Modelling large deformation problems in unsaturated soils

¹ Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1PZ, UK
² Department of Geotechnical Engineering and Geo-Sciences (ETCG), UPC, 08034 Barcelona, Spain
³ Centre Internacional de Metodes Numerics en Enginyeria (CIMNE), UPC, 08034 Barcelona, Spain

^a Corresponding author: eduardo.alonso@upc.edu

Abstract

Applications of unsaturated soil mechanics often involve large deformations and displacements. This is the case of collapse behaviour of low density soils or the unrestrained swelling of expansive clays. Rain induced instability of unsaturated slopes is a further example of large displacements that cause important damages around the world every year. Since standard lagrangian Finite Element methods are not well suited to model large deformations, particle-based methods are under development. This is the case of the Material Point Method (MPM), which offers an interesting alternative. Recently, the MPM has been extended to model unsaturated soil problems, where the soil is understood as a unique medium integrated by three distinct phases (solid, liquid and gas). In this paper, the MPM computational cycle for unsaturated soils is described. In addition, a validation of the 3-phase MPM approach is presented by means of the modelling of a one-dimensional infiltration problem. Finally, the applicability of MPM to solve slope instabilities is presented. The simulation of the whole instability process of an embankment subjected to rain infiltration is analysed in detail.