Critical-State Soil Mechanics

For Dummies

Paul W. Mayne, PhD, P.E.

Civil & Environmental Engineering

Georgia Institute of Technology
Atlanta, GA 30332-0355
www.ce.gatech.edu
Email: paul.mayne@ce.gatech.edu

2006
 PROLOGUE
 Critical-state soil mechanics is an effective stress
framework describing mechanical soil response
 In its simplest form here, we consider only shear-
induced loading.
 We merely tie together two well-known concepts:
(1) one-dimensional consolidation behavior,
represented by e-logσv’ curves; and (2) shear
stress-vs. normal stress (τ−σv’) from direct shear
box or simple shearing.
 Herein, only the bare essence of CSSM concepts
are presented, sufficient to describe strength &
compressibility response.
 Critical State Soil Mechanics (CSSM)
 Experimental evidence provided by Hvorslev (1936; 1960,
ASCE); Henkel (1960, ASCE Boulder) Henkel & Sowa (1961,
ASTM STP 361)
 Mathematics presented elsewhere, including: Schofield &
Wroth (1968); Burland (1968); Wood (1990).
 In basic form: 3 material constants (φ', Cc, Cs) plus initial
state (e0, σvo', OCR)
 Constitutive Models, include: Original Cam-Clay, Modified Cam
Clay, NorSand, Bounding Surface, MIT-E3 (Whittle, 1993) &
MIT-S1 (Pestana) and others (Adachi, Oka, Ohta, Dafalias)
 "Undrained" is just one specific stress path
 Yet !!! CSSM is missing from most textbooks and undergrad &
grad curricula in the USA.
 One-Dimensional Consolidation
Sandy Clay (CL), Surry, VA: Depth = 27 m
1.0
σvo'=300 kPa
σp'=900 kPa
0.9
Cr = 0.04
Void Ratio, e

0.8 Overconsolidation Ratio, OCR = 3

Cs = swelling index (= Cr)
0.7 cv = coef. of consolidation
D' = constrained modulus
Cαe = coef. secondary compression
0.6
k ≈ hydraulic conductivity
Cc = 0.38
0.5
1 10 100 1000 10000

Effective Vertical Stress, σ v’ (kPa)

svo'
 Direct Shear Test Results
Slow Direct Shear Tests on Triassic Clay,NC Slow Direct Shear Tests on Triassic Clay, Raleigh, NC
140 140
σn' Strength Parameters:

(kPa)
Shear Stress, τ (kPa)

φ ' = 26.1 o
120 120
(kPa)= c' = 0;
Peak
214.5
100 100

τ
80 80

Shear Stress,
Peak

60 135.0 60
0.491 = tan φ '
40 40
Peak
20 45.1 20

0 0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 0 50 100 150 200 250

Displacement, δ (mm) Effective Normal Stress, σn' (kPa)

τ τ σv’ τ τ σv’
δ

γs

Direct Shear Box (DSB) Direct Simple Shear (DSS)

 CSSM for Dummies
CC

Void Ratio, e
Void Ratio, e

NC NC

CSL CSL

Log σv' Effective stress σv'

CSL

Shear stress τ
tanφ'
CSSM Premise:
“All stress paths fail
on the critical state
line (CSL)” φ′
c′=0
Effective stress σv'
 CSSM for Dummies
Void Ratio, e CC

Void Ratio, e
e0
∆e NC
NC
ef
CSL CSL

σvo′
Log σv' Effective stress σv'
CSL
τmax = c′ + σ′ tanφ′

Shear stress τ
tanφ'
STRESS PATH No.1
NC Drained Soil
Given: e0, σvo’, NC (OCR=1)
Drained Path: ∆u = 0
Volume Change is Contractive: c’=0
σvo′
εvol = ∆e/(1+e0) < 0
Effective stress σv'
 CSSM for Dummies
Void Ratio, e CC

Void Ratio, e
e0
NC
NC
CSL
CSL
σvf′ σvo′ Effective stress σv'
Log σv' CSL
tanφ'
STRESS PATH No.2

Shear stress τ
NC Undrained Soil ∆u
τmax = cu=su
Given: e0, σvo’, NC (OCR=1)
Undrained Path: ∆V/V0 = 0
+∆u = Positive Excess σvf′
Porewater Pressures σvo′
Effective stress σv'
 CSSM for Dummies
CC

Void Ratio, e
Void Ratio, e

NC NC

CSL CSL

Log σv' Effective stress σv'

CSL

Shear stress τ
Note: All NC undrained tanφ'

stress paths are parallel

to each other, thus:
su/σvo’ = constant

DSS: su/σvo’NC = ½sinφ’

Effective stress σv'
 CSSM for Dummies
Void Ratio, e CC

Void Ratio, e
CS OC
NC NC

CSL CSL

Effective stress σv'

Log σv' σ p'
CSL

Shear stress τ
Overconsolidated States: tanφ'
e0, σvo’, and OCR = σp’/σvo’
where σp’ = σvmax’ = Pc’ =
preconsolidation stress;
OCR = overconsolidation ratio
Effective stress σv' σ p'
 CSSM for Dummies
CC

Void Ratio, e
Void Ratio, e

e0
OC
CS NC
NC

CSL CSL

σvo' σvf' Log σv' Effective stress σv'

CSL

Shear stress τ
Stress Path No. 3 tanφ'
Undrained OC Soil: ∆u
e0, σvo’, and OCR
Stress Path: ∆V/V0 = 0
Negative Excess ∆u
σvo' Effective stress σv'
 CSSM for Dummies
CC

Void Ratio, e
Void Ratio, e

e0
OC
CS NC
NC

CSL CSL

σvo' Log σv' Effective stress σv'

CSL

Shear stress τ
Stress Path No. 4 tanφ'
Drained OC Soil:
e0, σvo’, and OCR
Stress Path: ∆u = 0
Dilatancy: ∆V/V0 > 0
σvo' Effective stress σv'
 Critical state soil mechanics
• Initial state: e0, σvo’, and OCR = σp’/σvo’
• Soil constants: φ’, Cc, and Cs (Λ = 1-Cs/Cc)
• For NC soil (OCR =1):
 Undrained (εvol = 0): +∆u and τmax = su = cu
 Drained (∆u = 0) and contractive (decrease εvol)

• For OC soil:
 Undrained (εvol = 0): -∆u and τmax = su = cu
 Drained (∆u = 0) and dilative (Increase εvol)

There’s more ! Semi-drained, Partly undrained, Cyclic…..

