Comportamiento de suelos no saturados bajo esfuerzos multi-axiales

Unsaturated soil behavior under multi-axial stress states

Laureano R. Hoyos
University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, Texas 76019, U.S.A.

Pedro Arduino
University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, U.S.A.

Resumen
Un algoritmo de integracin implcita ha sido desarrollado para simular el comportamiento esfuerzo-deformacin
de suelos no saturados bajo estados de esfuerzo multi-axiales y succin controlada. El algoritmo admite anlisis
numricos en un plano octahdrico utilizando el modelo generalizado de Cam-Clay, e incorporando una tercera
invariante de esfuerzo (Lode-angle ) dentro de un esquema de succin constante. Los resultados obtenidos a
partir de una serie de ensayos multi-axiales realizados en arena limosa bajo suction controlada fueron utilizados
para llevar a cabo la calibracin del modelo y los ajustes necesarios al algoritmo desarrollado. Las predicciones
numricas logran reproducir, con un razonable margen de error, los datos experimentales obtenidos.

Abstract
An implicit integration algorithm has been developed to simulate stress-strain response of unsaturated soils under
suction-controlled multi-axial stress states. The algorithm supports numerical analyses in the octahedral plane by
using a Generalized Cam-Clay model framework and incorporating a third stress invariant (Lode-angle ) within a
constant-suction scheme. True triaxial data from a series of constant-suction multi-axial tests on silty sand have
been used for model calibration purposes and for the tuning of the developed algorithm. Reasonably good
agreement was observed between experimental and predicted soil responses.
Traffic load

1. BACKGROUND AND SCOPE

Soil deposits are subjected to three-dimensional
stress gradients due to continuous changes in the
stress state variables (ij uaij) and (ua uw)ij, as
depicted schematically in Figure 1. Therefore, in
geotechnical boundary-value problems involving
unsaturated soil deposits, an accurate prediction of
the stress-strain behavior of soil-structure systems
requires that the constitutive relations be valid for
all major multi-axial stress paths that are likely to
be experienced in situ. It is in this context where a
true triaxial (cubical) apparatus, capable of testing
soil specimens along a wide range of simple-tocomplex stress paths and controlled suction states,
plays a fundamental role in the complete stressstrain-strength characterization of this type of soil
materials.

Foundation load

Pavement
(1 u a)

(u a u w)

(1 u a)

(u a u w)

(u a u w)
(2 u a)
(3 u a) (u a uw)

(u a u w)
(2 u a)
(3 u a) (u a uw)

Figure 1. Typical unsaturated soil deposits

In this work, an implicit integration algorithm
has been further refined with the aim of predicting
unsaturated soil response along suction-controlled
297

multi-axial stress paths that are not achievable in a

conventional cylindrical apparatus. The intent of
the work is to facilitate more elaborate analytical
solutions in boundary-value problems that involve
soil deposits that oscillate under various partially
saturated states as the climatic conditions vary
throughout the year.
The developed algorithm is based upon a few
modifications made to the constitutive framework
postulated by Alonso et al. [2] for unsaturated
soils, referred to as Barcelona model in this work.
The refined version of the algorithm implemented
herein supports numerical analyses in octahedral
plane (-plane) using a mixed control constitutive
driver, along with a Generalized Cam-Clay model,
that also account for the influence of a third stress
invariant, Lode-angle , within a constant-suction
scheme. The well-known Willam-Warnke surface
is used for simulation of unsaturated soil response
in a three-invariant stress space (p:q:). Numerical
predictions are presented in the form of deviator
stress versus principal strain response for different
octahedral stress and matric suction states.
True triaxial data (1 > 2 > 3) from a series of
constant-suction triaxial compression (TC), triaxial
extension (TE), simple shear (SS) tests, conducted
on 10-cm per side cubical specimens of silty sand,
were used for tuning and validation of the refined
algorithm. The experimental program was carried
out by using a cubical test cell suitable for testing
soils under suction-controlled conditions via axistranslation technique [3].

modulus; M = 0.982, slope of critical state line; k =

1.324, parameter controlling increase in cohesion
with suction; po(0) = 0.041 MPa, yield stress for the
saturated case.
q

CSL (s)

1
M

q2 M2 {p + ps }{po (s) p} = 0

dqp
d pp
s=0
ps

p o (0)

p o (s)

(LC)
s = so

SI
LC

s
k
( 0 ) k

Elastic region

po (s) po (0) ( s )k
c = c
p p

s=0
ps

pc

po (0)

po (s)

Figure 2. Barcelona model framework

All model parameters summarized above were
obtained from a comprehensive series of suctioncontrolled axisymmetric loading tests conducted
on compacted silty sand [1]. Figure 3 shows silty
sand response in (q:p) plane at critical state and for
different matric suction states. It can be noted the
critical influence suction has on the position of the
CSL. However, the slope of the CSL is not suction
dependent, as postulated by the Barcelona model.

