Effect of strength anisotropy on strain localization in natural clay

Liu, S. , Gao, Z. and Li, M. (2023) Effect of strength anisotropy on strain localization in natural clay. Acta Geotechnica, (doi: 10.1007/s11440-023-01853-0) (Early Online Publication)

Abstract

Strain localization in soils causes the failure of slopes and foundations. Shear strength is an important factor that affects strain localization in soils. It is well known that the shear strength of natural clay is highly anisotropic due to the internal soil structure. An anisotropic failure criterion for natural clay is presented in which an anisotropic variable is used to describe the relative orientation between the stress directions and soil fabric. The failure criterion is employed in a Drucker–Prager model that considers the strain softening of natural clay. The effect of anisotropic strength on strain localization in clay is analyzed by two examples, including an undrained slope stability analysis and a simulation of a hollow cylinder test of Boom clay. It is found that the shear strength anisotropy affects both the strain localization pattern and factor of safety for the undrained slope. Simulation of the tests on Boom clay shows that the model with the anisotropic yield criterion yields an eye-shaped strain localization pattern that cannot be obtained by the model with the isotropic yield criterion.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: This work was funded by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (Grant No. N2101009). The first author gratefully acknowledges the financial support provided by the China Scholarship Council (CSC No. 201906085065).
• Status: Early Online Publication
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Gao, Dr Zhiwei and Liu, Dr Shiyi
• Authors: Liu, S., Gao, Z., and Li, M.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering; College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Infrastructure and Environment
• Journal Name: Acta Geotechnica
• Publisher: Springer
• ISSN: 1861-1125
• ISSN (Online): 1861-1133
• Published Online: 15 March 2023
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2023 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Acta Geotechnica 2023
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy