DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW FAMILY OF NORMALIZED

MODULUS REDUCTION AND MATERIAL DAMPING

CURVES

by

MEHMET BARIS DARENDELI, B.S., M.S.

DISSERTATION
Presented to the Faculty of the Graduate School of
The University of Texas at Austin
in Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirements
for the Degree of

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY

The University of Texas at Austin

August, 2001

CHAPTER 10
RECOMMENDED NORMALIZED MODULUS REDUCTION
AND MATERIAL DAMPING CURVES
10.1

INTRODUCTION

Mean values of the normalized shear modulus and the material damping
ratio (predicted by the calibrated model) at strain amplitudes ranging from 1x10-5
% to 1 % are presented in this chapter. As discussed in Chapter Nine, the mean
values of model parameters can be utilized to construct normalized modulus
reduction and material damping curves for different soil types and loading
conditions. However, the reader must use caution when a soil type or loading
condition not represented in the database is to be evaluated with these equations.
Since the impact of overconsolidation ratio is relatively small and ten
cycles at 1 Hz loading frequency closely represents the characteristics of
earthquake shaking, these parameters are fixed for the recommended curves. In
this chapter, recommended normalized modulus reduction and material damping
curves are presented for soils with a broad range of plasticities confined at a broad
range of mean effective stresses.
These curves are presented from two different perspectives so that the
reader can interpolate the data for different values of soil plasticity and confining
pressure. If the reader has to extrapolate for soil plasticities and confining
pressures not represented in the database, use of caution is suggested.

249

10.2

EFFECT OF PI AT A GIVEN MEAN EFFECTIVE STRESS

Figures 10.1 through 10.4 show the effect of PI on nonlinear soil behavior
at 0.25, 1.0, 4.0 and 16 atm, respectively. These normalized modulus and material
damping curves are presented so that the reader can interpolate these relationships
for soils with different plasticities. Also, these curves are tabulated in Tables 10.1
through 10.8. The figures and tables are organized so that the G/Gmax log and
D log curves are followed on the next page by the associated tables.
10.3

EFFECT OF MEAN EFFECTIVE STRESS ON A SOIL WITH GIVEN

PLASTICITY

Figures 10.5 through 10.9 show the effect of mean effective stress on
nonlinear behavior of soils with 0, 15, 30, 50 and 100 % plasticity, respectively.
These normalized modulus and material damping curves are presented so that the
reader can interpolate these relationships for soil layers at different depths
confined under different mean effective stresses. Also, these curves are tabulated
in Tables 10.9 through 10.18. The figures and tables are organized so that the
G/Gmax log and D log curves are followed on the next page by the
associated tables.
10.4

IMPACT OF UTILIZING THE RECOMMENDED CURVES ON

EARTHQUAKE RESPONSE PREDICTIONS OF DEEP SOIL SITES

The impact of utilizing the recommended curves when assigning nonlinear

soil properties in site response analyses of deep (>50 m) soil sites is discussed in
this section. This point is addressed because site response analyses are often
performed using average, pressure-independent generic curves.

250

1.2

(a)

1.0
0.8
G/Gmax

0.6
0.4
0.2

G/Gmax Prediction
( o' = 0.25 atm, N = 10 cycles,
f = 1 Hz, OCR = 1 )

0.0

25
20
15
D, %
10

Material Damping Prediction

PI = 0 %
PI = 15 %
PI = 30 %
PI = 50 %
PI = 100 %

5
(b)
0
0.0001

0.001

0.01

0.1

Shearing Strain, ,%
Figure 10.1 Effect of PI on (a) normalized modulus reduction and (b) material
damping curves at 0.25 atm confining pressure

251

Table 10.1 Effect of PI on normalized modulus reduction curve: o = 0.25 atm

Shearing Strain (%)
1.00E-05
2.20E-05
4.84E-05
1.00E-04
2.20E-04
4.84E-04
1.00E-03
2.20E-03
4.84E-03
1.00E-02
2.20E-02
4.84E-02
1.00E-01
2.20E-01
4.84E-01
1.00E+00

