Geomechanics

CIVL 2122

Soil strength
and
Critical State

Dr Christophe Gaudin
gaudin@civil.uwa.edu.au Lecture 8
 Outline

Geotechnical design

Soil behaviour Soil parameters

(Constitutive model)

Stress strain relationship Lab testing In situ testing

Atterbeg limits - PSD CPT - SPT

Mechanics principles Direct shear box tests Pressuremeter

Dilatometer

Trixial tests T-bar

Dr Christophe Gaudin – August 2007 CIVL 2122 – Lecture 8

 Outline

Basics of Mechanics

Dr Christophe Gaudin – August 2007 CIVL 2122 – Lecture 8

 Stress and strain analysis Principal stress

•There is always one orientation of the solid body where the shear
stresses are nil and the normal stresses are maximal. They are called
principal stresses
Z Z’

σz
σ1 0 0
 
T =  0 σ2
z
0
0 0 σ3 

σy
y Y Usual convention
σx
x
X’ With σ1>σ2>σ3
Y’
X

Dr Christophe Gaudin – August 2007 CIVL 2122 – Lecture 8

 Stress and strain analysis Principal stress

•Plan strain and axisymmetry

σ1
σ1

σ2
σ2
σ2

Plane strain
Axisymmetry

Typical case of plane Typical case of axisymmetry:

strain: Retaining wall Pile

Dr Christophe Gaudin – August 2007 CIVL 2122 – Lecture 8

 Morh circle and Coulomb failure criterion More definitions

• Stress invariants (axisymetric case)

σ'1 0 
T = 
σ’1  0 σ'3 

Mean stress
σ’3
σ'1 +2σ'3
σ’3 p' =
3

Deviatoric stress

q = σ'1 −σ'3

Dr Christophe Gaudin – August 2007 CIVL 2122 – Lecture 8

 Stress and strain analysis Strains

•Normal and shear strains δh

σ
δl τ

δz δz

Normal strain Shear strain

δl δh
δε = δγ =
δz δz

Dr Christophe Gaudin – August 2007 CIVL 2122 – Lecture 8

 Mohr circle of stress Principle

• How to draw a Morh circle of stress

σ’1 τ’

σ’3 Mohr circle of stress

Plane strain
σ1 and σ3 principal stresses σ’3 σ2 σ’1 σ’

Dr Christophe Gaudin – August 2007 CIVL 2122 – Lecture 8

 Mohr circle of stress Stress state in any plane

• How to use a Morh circle of stress

σ’1
τ’

σ’f
τf σ’3
θ
τf
2θ

τf =
1 '
2
( )
σ1 − σ3' sin 2θ σ’3 σ’f c σ’1 σ’

1 '
( 1 '
) (
σ' f = σ1 + σ3 + σ1 − σ3' cos 2θ
2
'
2
) c=1/2 (σ’1+σ’3)
r=1/2 (σ’1-σ’3)

Dr Christophe Gaudin – August 2007 CIVL 2122 – Lecture 8

 Mohr circle of stress Stress state in any plane

• Maximum shear stress

σ’1
τ’

σ’mean
τmax σ’3
45 τmax

2θ

τ max
1 '
2
(
= r = σ1 − σ3' ) σ’3 c σ’1 σ’

Where 2θ=45°
c=1/2 (σ’1+σ’3)
Acting on a plan inclined at θ=45°
r=1/2 (σ’1-σ’3)

Dr Christophe Gaudin – August 2007 CIVL 2122 – Lecture 8

 Mohr circle of stress Principle

• Using the Morh circle of stress to determine principal stresses

τ’
σ’1

N
σn’ τ
τ
σ’3 σm’
τ
σ’3 σn’ c σ’1 σ’
θ σm’
-τ
M

Dr Christophe Gaudin – August 2007 CIVL 2122 – Lecture 8

 Mohr circle of stress Principle

• Using the Morh circle of stress to determine principal stresses

σ’1
τ’
N
τ
σn’

τ σm’
σ’3
τ σ’3 σn’ c σ’1 σ’
θ σm’ -τ
M

σ '
+ σ '  σ '
− σ ' 
σ 'm + σ 'n  σ 'm − σ 'n  2
σ1' = m n
+  m n 
+ τ 2
σ1' = −  +τ

2 2  2 2
   

Dr Christophe Gaudin – August 2007 CIVL 2122 – Lecture 8

 Outline

Basics of Soil Behaviour

Dr Christophe Gaudin – August 2007 CIVL 2122 – Lecture 8

 Phase Relationships

Void ratio (e) is a measure of the void volume, i.e. volume not
occupied by solid soil particles

Va air Wa=0
Vv Vv
e= Vw water Ww
Vs Wt
Vt

Vs soil Ws

Dr Christophe Gaudin – August 2007 CIVL 2122 – Lecture 8

 Vertical effective stress Stress change

• Response of effective stress to a change in total stress

Consolidation analogy Water is incompressible
Soil is represented by a spring
σ σ

Time depends of
outlet diameter =
σ
u=σ u=


soil permeability 0
u=0
σ’=0 σ’=
 σ’=σ
σ

Dr Christophe Gaudin – August 2007 CIVL 2122 – Lecture 8

 Vertical effective stress Stress change

• Response of effective stress to a change in total stress

Consolidation analogy Water is incompressible
Soil is represented by a spring
σ σ

Under change in total stress

• Soil is going to deform (change in volume)
• Water is going to flow (seepage/consolidation)
Dr Christophe Gaudin – August 2007 CIVL 2122 – Lecture 8
 Soil classification Liquidity Index

Relationship between liquidity index IL and shear strength su

IL

(w = wL) IL = 1
Unique Line

(w = wP) IL = 0

2 kPa su 200 kPa log su (kPa)

ln 200 
w − wP ln 200 − ln su  su 
IL = =
wL − wP ln 200 − ln 2
=
ln 200 (
2
)
su = 200 exp(− 4.6 I L )

Dr Christophe Gaudin – August 2007 CIVL 2122 – Lecture 8

 Outline

Soil Stress States

Dr Christophe Gaudin – August 2007 CIVL 2122 – Lecture 8

 Morh circle and Coulomb failure criterion Properties

• Valid and invalid stress state

τ
τ=c’ + σ’tanφ
φ’
Failure line
Not a valid stress
φ’
state

c’
σ’h σ’h σ’v σ’v σ’

Dr Christophe Gaudin – August 2007 CIVL 2122 – Lecture 8

 Vertical effective stress Concept

• Effective stress distribution

Ground surface Total stress (σ) Hydrostatic stress (u) Effective stress (σ')

Water table

σ=γxz u = γw x z σ' = σ - u
CLAY, Unit Weight σ' = γ x z – γw x z
(γ) = 16 kN/m3 σ’ = (γ−γw) x z

Depth, z
Depth, z

16 kN/m3 10 kN/m3 σ' = γ’

γ xz

Effective Stress = Total Stress – Hydrostatic Stress

Dr Christophe Gaudin – August 2007 CIVL 2122 – Lecture 8

 Horizontal stress Earth pressure at rest

σ′
• Coefficient of earth pressure
at rest K0
σ′v = γ.z
H
Fo

H/3

σ′v z σ′h = Ko. σ′v

σ′h-max = Ko. σ′v-max
= Ko. γ.H
σ′h
Remove supporting soil, but prevent wall
movement by applying Fo. What is
required value of Fo?
Wall “wished into place”
Note: There is always some uncertainty
– with no change in
about the value of Ko, but for normally
horizontal stress consolidated soil (including sand) it is
often sufficiently accurate to assume that
Ko = 1 – sin φ′
Dr Christophe Gaudin – August 2007 CIVL 2122 – Lecture 8
 Horizontal stress Active earth pressure

• Coefficient of active earth pressure Ka

Wall allowed to move outwards σ′

σ′v = γ.z
H
Fa 45+φ′/2
45+φ

H/3
z
σ′h = Ka. σ′v
σ′h-max = Ka. σ′v-max = Ka. γ.H

Failure occurs for

Wall is allowed to yield horizontally – a displacement of
move outwards – until the force on H/1000
the wall drops to a minimum = Fa.
As wall moves, σ′h reduces until soil
fails.
Dr Christophe Gaudin – August 2007 CIVL 2122 – Lecture 8
 Horizontal stress Passive earth pressure

• Coefficient of passive earth pressure Kp

Wall forced to move inwards

σ′
σ′h = Kp. σ′v

H Fp

H/3 z σ′v = γ.z

σ′h-max = Kp. σ′v-max = Kp. γ.H

Wall is forced into the soil, until

force = Fp. As wall moves, σ′h
increases until soil fails
Failure occurs for
a displacement of
H/100 45−
45−φ′/2

Dr Christophe Gaudin – August 2007 CIVL 2122 – Lecture 8

 Mohr Coulomb failure criterion Sand failure criterion

• Sand has no cohesion

τ’ Failure line

+ φ’

Failure line for sand

+
+

c’
σ’
φ’: angle of internal friction
τ’=σ
σ’tanφ
φ’
c’: cohesion
Dr Christophe Gaudin – August 2007 CIVL 2122 – Lecture 8
 Mohr Coulomb failure criterion Ka and Kp for sand

• Ka and Kp can be determine from the Mohr circle of stress

τ’

Failure line
φ’ τ’=c’ + σ’tanφ
φ’

Failure σ 'h 0
= K0
σv 0
'

σ′h reduces σ 'hf min

until soil fails = Ka
σ v' 0

σ’hfmin σ’h0 σ’v0 σ’

