From theory to practice - numerical modelling of geostructures on soft natural clays

Paper in proceeding, 2023

The growing need for accurate predictions on the Serviceability Limit State response of geostructures requires numerical methods that build upon models that are representative for the type of soils being studied. For many advanced geotechnical engineering applications on soft natural clays, constitutive models that incorporate features such as anisotropy, rate-dependency, and degradation of bonds (destructuration) are required. This paper summarises the experimental underpinning at element level, subsequent model development and the boundary value level validation of a family of models for soft natural clays, resulting in the Creep-SCLAY1S model. Moreover, the feasibility of using this model in real-world engineering problems, in terms of model calibration and initialisation, is discussed. The results show that Creep-SCLAY1S performs well for a wide range of engineering applications that span many rate-dependent loading and unloading paths. The boundary value level examples range from embankments on soft clays to deep excavations, with deep soil mixed columns or piles that stabilise the bottom of the excavation. Furthermore, for some outstanding issues with model initialisation in sloping ground and the challenges in accounting for installation effects, tentative solutions are elaborated. Finally, future developments and use of these type of phenomenological models is discussed.