PI = 0 %
0.999
0.998
0.996
0.993
0.986
0.971
0.944
0.891
0.799
0.671
0.497
0.324
0.197
0.107
0.055
0.029

PI = 15 %
0.999
0.999
0.997
0.995
0.990
0.979
0.959
0.919
0.847
0.739
0.579
0.400
0.255
0.142
0.074
0.040

PI = 30 %
1.000
0.999
0.998
0.996
0.992
0.983
0.968
0.936
0.876
0.783
0.637
0.459
0.303
0.174
0.093
0.050

PI = 50 % PI = 100 %
1.000
1.000
0.999
1.000
0.998
0.999
0.997
0.998
0.994
0.996
0.987
0.991
0.975
0.983
0.949
0.966
0.900
0.932
0.822
0.876
0.692
0.774
0.521
0.625
0.358
0.461
0.213
0.293
0.116
0.167
0.063
0.093

Table 10.2 Effect of PI on material damping curve: o = 0.25 atm

Shearing Strain (%)
1.00E-05
2.20E-05
4.84E-05
1.00E-04
2.20E-04
4.84E-04
1.00E-03
2.20E-03
4.84E-03
1.00E-02
2.20E-02
4.84E-02
1.00E-01
2.20E-01
4.84E-01
1.00E+00

PI = 0 %
1.201
1.207
1.226
1.257
1.330
1.487
1.792
2.458
3.762
5.821
9.097
12.993
16.376
19.181
20.829
21.393

PI = 15 %
1.489
1.493
1.506
1.528
1.579
1.690
1.906
2.387
3.358
4.977
7.778
11.489
15.064
18.334
20.515
21.507

252

PI = 30 %
1.778
1.781
1.791
1.808
1.848
1.933
2.101
2.476
3.249
4.581
7.010
10.477
14.088
17.640
20.208
21.542

PI = 50 % PI = 100 %
2.164
3.129
2.166
3.131
2.174
3.136
2.187
3.144
2.217
3.163
2.282
3.204
2.411
3.286
2.702
3.472
3.310
3.868
4.386
4.593
6.441
6.070
9.589
8.579
13.137
11.798
16.904
15.716
19.849
19.213
21.547
21.544

1.2
(a)

1.0
0.8
G/Gmax

0.6
0.4
0.2

G/Gmax Prediction
( o' = 1 atm, N = 10 cycles,
f = 1 Hz, OCR = 1 )

0.0

25
20
15
D, %
10

Material Damping Prediction

PI = 0 %
PI = 15 %
PI = 30 %
PI = 50 %
PI = 100 %

5
0
0.0001

(b)
0.001

0.01

0.1

Shearing Strain, ,%
Figure 10.2 Effect of PI on (a) normalized modulus reduction and (b) material
damping curves at 1.0 atm confining pressure

253

Table 10.3 Effect of PI on normalized modulus reduction curve: o = 1.0 atm

Shearing Strain (%)
1.00E-05
2.20E-05
4.84E-05
1.00E-04
2.20E-04
4.84E-04
1.00E-03
2.20E-03
4.84E-03
1.00E-02
2.20E-02
4.84E-02
1.00E-01
2.20E-01
4.84E-01
1.00E+00

PI = 0 %
0.999
0.999
0.998
0.995
0.991
0.981
0.964
0.928
0.861
0.761
0.607
0.428
0.277
0.157
0.083
0.044

PI = 15 %
1.000
0.999
0.998
0.997
0.993
0.986
0.973
0.947
0.896
0.816
0.682
0.509
0.348
0.205
0.111
0.060

PI = 30 %
1.000
0.999
0.999
0.997
0.995
0.989
0.979
0.958
0.917
0.849
0.732
0.569
0.404
0.248
0.137
0.076

PI = 50 % PI = 100 %
1.000
1.000
1.000
1.000
0.999
0.999
0.998
0.999
0.996
0.997
0.992
0.994
0.984
0.989
0.967
0.978
0.934
0.956
0.878
0.917
0.778
0.843
0.629
0.722
0.465
0.571
0.296
0.392
0.169
0.238
0.095
0.138

