Coupled hydro-mechanical modelling of unsaturated soils; numerical implementation and application to large deformation problems

This paper presents coupled hydro-mechanical modelling of unsaturated soil problems by incorporating some advanced numerical and constitutive models in a general-purpose commercial software package, Abaqus. Two different strategies for the interpretation of unsaturated soil behaviour with respect to the soil volume change are considered and the relevant constitutive models are implemented through user-defined subroutines. The first approach that is commonly used in geomechanics considers suction as an additional variable and uses a constitutive model in the space of effective stress-suction assuming that soil compressibility is a function of suction. The second approach treats the constitutive model in the space of effective stress and degree of satu-ration assuming that the soil compressibility is a function of the degree of saturation. The hydro-mechanical behaviour regarding the change in the degree of saturation caused by both suction and net stress changes is also considered, together with the effect of hydraulic hysteresis. Validation of the implemented algorithms is presented through several benchmark problems. Finally, the application and utility of the implemented pro-cedures are illustrated by simulations of two challenging problems of unsaturated geomechanics, including a slope failure due to seepage and rainfall infiltration as well as cone penetration tests in unsaturated soil. A suitable mesh optimisation scheme is also incorporated to handle finite deformations.

Automated summary

This paper presents a coupled hydro-mechanical modelling approach for unsaturated soil problems using advanced numerical and constitutive models in Abaqus. Two different strategies for interpreting unsaturated soil behaviour are considered, with relevant constitutive models implemented through user-defined subroutines. The algorithms are validated through benchmark problems and applied to simulate challenging unsaturated geomechanics problems, demonstrating the utility of the implemented procedures. Mesh optimization is also incorporated to handle finite deformations.