2. MODEL PARAMETERS

1200

Deviatoric stress, q : kPa

Alonso et al. [2] postulated a critical state based

framework (Barcelona model) involving four state
variables: net mean stress, p = (1/3)(1 + 23) ua;
deviator stress, q = (1 3); matric suction, s = (ua
uw); and specific volume, v = (1 + e). The model
rigorously respects the framework of the Modified
Cam-Clay model, featuring elastic strains when
soil state lies inside a state boundary surface, and
plastic strains when this surface is reached. Plastic
behavior, as the soil state traverses the boundary
surface, corresponds to a yield surface expansion
in (p:q:s) space, as shown in Figure 2.
Best-fit values of Barcelona model parameters
used for numerical predictions are summarized as
follows: (0) = 0.22, slope of normal compression
line in (v:p) plane for the saturated case; k = 0.011,
elastic swell index; = 17.9 (MPa)-1, parameter
controlling rate of increase of (s) with suction; r =
0.21, parameter defining maximum stiffness; pc =
0.036 MPa, reference stress for which the LC yield
locus becomes a straight line; G = 8.80 MPa, shear

CSL (s = 0)

1
M

1000

1
M(s)

800

600

CSL (s = 200 kPa)

400

CSL (s = 100 kPa)

CSL (s = 50 kPa)

200

200

400

600

Net mean stress, p : kPa

Figure 3. Silty sand response at critical state

298

800

3. IMPLICIT INTEGRATION SCHEME

c = 1.0

The computational implicit integration driver is

developed as a Backward Euler return rule based
scheme for integrating the constitutive relations
postulated by the Barcelona model. The solution
for the unsaturated problem can be devised as the
CPPM-based projection of a trial stress state (, s)
onto an updated yield surface n+1F, as depicted in
Figure 4: = total stress tensor, s = matric suction,
po = yield stress, and so = maximum past suction.
Validation of the algorithm for the axisymmetric
case (i.e. = 0) is presented by Macari et al. [1]. A
mixed-control driver was then implemented as a
user-model operator.

g(, c) =

c = 0.53

2(1 c2 ) cos( / 3) (1 2c) 4(1 c2 ) cos2 ( / 3) + 5c2 4c

4(1 c2 ) cos2 ( / 3) + (1 2c)2

Figure 5. Willam-Warnke surface in -plane

4. TRUE TRIAXIAL TEST PROCEDURE
Cubical specimens of low plasticity silty sand
(SM) were compacted in place after saturation of
a 5-bar HAE disk at the bottom assembly of a true
triaxial cell [6]. Each specimen was subjected to a
multi-stage testing scheme in which suction was
kept constant at 50, 100 or 200 kPa. The specimen
was first brought under isotropic stress state and
subsequently imposed a monotonic TC, TE or SS
shearing until the deviator stress reached a peak
value. The multi-axial testing scheme is depicted
schematically in Figure 6. A photograph of the
cubical test setup is shown in Figure 7.

( n+1 e , n+1se )
e , se
( n , n s )
( n , ns )

c = 0.7

( n+1 , n+1s )

(1 ua)

n+1
n

TC (b = 0, = 0o)

SS (b = 0.5, = 30 )
o

F ( , s , po , so ) = 0

TE (b = 1, = 60o)

F ( , s , p o , so ) = 0

b=

2 3
1 3

oct = 50, 100, or 200 kPa

Figure 4. Implicit integration scheme

The updated surface n+1Fi is expressed in terms

of stress invariants p, q, and Lode-angle . With
the help of Lode-angle , yield functions defined
in 2-D space can be expanded into a 3-D space via
a function g(,c) in which "c" controls the shape of
the yield surface in (p:q:) space and represents
the ratio of yield stresses in extension to those in
compression.
The original g(,c) function proposed by Willam
and Warnke [4] for characterization of concrete
behavior under general stress states was adopted.
The function has been successfully used to capture
constitutive response of soils [5] and it is defined
schematically in Figure 5.
With the developed algorithm, the influence of
the Lode-angle on unsaturated soil response in
(p:q:) space is verified against a full set of results
from a comprehensive series of suction-controlled
true triaxial tests on 10-cm cubical specimens of
silty sand for constant suction values of 50, 100,
and 200 kPa.