Table 10.4 Effect of PI on material damping curve: o = 1.0 atm

Shearing Strain (%)
1.00E-05
2.20E-05
4.84E-05
1.00E-04
2.20E-04
4.84E-04
1.00E-03
2.20E-03
4.84E-03
1.00E-02
2.20E-02
4.84E-02
1.00E-01
2.20E-01
4.84E-01
1.00E+00

PI = 0 %
0.804
0.808
0.820
0.839
0.884
0.982
1.174
1.602
2.474
3.953
6.579
10.184
13.788
17.199
19.565
20.716

PI = 15 %
0.997
1.000
1.008
1.021
1.053
1.122
1.257
1.562
2.198
3.317
5.440
8.650
12.217
15.951
18.829
20.460

254

PI = 30 %
1.191
1.193
1.199
1.209
1.234
1.287
1.392
1.628
2.128
3.028
4.803
7.664
11.092
14.966
18.185
20.178

PI = 50 % PI = 100 %
1.450
2.096
1.451
2.097
1.456
2.100
1.464
2.105
1.482
2.117
1.523
2.143
1.603
2.193
1.786
2.309
2.175
2.560
2.888
3.029
4.343
4.029
6.824
5.876
10.024
8.541
13.941
12.279
17.458
16.132
19.815
19.069

1.2
(a)

1.0
0.8
G/Gmax

0.6
G/Gmax Prediction
( o' = 4 atm, N = 10 cycles,
f = 1 Hz, OCR = 1 )

0.4
0.2
0.0

25
20
15
D, %
10

Material Damping Prediction

PI = 0 %
PI = 15 %
PI = 30 %
PI = 50 %
PI = 100 %

5
0
0.0001

(b)
0.001

0.01

0.1

Shearing Strain, ,%
Figure 10.3 Effect of PI on (a) normalized modulus reduction and (b) material
damping curves at 4.0 atm confining pressure

255

Table 10.5 Effect of PI on normalized modulus reduction curve: o = 4.0 atm

Shearing Strain (%)
1.00E-05
2.20E-05
4.84E-05
1.00E-04
2.20E-04
4.84E-04
1.00E-03
2.20E-03
4.84E-03
1.00E-02
2.20E-02
4.84E-02
1.00E-01
2.20E-01
4.84E-01
1.00E+00

PI = 0 %
1.000
0.999
0.998
0.997
0.994
0.988
0.976
0.952
0.906
0.832
0.706
0.538
0.374
0.225
0.123
0.067

PI = 15 %
1.000
1.000
0.999
0.998
0.996
0.991
0.983
0.965
0.931
0.873
0.770
0.618
0.454
0.287
0.163
0.091

PI = 30 %
1.000
1.000
0.999
0.998
0.997
0.993
0.986
0.972
0.945
0.898
0.810
0.673
0.514
0.339
0.199
0.113

PI = 50 % PI = 100 %
1.000
1.000
1.000
1.000
0.999
1.000
0.999
0.999
0.997
0.998
0.995
0.996
0.989
0.993
0.978
0.986
0.956
0.971
0.918
0.945
0.845
0.893
0.725
0.802
0.575
0.675
0.396
0.501
0.241
0.327
0.140
0.200

Table 10.6 Effect of PI on material damping curve: o = 4.0 atm

Shearing Strain (%)
1.00E-05
2.20E-05
4.84E-05
1.00E-04
2.20E-04
4.84E-04
1.00E-03
2.20E-03
4.84E-03
1.00E-02
2.20E-02
4.84E-02
1.00E-01
2.20E-01
4.84E-01
1.00E+00

PI = 0 %
0.539
0.541
0.548
0.560
0.588
0.649
0.769
1.039
1.607
2.618
4.572
7.621
11.134
14.946
17.990
19.792

PI = 15 %
0.668
0.670
0.675
0.683
0.703
0.745
0.829
1.021
1.428
2.173
3.684
6.235
9.482
13.400
16.866
19.158

256

PI = 30 %
0.798
0.799
0.803
0.809
0.824
0.857
0.922
1.070
1.388
1.977
3.206
5.387
8.357
12.231
15.935
18.571

PI = 50 % PI = 100 %
0.971
1.404
0.972
1.405
0.975
1.407
0.980
1.410
0.991
1.417
1.016
1.433
1.066
1.464
1.180
1.537
1.426
1.693
1.886
1.991
2.871
2.648
4.693
3.934
7.333
5.972
11.056
9.226
14.917
13.118
17.876
16.513

