Behaviour and modelling of a natural soft clay : triaxial testing, constitutive relations and finite element modelling

The main objectives if the research project have been to create an experimental basis for a more general theoretical modelling of Swedish clays and to improve the knowledge of the mechanical behaviour of natural soft clays. Another objective has been to investigate the effects of end restraint on the mechanical behaviour obtained in triaxial tests, by means of numerical simulations. Extensive experimental studies were performed by triaxial tests on a natural soft clay from the city of Norrköping. The results are discussed in detail from a quantitative and qualitative point of view and the effects of the in situ structure of the clay on the mechanical behaviour focused. Undrained and drained shear conditions are investigated. Obtained deformation modes in triaxial tests ar classified and analysed. Soil parameters for constitutive models are evaluated and discussed and requirements formulated for a constitutive model supposed to describe the behaviour of the clay.Godkänd; 1999; 20061117 (haneit