(2 ua)

s = 50, 100, or 200 kPa

(3 ua)

Figure 6. Suction-controlled testing scheme

5-bar
disk

Figure 7. Suction-controlled cubical test setup

299

Cubical specimens are compacted in ten layers

of 1.0-cm thickness using tamping compaction, as
shown in Figure 8. Reasonably linear stress-strain
relationships were observed on trial specimens for
a shearing rate of 16 kPa/h. A shearing rate of 10
kPa/h was adopted for testing. Specimens seat on
a HAE disk and between five flexible latex/porex
membranes during suction-controlled testing [6].

(a) s = 50 kPa

Deviatoric stress, q : MPa

0.4

0.3

Experim.
Numerical
0.2

0.1

Tamper
0.0
-0.10

Guide

Deviatoric stress, q : MPa

5. SOIL RESPONSE AND PREDICTIONS

In the present work, the net octahedral stress oct
and deviator stress q are both defined in terms of
total principal stresses as follows,
1 + 2 + 3
ua
3

oct =

q=

1
2

0.05

0.10

0.05

0.10

0.00
0.05
Principal strain : cm/cm

0.10

0.3

0.2

0.1

(1)
0.0
-0.10

(1 2 )2 + (2 3 )2 + (1 3 )2

0.00

(b) s = 100 kPa

0.4

Figure 8. In-place specimen compaction

-0.05

-0.05

0.00

(2)

(c) s = 200 kPa

0.4

Deviatoric stress, q : MPa

The experimentally obtained Barcelona model

parameters were used for tuning and validating the
developed CPPM-based implicit algorithm. Figure
9 shows experimental and predicted q- responses
from TC tests conducted on silty sand at oct = 50
kPa and s = 50, 100, 200 kPa. Likewise, Figure 10
shows soil response from TE tests.
In general, predictions show a reasonably good
agreement with experimental behavior, capturing
closely either the compressive (+) or expansive ()
nature of the principal strains in each case.
Good agreements were also observed from TC,
TE, and SS tests conducted at oct = 100 and 200
kPa, for s = 50, 100, and 200 kPa. In all cases, it
can be noticed the significant influence that matric
suction exerts on the soil shear resistance, with a
considerable increase in shear strength for those
tests conducted at s = 200 kPa.

0.3

0.2

0.1

0.0
-0.10

-0.05

Figure 9. Soil response from TC tests

300

Deviatoric stress, q : MPa

Experim.
0.2

Numerical

6. FAILURE LOCI ON DEVIATORIC PLANE

0.1

0.0
-0.10

Deviatoric stress, q : MPa

-0.05

0.00

0.05

0.10

0.05

0.10

0.00
0.05
Principal strain : cm/cm

0.10

The Willam-Warnke elliptical surface defined

in Figure 5, along with the generalized Barcelona
framework, was used for prediction of unsaturated
soil response in a three-invariant stress space. By
using this approach, critical state lines (failure
loci) predicted by Barcelona model for different
suction states can then be extended to a 3-D stress
space with different strengths in compression and
extension. In the present work, it is assumed that
the strength ratio "c" in Figure 5 remains constant
with matric suction, and also that the soil behaves
isotropically.
Figure 11 shows the strength loci of silty sand
in the -plane, along with all the predictions of the
Willam-Warnke failure criteria, for all TC, TE and
SS tests conducted at oct = 50, 100, and 200 kPa
and for various values of matric suction. It can be
noticed in all cases the significant influence that
matric suction has on the size and position of the
strength envelopes, with a considerable expansion
of the envelopes for s = 200 kPa. Predictions using
W-W function g(,c) show good agreement with
observed soil response.
Figure 12 shows the experimental and predicted
failure loci projected on net-stress (ii ua) triaxial
plane. Results from constant-suction conventional
triaxial compression (CTC) tests by Hoyos [1] are
also included. Figure 12 further substantiates the
assumption of a constant strength ratio "c" that is
not suction dependent. This figure also underlines
the progressive evolution of an apparent cohesion,
that is, the intercept with the (1 ua) axis, with
matric suction.
A bonding stress o(s) for unsaturated silty sand
can also be defined from Figure 12. For saturated
case (s = 0), o(0) will be zero in those soils with
no physical cohesion, i.e. soils where cementation
or electro-chemical inter-particle forces prevail;
whereas in purely cohesive soils ( = 0), o(0) will
tend to infinity [7]. A perfectly linear relationship
can be devised from Figure 12 for bonding stress
o(s) as a function of matric suction.

