Role of Numerical Modelling in Understanding Soft Soil Behaviour Under Construction Load
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15282/construction.v5i2.12576Keywords:
Finite Element, Modified Cam Clay, Elastic-viscoplastic, Soft soilAbstract
This study reviewed the application of numerical modelling in soft soil subjected to different construction loads. Various models to simulate clayey soils were discussed which included the Modified Cam Clay (MCC) model and Elastic-viscoplastic (EVP) model. The MCC model was useful for predicting soil settlement and pore water pressure through a 2D FEA model, but the EVP model performed more accurately in predicting soil settlements, lateral displacements and excess pore water pressures. A 3D numerical model using HSM for pile raft foundations accurately predicted the displacement under working loads based on the non-linear soil elasticity and plasticity. Case studies on tunnels constructed on soft soil were presented. Numerical simulations had been found reliable in simulating the settlements and slope stability. The findings emphasized the importance of numerical modelling to enhance design optimization in geotechnical aspects.
Downloads
References
[1] A. Ibrahim, A. Marto, F. A. Kechik, and A. Selamat, “Soil response as an effect of various dynamic loading conditions at Klang Valley area,” Transactions on Science and Technology, vol. 10, no. 2-2, pp. 95-104, 2023.
[2] W. Huang, S. Fityus, D. Bishop, D. Smith, and D. Sheng, “Finite-element parametric study of the consolidation behavior of a trial embankment on soft clay,” International Journal of Geomechanics, vol. 6, pp. 328-341, 2006.
[3] R. Saputra and Y. Zaika, “Avoid construction failure by controlling settlement with a geosynthetic enchased geofoam granular column,” in E3S Web of Conferences, 2023, vol. 464, p. 01005.
[4] Y. Zaika and A. Rachmansyah, “Geotechnical behaviour of soft soil in East Java, Indonesia,” in IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering, 2019, vol. 615, no. 1, p. 012043.
[5] R. Robani and C.-M. Chan, “Reusing soft soils with cement-palm oil clinker (POC) stabilisation,” in International Conference on Engineering and Education in the 21st Century, 2009, pp. 1-4.
[6] T. C. Hai, The Palm Oil Industry in Malaysia: From Seed to Frying Pan. Malaysia: WWF, 2002.
[7] S. F. R. Othman, The Correlations of Engineering Characteristics of Pekan Soft Clay, Doctoral dissertation, Universiti Malaysia Pahang, 2007.
[8] M. F. Sa'adon, Determination of Basic Soil Properties and Shear Strength of Pekan Soft Clay, Doctoral dissertation, Universiti Malaysia Pahang, 2009.
[9] M. Hasan, The Correlations of Engineering Characteristics of Johor Coastal Clay, Doctoral dissertation, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 2006.
[10] M.-H. Ho and C.-M. Chan, “Some mechanical properties of cement stabilized Malaysian soft clay,” International Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering, vol. 5, no. 2, pp. 76-83, 2011.
[11] R. C. Mamat, A. Kasa, and S. M. Razali, “Comparative analysis of settlement and pore water pressure of road embankment on yan soft soil treated with PVDs,” Civil Engineering Journal, vol. 5, no. 7, pp. 1609-1618, 2019.
[12] M. B. Elsawy, M. F. Alsharekh, and M. Shaban, “Modeling undrained shear strength of sensitive alluvial soft clay using machine learning approach,” Applied Sciences, vol. 12, no. 19, p. 10177, 2022.
[13] J. Chai, Y. Igaya, T. Hino, and J. Carter, “Finite element simulation of an embankment on soft clay–Case study,” Computers and Geotechnics, vol. 48, pp. 117-126, 2013.
[14] K. H. Roscoe and J. B. Burland, “On the generalized stress-strain behaviour of wet clay,” in Engineering Plasticity, J. Heyman and F. Leckie, Eds. Cambridge, U.K.: Cambridge University Press, 1968, pp. 535–609.
[15] A. M. Britto and M. J. Gunn, Critical state soil mechanics via finite elements. Chichester, UK.: Ellis Horwood; New York: Halsted Press, 1987.
[16] L. Bjerrum, “Embankments on soft ground: State-of-the-Art Report,” in Proceedings of the Specialty Conference on Performance of Earth and Earth-Supported Structures, vol. 2, Purdue University, IN, USA: ASCE, 1972, pp. 1–54.
[17] L. Bjerrum, “Problems of soil mechanics and construction on soft clays: State-of-the-Art Report,” in Proceedings of the 8th International Conference on Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering, vol. 3, Moscow, U.S.S.R., 1973, pp. 111–159.