1.2
(a)

1.0
0.8
G/Gmax

0.6
0.4
0.2

G/Gmax Prediction
( o' = 16 atm, N = 10 cycles,
f = 1 Hz, OCR = 1 )

0.0

25
20
15
D, %
10

Material Damping Prediction

PI = 0 %
PI = 15 %
PI = 30 %
PI = 50 %
PI = 100 %

5
0
0.0001

(b)
0.001

0.01

0.1

Shearing Strain, ,%
Figure 10.4 Effect of PI on (a) normalized modulus reduction and (b) material
damping curves at 16 atm confining pressure

257

Table 10.7 Effect of PI on normalized modulus reduction curve: o = 16 atm

Shearing Strain (%)
1.00E-05
2.20E-05
4.84E-05
1.00E-04
2.20E-04
4.84E-04
1.00E-03
2.20E-03
4.84E-03
1.00E-02
2.20E-02
4.84E-02
1.00E-01
2.20E-01
4.84E-01
1.00E+00

PI = 0 %
1.000
1.000
0.999
0.998
0.996
0.992
0.985
0.969
0.938
0.885
0.789
0.645
0.482
0.311
0.179
0.101

PI = 15 %
1.000
1.000
0.999
0.999
0.997
0.994
0.989
0.977
0.954
0.915
0.839
0.716
0.564
0.386
0.233
0.135

PI = 30 %
1.000
1.000
0.999
0.999
0.998
0.996
0.991
0.982
0.964
0.932
0.869
0.763
0.623
0.444
0.279
0.166

PI = 50 % PI = 100 %
1.000
1.000
1.000
1.000
1.000
1.000
0.999
0.999
0.998
0.999
0.997
0.998
0.993
0.996
0.986
0.991
0.972
0.981
0.946
0.964
0.895
0.929
0.804
0.863
0.679
0.764
0.506
0.610
0.331
0.431
0.203
0.280

Table 10.8 Effect of PI on material damping curve: o = 16 atm

Shearing Strain (%)
1.00E-05
2.20E-05
4.84E-05
1.00E-04
2.20E-04
4.84E-04
1.00E-03
2.20E-03
4.84E-03
1.00E-02
2.20E-02
4.84E-02
1.00E-01
2.20E-01
4.84E-01
1.00E+00

PI = 0 %
0.361
0.362
0.367
0.374
0.391
0.429
0.503
0.673
1.035
1.702
3.075
5.449
8.573
12.483
16.070
18.528

PI = 15 %
0.448
0.449
0.452
0.457
0.469
0.495
0.547
0.667
0.924
1.407
2.433
4.318
7.021
10.780
14.619
17.522

258

PI = 30 %
0.534
0.535
0.538
0.541
0.551
0.571
0.611
0.704
0.903
1.281
2.100
3.659
6.022
9.557
13.472
16.655

PI = 50 % PI = 100 %
0.650
0.941
0.651
0.941
0.653
0.942
0.656
0.944
0.663
0.949
0.678
0.958
0.709
0.978
0.780
1.023
0.934
1.120
1.227
1.308
1.871
1.729
3.138
2.589
5.151
4.049
8.381
6.651
12.268
10.241
15.677
13.847

1.2
(a)

1.0
0.8
G/Gmax

0.6
0.4
0.2

G/Gmax Prediction
( PI = 0 %, N = 10 cycles,
f = 1 Hz, OCR = 1 )

0.0
25
20
15
D, %
10

Material Damping Prediction

o' = 0.25 atm
o' = 1 atm
o' = 4 atm
o' = 16 atm

5
0
0.0001

(b)
0.001

0.01

0.1

Shearing Strain, ,%
Figure 10.5 Effect of mean effective stress on (a) normalized modulus reduction
and (b) material damping curves of a nonplastic soil

