Constitutive models for predicting liquefaction of soils

Abstract

Liquefaction is an example of a diffuse mode of failure. It occurs in loose sands when the effective mean pressure decreases to zero. This phenomenon has been studied extensively both experimentally and theoretically. Three constitutive laws, based on different assumptions, capable of predicting liquefaction are presented in the paper. These are Pastor-Zienkiewicz generalized plasticity model and Darve’s incrementally non-linear and octo-linear models. Results of numerical simulations of element tests are presented in the paper.