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A non-linear stress-stiffness model for geomaterials at small to intermediate strains

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Abstract

A double exponential fitting model (DEFM) capable of expressing the non-linear stress-stiffness relationship of geomaterials has been proposed by Shibuya et al. (1997). The model comprises two material constants; the elastic stiffness at very small strains and the strength, together with other free parameters to determine the complete stress-stiffness relationship. In this paper, the capability of the original function used for DEFM in simulating the tangent stiffness-stress relationship of geomaterials is first discussed. Second, the methods for determining the free model parameters, as well as its conversion to obtain a stress-strain relationship are proposed. The applicability of DEFM to predicting non-linear stress-stiffness relationship is examined in detail in a total of forty-nine fitting cases of compression test data on sedimentary rock, artificial soft rock and soft clay. It is found that the DEFM is effective in expressing the non-linear stress-stiffness relationship of various kinds of geomaterials at small to intermediate strains, say less than 0.5%. The superiority of this model compared to other fitting models currently in use is also demonstrated in some of the fitting cases.

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  1. Graduate School of Engineering, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan

    S. Shibuya

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  1. S. Shibuya
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Shibuya, S. A non-linear stress-stiffness model for geomaterials at small to intermediate strains. Geotechnical and Geological Engineering 20, 333–369 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1021274500821

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