259

Table 10.9 Effect of o on normalized modulus reduction curve: PI = 0 %

Shearing Strain (%) o' = 0.25 atm
1.00E-05
0.999
2.20E-05
0.998
4.84E-05
0.996
1.00E-04
0.993
2.20E-04
0.986
4.84E-04
0.971
1.00E-03
0.944
2.20E-03
0.891
4.84E-03
0.799
1.00E-02
0.671
2.20E-02
0.497
4.84E-02
0.324
1.00E-01
0.197
2.20E-01
0.107
4.84E-01
0.055
1.00E+00
0.029

o' = 1.0 atm

0.999
0.999
0.998
0.995
0.991
0.981
0.964
0.928
0.861
0.761
0.607
0.428
0.277
0.157
0.083
0.044

o' = 4.0 atm

1.000
0.999
0.998
0.997
0.994
0.988
0.976
0.952
0.906
0.832
0.706
0.538
0.374
0.225
0.123
0.067

o' = 16 atm
1.000
1.000
0.999
0.998
0.996
0.992
0.985
0.969
0.938
0.885
0.789
0.645
0.482
0.311
0.179
0.101

Table 10.10 Effect of o on material damping curve: PI = 0 %

Shearing Strain (%) o' = 0.25 atm
1.00E-05
1.201
2.20E-05
1.207
4.84E-05
1.226
1.00E-04
1.257
2.20E-04
1.330
4.84E-04
1.487
1.00E-03
1.792
2.20E-03
2.458
4.84E-03
3.762
1.00E-02
5.821
2.20E-02
9.097
4.84E-02
12.993
1.00E-01
16.376
2.20E-01
19.181
4.84E-01
20.829
1.00E+00
21.393

o' = 1.0 atm

0.804
0.808
0.820
0.839
0.884
0.982
1.174
1.602
2.474
3.953
6.579
10.184
13.788
17.199
19.565
20.716

260

o' = 4.0 atm

0.539
0.541
0.548
0.560
0.588
0.649
0.769
1.039
1.607
2.618
4.572
7.621
11.134
14.946
17.990
19.792

o' = 16 atm
0.361
0.362
0.367
0.374
0.391
0.429
0.503
0.673
1.035
1.702
3.075
5.449
8.573
12.483
16.070
18.528

1.2
(a)

1.0
0.8
G/Gmax

0.6
0.4
0.2

G/Gmax Prediction
( PI = 15 %, N = 10 cycles,
f = 1 Hz, OCR = 1 )

0.0
25
20
15
D, %
10

Material Damping Prediction

o' = 0.25 atm
o' = 1 atm
o' = 4 atm
o' = 16 atm

5
0
0.0001

(b)
0.001

0.01

0.1

Shearing Strain, ,%
Figure 10.6 Effect of mean effective stress on (a) normalized modulus reduction
and (b) material damping curves of a soil with PI = 15 %

261

Table 10.11 Effect of o on normalized modulus reduction curve: PI = 15 %

Shearing Strain (%) o' = 0.25 atm
1.00E-05
0.999
2.20E-05
0.999
4.84E-05
0.997
1.00E-04
0.995
2.20E-04
0.990
4.84E-04
0.979
1.00E-03
0.959
2.20E-03
0.919
4.84E-03
0.847
1.00E-02
0.739
2.20E-02
0.579
4.84E-02
0.400
1.00E-01
0.255
2.20E-01
0.142
4.84E-01
0.074
1.00E+00
0.040

o' = 1.0 atm

1.000
0.999
0.998
0.997
0.993
0.986
0.973
0.947
0.896
0.816
0.682
0.509
0.348
0.205
0.111
0.060

o' = 4.0 atm

1.000
1.000
0.999
0.998
0.996
0.991
0.983
0.965
0.931
0.873
0.770
0.618
0.454
0.287
0.163
0.091

o' = 16 atm
1.000
1.000
0.999
0.999
0.997
0.994
0.989
0.977
0.954
0.915
0.839
0.716
0.564
0.386
0.233
0.135