Ka<1

Dr Christophe Gaudin – August 2007 CIVL 2122 – Lecture 8

 Mohr Coulomb failure criterion Ka and Kp for sand

• Calculation of Ka

τ’ IA = OA sin φ'
τ’=c’ + σ’tanφ
φ’
Failure line σ v' 0 + σ 'hf min
IA = sin φ'
φ’ 2

σ 'v 0 − σ 'hf min

IA = r =
2
I
σ 'hf min 1 − sin φ'
= Ka =
σ 'v 0 1 + sin φ'
O A
σ’hfmin σ’h0 σ’v0 σ’

Dr Christophe Gaudin – August 2007 CIVL 2122 – Lecture 8

 Mohr Coulomb failure criterion Ka and Kp for sand

• Calculation of Kp

τ’

Failure line
τ’=c’ + σ’tanφ
φ’
φ’
1 + sin φ'
Kp =
1 − sin φ'
1
I Kp =
Ka

O
σ’h0 A σ’v0 σ’hfmax σ’

Dr Christophe Gaudin – August 2007 CIVL 2122 – Lecture 8

 Morh circle and Coulomb failure criterion More definitions

• Coulomb failure criterion in the (q,p’) plane

q
Failure line q
M=
M
p'
6 sin φ'
M=
3 − sin φ'

p’

Deviatoric stress Mean stress

q = σ'1 −σ'3 σ'1 +2σ'3

p' =
3
Dr Christophe Gaudin – August 2007 CIVL 2122 – Lecture 8
 Outline

Soil Lab Testings

Dr Christophe Gaudin – August 2007 CIVL 2122 – Lecture 8

 Direct shear box test Typical results

• Test procedure
The upper part of the box is displaced at a constant rate and under a constant
vertical load

Parameters recorded:
Normal force N (normal stress)
Shear force F (shear stress)
Horizontal displacement x
Vertical displacement y

The failure plan is forced !

Dr Christophe Gaudin – August 2007 CIVL 2122 – Lecture 8

 Direct shear box test Typical sand results

• Load displacement curve

D, M, L: Dense, Medium, Loose

Dr Christophe Gaudin – August 2007 CIVL 2122 – Lecture 8

 Direct shear box test Typical sand results

• Shear stress normal stress curve

Dr Christophe Gaudin – August 2007 CIVL 2122 – Lecture 8

 Direct shear box test Dilation

Stress ration τ/σ’

Peak stress ratio = tan φ’peak Peak=failure

Dense Constant volume stress ratio

tan φ’cv
Loose

Dilation ratio: ν=tan dy/dx

εv x
Dense
dx dy/dx=0
Constant volume
dy deformation
dy/dx>0 Dilation

x
dy/dx<0 Contraction
Loose
dy/dx=0

Dr Christophe Gaudin – August 2007 CIVL 2122 – Lecture 8

 Triaxial test Device

Loading frame
The triaxial test enables a variety of
Loading ram stress or strain controlled tests to be
carried out on cylindrical soil
External LVDT
specimens.
Top cell
Fa
Internal load cell

Top "O" rings σcell

Top cap

Top porous disc

Membrane
Phosphor bronze springs
Area, A
Sample Strain gauges
σcell
Cell shroud
Bottom porous disc
u
Triaxial pedestal

Bottom "O" rings

Top drainage To air-water interface cylinder

Bottom drainage σcell
Fa
Dr Christophe Gaudin – August 2007 CIVL 2122 – Lecture 8
 Triaxial test Stress path

• Stress path achievable in triaxial tests

Unloading Loading
q

3
3 1 Compression
2

p,p’ Extension

Dr Christophe Gaudin – August 2007 CIVL 2122 – Lecture 8

 Triaxial test Stress path

• Total and effective stress path

TSP: Total stress path

q (imposed by the apparatus)

ESP: Effective stress path

(soil response) 3 ESP
"Standard" stress path:
σh constant
∆u (+) ∆u
1 (-) σv increased to failure
q=q’
σv

σh

∆q = ∆σv
p’ p p’ p,p’ ∆p = ∆σv/3
∆q/ ∆p = 3

Dr Christophe Gaudin – August 2007 CIVL 2122 – Lecture 8

 Triaxial test Example of results

• Loading and deformation curves

q εv=εa+2εr
Peak
εv
Critical

εa
εa
q/p,

εa

∆u

εa
Dr Christophe Gaudin – August 2007 CIVL 2122 – Lecture 8
 Triaxial test Analysis

• Morh circles of stresses at peak strengths

τ Curved peak strength

envelope
Test 1

Test 2

Test 3

56.7 103.3 152.6 187.3 242.1 419.8

σ’

Dr Christophe Gaudin – August 2007 CIVL 2122 – Lecture 8