s
s
u
r
e

(
k
P
a
)
PETAL
MCC
KPDB6
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
1.2
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8
Vertical Displacement (m)
z/H
MCC
KP/DB6
PETAL
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
1.2
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8
Horizontal Displacement (m)
z/H
KP/DB6
PETAL
MCC
Lift 1
Lift 2
Lift 3

2
K
o
line
Beyond the simple models
Beyond the simple models

.
.
CARMEL
CEE522
CEE522

Advanced Soil Mechanics

Advanced Soil Mechanics
Predicting Excess Pore Pressure below
Embankments on Clay
Covered:
1. Stresses induced by Embankments
2. Pore-pressure equations versus Critical State Soil
Mechanics.
3. An effective stress approach to evaluating short-term
stability of embankments.
CEE522
CEE522

Advanced Soil Mechanics

Advanced Soil Mechanics
Vernon Embankment (B.C., Canada)
(Crawford et al., 1992, Can. Geot. J. 29, 67-79)
CEE522
CEE522

Advanced Soil Mechanics

Advanced Soil Mechanics
Rate-Sensitive and Viscous Clays
Topics:
1. Examples of Typical Behaviour (St. Jean-Vianney Clay,
Sackville Clay, Hanney Clay)
2. A Conceptual Model for Viscous Clays
3. Application of Critical State Soil Mechanics to
Embankments on Rate-Sensitive Viscous Clay.
CEE522
CEE522

Advanced Soil Mechanics

Advanced Soil Mechanics
Sackville Test Embankments
Unreinforced Geosynthetic Reinforced
CEE522
CEE522

Advanced Soil Mechanics

Advanced Soil Mechanics
Structured Clays
Topics:
1. Anisotropy and Time-dependency (St. Vallier Clay and St.
Louis Clay)
2. Creep-rupture (St. Jean Vianney Clay)
3. Mobilized Long-term Shear Strength (Eastern Canadian
Clays)
CEE522
CEE522

Advanced Soil Mechanics

Advanced Soil Mechanics
Progressive Failure at Nanticoke, ON
30-yrs after construction
A Structured Clay
CEE522
CEE522

Advanced Soil Mechanics

Advanced Soil Mechanics
Additional Topics
1. Mechanical Anisotropy of Layered Clays
Typical behaviour
Modified limit-equilibrium methods
Welland Clay (Analysis of the Thorold Tunnel Approach
Cuts)
2. Stiff Fissured Clays
Nanticoke and London Clay (The impact of Fissures on
the Engineering Behaviour of Clay)