Table 10.12 Effect of o on material damping curve: PI = 15 %

Shearing Strain (%) o' = 0.25 atm
1.00E-05
1.489
2.20E-05
1.493
4.84E-05
1.506
1.00E-04
1.528
2.20E-04
1.579
4.84E-04
1.690
1.00E-03
1.906
2.20E-03
2.387
4.84E-03
3.358
1.00E-02
4.977
2.20E-02
7.778
4.84E-02
11.489
1.00E-01
15.064
2.20E-01
18.334
4.84E-01
20.515
1.00E+00
21.507

o' = 1.0 atm

0.997
1.000
1.008
1.021
1.053
1.122
1.257
1.562
2.198
3.317
5.440
8.650
12.217
15.951
18.829
20.460

262

o' = 4.0 atm

0.668
0.670
0.675
0.683
0.703
0.745
0.829
1.021
1.428
2.173
3.684
6.235
9.482
13.400
16.866
19.158

o' = 16 atm
0.448
0.449
0.452
0.457
0.469
0.495
0.547
0.667
0.924
1.407
2.433
4.318
7.021
10.780
14.619
17.522

1.2
(a)

1.0
0.8
G/Gmax

0.6
0.4
0.2

G/Gmax Prediction
( PI = 30 %, N = 10 cycles,
f = 1 Hz, OCR = 1 )

0.0
25
20
15
D, %
10

Material Damping Prediction

o' = 0.25 atm
o' = 1 atm
o' = 4 atm
o' = 16 atm

5
0
0.0001

(b)
0.001

0.01

0.1

Shearing Strain, ,%
Figure 10.7 Effect of mean effective stress on (a) normalized modulus reduction
and (b) material damping curves of a soil with PI = 30 %

263

Table 10.13 Effect of o on normalized modulus reduction curve: PI = 30 %

Shearing Strain (%) o' = 0.25 atm
1.00E-05
1.000
2.20E-05
0.999
4.84E-05
0.998
1.00E-04
0.996
2.20E-04
0.992
4.84E-04
0.983
1.00E-03
0.968
2.20E-03
0.936
4.84E-03
0.876
1.00E-02
0.783
2.20E-02
0.637
4.84E-02
0.459
1.00E-01
0.303
2.20E-01
0.174
4.84E-01
0.093
1.00E+00
0.050

o' = 1.0 atm

1.000
0.999
0.999
0.997
0.995
0.989
0.979
0.958
0.917
0.849
0.732
0.569
0.404
0.248
0.137
0.076

o' = 4.0 atm

1.000
1.000
0.999
0.998
0.997
0.993
0.986
0.972
0.945
0.898
0.810
0.673
0.514
0.339
0.199
0.113

o' = 16 atm
1.000
1.000
0.999
0.999
0.998
0.996
0.991
0.982
0.964
0.932
0.869
0.763
0.623
0.444
0.279
0.166

Table 10.14 Effect of o on material damping curve: PI = 30 %

Shearing Strain (%) o' = 0.25 atm
1.00E-05
1.778
2.20E-05
1.781
4.84E-05
1.791
1.00E-04
1.808
2.20E-04
1.848
4.84E-04
1.933
1.00E-03
2.101
2.20E-03
2.476
4.84E-03
3.249
1.00E-02
4.581
2.20E-02
7.010
4.84E-02
10.477
1.00E-01
14.088
2.20E-01
17.640
4.84E-01
20.208
1.00E+00
21.542

o' = 1.0 atm

1.191
1.193
1.199
1.209
1.234
1.287
1.392
1.628
2.128
3.028
4.803
7.664
11.092
14.966
18.185
20.178

264

o' = 4.0 atm

0.798
0.799
0.803
0.809
0.824
0.857
0.922
1.070
1.388
1.977
3.206
5.387
8.357
12.231
15.935
18.571

o' = 16 atm
0.534
0.535
0.538
0.541
0.551
0.571
0.611
0.704
0.903
1.281
2.100
3.659
6.022
9.557
13.472
16.655

1.2
(a)

1.0
0.8
G/Gmax

0.6
G/Gmax Prediction
( PI = 50 %, N = 10 cycles,
f = 1 Hz, OCR = 1 )

0.4
0.2
0.0
25
20
15

D, %
10

Material Damping Prediction

o' = 0.25 atm
o' = 1 atm
o' = 4 atm
o' = 16 atm

5
0
0.0001

(b)
0.001

0.01

0.1

Shearing Strain, ,%
Figure 10.8 Effect of mean effective stress on (a) normalized modulus reduction
and (b) material damping curves of a soil with PI = 50 %