(b) s = 100 kPa

0.3

0.2

0.1

0.0
-0.10

-0.05

0.00

(c) s = 200 kPa

0.3

Deviatoric stress, q : MPa

In this work, a peak value for q corresponds to a

cumulative shear strain q of 12% [6], where shear
strain is defined as follows: q = (2/3)(1 3). In
general, experimental values of q were observed
to be slightly higher than those predicted. This can
be partly attributed to the stress-controlled nature
of the multi-stage testing scheme, which makes it
difficult to identify a peak value for deviator stress
q at incipient critical state condition.

(a) s = 50 kPa

0.3

0.2

0.1

0.0
-0.10

-0.05

Figure 10. Soil response from TE tests

301

=0

(a)

(1 ua) : MPa

= 30
= 60

s = 200 kPa
s = 100 kPa
s = 50 kPa

(2 ua) : MPa

(3 ua) : MPa

=0

(b)

(1 ua) : MPa

= 30
= 60

s = 200 kPa
s = 100 kPa
s = 50 kPa

(2 ua) : MPa

(3 ua) : MPa
=0
= 30

(c)

(1 ua) : MPa

= 60

s = 200 kPa
s = 100 kPa
s = 50 kPa

(2 ua) : MPa

(3 ua) : MPa

Figure 11. Experimental ( ) and predicted ( ) failure loci in -plane:

(a) oct = 50 kPa, (b) oct = 100 kPa, (c) oct = 200 kPa
302

(1 ua ) : MPa

0.9

0.8

0.7

0.6

0.5

CTC (Hoyos 1998)

0.4

TC
0.3

HC
p=
Pa
0M
0.2

0.2
p=

0.1
0M
Pa
s=
0.0
5M
Pa

0.0
0.0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

s=

0.2
0M
Pa

a
MP

s=

Pa

5
0.0

0M
0.1

p=

0.1

TE

2 ( 2 ua ) = 2 (3 ua ) : MPa

3 o : MPa

Figure 12. Experimental ( ) and predicted ( ) failure loci projected on the net-stress triaxial plane
303

7. CONCLUDING REMARKS
Suction-controlled true triaxial tests were able
to reproduce key features of silty sand behavior
under multi-axial stress states at constant suction
conditions. Implicit integration predictions show
good agreement with experimental q response,
including the compressive and expansive nature
of principal strain response.
The experimental values of deviator stress q
at critical state condition (peak) were observed to
be slightly higher than predicted ones, which can
be partly attributed to the stress-controlled nature
of the multi-stage testing scheme followed in this
research work.
Predictions using the Willam-Warnke function
g(,c) with constant "c" ratio in compression and
extension, show good agreement with observed
response in three-invariant stress space (p:q:). A
linear relationship can be devised for changes in
bonding stress o(s) with matric suction.
The agreement between numerical predictions
and observed behavior of compacted silty sand
underlines the potential of the developed implicit
algorithm to facilitate more elaborate analytical
solutions in boundary-value problems involving
soil deposits that oscillate under various partially
saturated states as the climatic conditions vary
throughout the year.

Figure 13. Rigid platens (Matsuoka et al. 2002)

8. OTHER RECENT ADVANCES

Matsuoka et al. [7] developed a true triaxial
apparatus with three pairs of rigid loading plates
in three orthogonal directions. A 10-cm per side
silty soil (ML) specimen seats between the upper
and lower loading plates with the remaining four
lateral surfaces covered by membranes, as shown
in Figure 13. The upper and lower loading plates
house HAE ceramic disks (with a 300-kPa airentry value) and porous stones (5-mm diameter
and covered with polyfluorotetraethylene filters).
Suction states in the specimen are attained by
inducing negative pore-water pressures (s = uw)
via an external vacuum-based system, as shown
in Figure 14. A desired suction value (negative
pore water pressure) of 59 kPa was attained and
kept constant in all multi-axial tests.
Stress increments were applied when all the
axial strain rates reached less than 10-5/min. The
rigid steel plates, however, limit the application
of stress paths to values of Lode-angle ranging
from 0 to 30o, as shown in Figure 15. Responses
from suction-controlled conventional triaxial and
true triaxial tests showed good agreement.

Figure 14. Testing layout (Matsuoka et al. 2002)

Figure 15. Strength loci (Matsuoka et al. 2002)

304

REFERENCES
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(2003). "Constitutive modeling of unsaturated soil
behavior under axisymmetric stress states using a
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[2] Alonso, E.E., Gens, A., and Josa, A. (1990). "A
constitutive model for partially saturated soils".
Gotechnique, 40(3), 405-430.
[3] Hoyos, L.R., and Macari, E.J. (2001).
"Development of a stress/suction-controlled true
triaxial testing device for unsaturated soils".
Geotechnical Testing Journal, ASTM, 24(1), 5-13.
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[7] Matsuoka, H., Sun, D.A., Kogane, A., Fukuzawa,
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