 Equivalent Stress Concept
CC

Void Ratio, e
NC
Void Ratio, e

e0
OC NC
∆e CS
σp' σp'
ep

CSL CSL

σvo' σvf' σe' Log σv' Effective stress σv'

1. OC State (eo, σvo’, σp’) CSL

Shear stress τ
2. Project OC state to NC tanφ'

line for equivalent stress, σe’ su

∆e = Cs log(σp’/σvo’) at σe’
∆e = Cc log(σe’/σp’) suOC = suNC
3. σe’ = σvo’ OCR[1-Cs/Cc] σvo' σ e' Stress σv'
 Critical state soil mechanics
• Previously: su/σvo’ = constant for NC soil
• On the virgin compression line: σvo’ = σe’
• Thus: su/σe’ = constant for all soil (NC & OC)
• For simple shear: su/σe’ = ½sin φ’
• Equivalent stress: σe’ = σvo’ OCR[1-Cs/Cc]

Normalized Undrained Shear Strength:

su/σvo’ = ½ sinφ’ OCRΛ

where Λ = (1-Cs/Cc)
 Undrained Shear Strength from CSSM
0.4
AGS Plastic
Amherst
Ariake
Bootlegger
su/σvo' NC (DSS)

0.3 Bothkennar
Boston Blue
Cowden
Hackensack
0.2 James Bay
Mexico City
Onsoy
Porto Tolle
Portsmouth
0.1 Rissa

su/σvo'NC (DSS) =½sinφ'

San Francisco
Silty Holocene
Wroth (1984)
0.0
0.0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8
sinφ'
 Undrained Shear Strength from CSSM
DSS Undrained Strength, su/σvo' 10 Amherst CVVC
Atchafalaya
Bangkok
Bootlegger Cove
φ' = 40o
Boston Blue
Cowden
Intact o
30 Drammen
Clays
20o Hackensack
1 Haga
Lower Chek Lok
Maine
McManus
Paria
su/σvo' = ½ sinφ' OCRΛ Portland
Portsmouth
Note: Λ = 1 - Cs/Cc ≈ 0.8 Silty Holocene
0.1 Upper Chek Lok
20
1 10 100
30
Overconsolidation Ratio, OCR 40
 Porewater Pressure Response from CSSM

1 Amherst CVVC
∆us/σvo' = 1 - ½cosφ'OCRΛ Atchafalaya
Bangkok
0
Normalized Porewater Pressure,

Bootlegger Cove
Boston Blue
-1 Cowden
Drammen
Hackensack
-2
Haga
∆u/σvo'

Lower Chek Lok

-3 Maine
Intact McManus
Paria
-4
Portland
φ' = 20 30
o o o
40 Portsmouth
-5 Silty Holocene
Upper Chek Lok
Λ = 0.9 0.8 0.7
20
-6
30
1 10 100
40
Overconsolidation Ratio, OCR
 Yield Surfaces
NC NC
CSL

Void Ratio, e
OC
Void Ratio, e

OC

σp'

CSL

σp' Normal stress σv'

Log σv'
CSL

Shear stress τ
 Yield surface represents
3-d preconsolidation

 Quasi-elastic behavior
within the yield surface

Normal stress σv'

 Port of Anchorage, Alaska

0.8
10
Deviatoric Stress = q* = (σ 1-σ 3)/σ p'

Critical State Soil Mechanics

0.7
(Modified Cam Clay)
Bootlegger o
0.6 φ ' = 27.7

Strength Ratio, su/σ vo'

Cove Clay Λ = 0.75
0.5

0.4
1
0.3 M c = (q/p')f = 1.10
M c = 6sin φ '/(3-sin φ ') DSS Data
0.2
φ ' = 27.7o CIUC Data

0.1 MCC Pred CIUC

MCC Pred DSS
0.0
0.0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.1
1 10 100
Effective Stress, p'* = (σ 1'+σ 2'+σ 3')/(3σ p') Overconsolidation Ratio, OCR
 Cavity Expansion – Critical State Model for Evaluating
OCR in Clays from Piezocone Tests

1/ Λ
 1  q T − ub  
OCR = 2   
. M + 1  σ vo '  
 195
where M = 6 sinφ’/(3-sinφ’) Overconsolidation Ratio, OCR

Λ = 1 – Cs/Cc ≈
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
and 0.8 0

Depth (meters)
fs 8
Bothkennar, UK
10

12
CPTU
ub 14
CRS
IL Oed
16 RF

qc → qT 18

20
 Critical state soil mechanics
• Initial state: e0, σvo’, and OCR = σp’/σvo’
• Soil constants: φ’, Cc, and Cs (Λ = 1-Cs/Cc)
• Using effective stresses, CSSM addresses:
 NC and OC behavior
 Undrained vs. Drained (and other paths)
 Positive vs. negative porewater pressures
 Volume changes (contractive vs. dilative)
 su/σvo’ = ½ sinφ’ OCRΛ where Λ = 1-Cs/Cc
 Yield surface represents 3-d preconsolidation