265

Table 10.15 Effect of o on normalized modulus reduction curve: PI = 50 %

Shearing Strain (%) o' = 0.25 atm
1.00E-05
1.000
2.20E-05
0.999
4.84E-05
0.998
1.00E-04
0.997
2.20E-04
0.994
4.84E-04
0.987
1.00E-03
0.975
2.20E-03
0.949
4.84E-03
0.900
1.00E-02
0.822
2.20E-02
0.692
4.84E-02
0.521
1.00E-01
0.358
2.20E-01
0.213
4.84E-01
0.116
1.00E+00
0.063

o' = 1.0 atm

1.000
1.000
0.999
0.998
0.996
0.992
0.984
0.967
0.934
0.878
0.778
0.629
0.465
0.296
0.169
0.095

o' = 4.0 atm

1.000
1.000
0.999
0.999
0.997
0.995
0.989
0.978
0.956
0.918
0.845
0.725
0.575
0.396
0.241
0.140

o' = 16 atm
1.000
1.000
1.000
0.999
0.998
0.997
0.993
0.986
0.972
0.946
0.895
0.804
0.679
0.506
0.331
0.203

Table 10.16 Effect of o on material damping curve: PI = 50 %

Shearing Strain (%) o' = 0.25 atm
1.00E-05
2.164
2.20E-05
2.166
4.84E-05
2.174
1.00E-04
2.187
2.20E-04
2.217
4.84E-04
2.282
1.00E-03
2.411
2.20E-03
2.702
4.84E-03
3.310
1.00E-02
4.386
2.20E-02
6.441
4.84E-02
9.589
1.00E-01
13.137
2.20E-01
16.904
4.84E-01
19.849
1.00E+00
21.547

o' = 1.0 atm

1.450
1.451
1.456
1.464
1.482
1.523
1.603
1.786
2.175
2.888
4.343
6.824
10.024
13.941
17.458
19.815

266

o' = 4.0 atm

0.971
0.972
0.975
0.980
0.991
1.016
1.066
1.180
1.426
1.886
2.871
4.693
7.333
11.056
14.917
17.876

o' = 16 atm
0.650
0.651
0.653
0.656
0.663
0.678
0.709
0.780
0.934
1.227
1.871
3.138
5.151
8.381
12.268
15.677

1.2
(a)

1.0
0.8
G/Gmax

0.6
0.4
0.2

G/Gmax Prediction
( PI = 100 %, N = 10 cycles,
f = 1 Hz, OCR = 1 )

0.0
25
20
15
D, %
10

Material Damping Prediction

o' = 0.25 atm
o' = 1 atm
o' = 4 atm
o' = 16 atm

5
0
0.0001

(b)
0.001

0.01

0.1

Shearing Strain, ,%
Figure 10.9 Effect of mean effective stress on (a) normalized modulus reduction
and (b) material damping curves of a soil with PI = 100 %

267

Table 10.17 Effect of o on normalized modulus reduction curve: PI = 100 %

Shearing Strain (%) o' = 0.25 atm
1.00E-05
1.000
2.20E-05
1.000
4.84E-05
0.999
1.00E-04
0.998
2.20E-04
0.996
4.84E-04
0.991
1.00E-03
0.983
2.20E-03
0.966
4.84E-03
0.932
1.00E-02
0.876
2.20E-02
0.774
4.84E-02
0.625
1.00E-01
0.461
2.20E-01
0.293
4.84E-01
0.167
1.00E+00
0.093

o' = 1.0 atm

1.000
1.000
0.999
0.999
0.997
0.994
0.989
0.978
0.956
0.917
0.843
0.722
0.571
0.392
0.238
0.138

o' = 4.0 atm

1.000
1.000
1.000
0.999
0.998
0.996
0.993
0.986
0.971
0.945
0.893
0.802
0.675
0.501
0.327
0.200

o' = 16 atm
1.000
1.000
1.000
0.999
0.999
0.998
0.996
0.991
0.981
0.964
0.929
0.863
0.764
0.610
0.431
0.280

Table 10.18 Effect of o on material damping curve: PI = 100 %

Shearing Strain (%) o' = 0.25 atm
1.00E-05
3.129
2.20E-05
3.131
4.84E-05
3.136
1.00E-04
3.144
2.20E-04
3.163
4.84E-04
3.204
1.00E-03
3.286
2.20E-03
3.472
4.84E-03
3.868
1.00E-02
4.593
2.20E-02
6.070
4.84E-02
8.579
1.00E-01
11.798
2.20E-01
15.716
4.84E-01
19.213
1.00E+00
21.544

o' = 1.0 atm

2.096
2.097
2.100
2.105
2.117
2.143
2.193
2.309
2.560
3.029
4.029
5.876
8.541
12.279
16.132
19.069

268

o' = 4.0 atm

1.404
1.405
1.407
1.410
1.417
1.433
1.464
1.537
1.693
1.991
2.648
3.934
5.972
9.226
13.118
16.513

o' = 16 atm
0.941
0.941
0.942
0.944
0.949
0.958
0.978
1.023
1.120
1.308
1.729
2.589
4.049
6.651
10.241
13.847

To illustrate the impact of utilizing the recommended curves on site

response analyses, a 100-m thick silty sand (SM) deposit was modeled in twenty
six layers and analyzed using the shareware version of ProShake (EduPro, 1998).
A confining-pressure-dependent shear wave velocity, Vs, profile was used (as
shown in Figure 10.10) along with 1500-m/sec Vs at the half space. The Topanga
motion (Maximum Horizontal Acceleration, MHA, = 0.33 g) recorded during the
1994 Northridge earthquake was used as the input rock motion.
0

20

40
Depth, m
60

80

100

200

400

600

800

1000

Vs , m/sec

Figure 10.10 Shear wave velocity profile assumed for the 100-m thick silty sand
deposit
269

In Figure 10.11, the acceleration response spectra from two analyses are
presented: 1) using the average generic curves (Seed et al., 1986) to model all
layers, and 2) using the recommended nonlinear curves interpolated for each soil
layer. The response spectrum of the input motion is also shown in this figure. The
response spectra indicate that the recommended nonlinear curves produce an
MHA much higher than that predicted by the average generic curves (0.54 g vs.
0.37 g). Additionally, larger spectral accelerations (typically 30 % to 50 % higher)
are calculated at all periods less than 1 sec for the analysis utilizing the
recommended nonlinear curves.
As discussed in Darendeli et al. (2001) the impact of utilizing a family of
confining-pressure-dependent curves is expected to be more pronounced for
deeper sites subjected to higher intensity input motions due to lower damping
introduced by the confining-pressure-dependent curves. At longer spectral periods
(T > 1 sec), the response is dominated by the overall stiffness of the site. As a
result, the confining-pressure-dependent analyses may tend to predict a smaller
response at longer periods due to the more linear response modeled by these
curves.

270

2.5
This Study (a family of mean curves for PI = 0 %)
Seed et al., 1986 (mean curve for sands)
Input Motion

Spectral Acceleration, Sa , g

2.0

1.5

1.0

0.5

5 % Damping
0.0
0.01

0.1

10

Period, T, sec
Figure 10.11 An example of utilizing the recommended normalized modulus
reduction and material damping curves and its impact on estimated
nonlinear site response

271

10.5

SUMMARY

In this chapter, recommended normalized modulus reduction and material

damping curves are presented for soils with a broad range of plasticities confined
over a broad range of mean effective stresses.
The impact of utilizing the recommended curves when assigning nonlinear
soil properties in site response analyses is illustrated by analyzing a 100-m thick
silty sand (SM) deposit using average generic curves (Seed et al., 1986) to model
all twenty six layers, and the recommended nonlinear curves interpolated for each
soil layer. Larger spectral accelerations (typically 30 % to 50 % higher) are
calculated at all periods less than 1 sec for the analysis utilizing the recommended
nonlinear curves than those calculated for the analysis utilizing average generic
curves.

272