[18] C. Kelln, J. Sharma, D. Hughes, and J. Graham, “Finite element analysis of an embankment on a soft estuarine deposit using an elastic–viscoplastic soil model,” Canadian Geotechnical Journal, vol. 46, no. 3, pp. 357-368, 2009.
[19] J.-H. Yin, J.-G. Zhu, and J. Graham, “A new elastic viscoplastic model for time-dependent behaviour of normally and overconsolidated clays: theory and verification,” Canadian Geotechnical Journal, vol. 39, no. 1, pp. 157-173, 2002.
[20] D. Wood, Soil Behaviour and Critical State Soil Mechanics, Cambridge University Press, 1990.
[21] C. Kelln, J. Sharma, D. Hughes, and G. Gallagher, “Deformation of a soft estuarine deposit under a geotextile reinforced embankment,” Canadian Geotechnical Journal, vol. 44, no. 5, pp. 603-617, 2007.
[22] B. Indraratna, A. Balasubramaniam, and S. Balachandran, “Performance of test embankment constructed to failure on soft marine clay,” Journal of Geotechnical Engineering, vol. 118, no. 1, pp. 12-33, 1992.
[23] H. G. Poulos, “Difficulties in prediction of horizontal deformations of foundations,” Journal of the Soil Mechanics and Foundations Division, vol. 98, no. 8, pp. 843-848, 1972.
[24] F. Tavenas, S. Leroueil, P. L. Rochelle, and M. Roy, “Creep behaviour of an undisturbed lightly over consolidated clay,” Canadian Geotechnical Journal, vol. 15, no. 3, pp. 402-423, 1978.
[25] G. Zhu, J.-H. Yin, and J. Graham, “Consolidation modelling of soils under the test embankment at Chek Lap Kok International Airport in Hong Kong using a simplified finite element method,” Canadian Geotechnical Journal, vol. 38, no. 2, pp. 349-363, 2001.
[26] Z. W. Kundzewicz and K. Takeuchi, “Flood protection and management: quo vadimus?” Hydrological Sciences Journal, vol. 44, no. 3, pp. 417-432, 1999.
[27] M. Mirjalili, S. Kimoto, F. Oka, and T. Hattori, “Long-term consolidation analysis of a large-scale embankment construction on soft clay deposits using an elasto-viscoplastic model,” Soils and Foundations, vol. 52, no. 1, pp. 18-37, 2012.
[28] S. Kimoto and F. Oka, “An elasto-viscoplastic model for clay considering destructuralization and consolidation analysis of unstable behavior,” Soils and Foundations, vol. 45, no. 2, pp. 29-42, 2005.
[29] T. Adachi and F. Oka, “Constitutive equations for normally consolidated clay based on elasto-viscoplasticity,” Soils and Foundations, vol. 22, no. 4, pp. 57-70, 1982.
[30] K. Roscoe, A. Schofield, and A. Thurairajah, “Yielding of clays in states wetter than critical,” Geotechnique, vol. 13, no. 3, pp. 211-240, 1963.
[31] P. Perzyna, “The constitutive equations for work-hardening and rate sensitive plastic materials,” Proceeding Vibrational Problems, vol. 4, no. 3, pp. 281–290, 1963.
[32] E. Ogisako, S. Nishio, A. Denda, F. Oka, and S. Kimoto, “Simulation of triaxial compression tests on soil samples obtained from seabed ground in deep sea by elasto-viscoplastic constitutive equation,” in ISOPE Ocean Mining and Gas Hydrates Symposium, 2007: ISOPE, pp. ISOPE-M-07-023.
[33] B. O. Hardin and W. L. Black, “Vibration modulus of normally consolidated clay,” Journal of the Soil Mechanics and Foundations Division, vol. 94, no. 2, pp. 353-369, 1968.
[34] A. J. A. Posse, J. F. R. Rebolledo, J. A. B. García, B. C. Hormaza, and E. Rodríguez-Rincón, “Validation of a 3D numerical model for piled raft systems founded in soft soils undergoing regional subsidence,” Soils and Rocks, vol. 44, p. e2021053620, 2021.
[35] T. Schanz, P. Vermeer, and P. G. Bonnier, “The hardening soil model: Formulation and verification,” in Beyond 2000 in Computational Geotechnics: Routledge, 2019, pp. 281-296.
[36] E. Rodríguez-Rincón, Experimental analysis of piled raft systems in consolidating soft soils, Master’s thesis, Universidade de Brasília, 2016.
[37] E. Rodriguez Rincón, R. P. d. Cunha, and B. Caicedo Hormaza, “Analysis of settlements in piled raft systems founded in soft soil under consolidation process,” Canadian Geotechnical Journal, vol. 57, no. 4, pp. 537-548, 2020.
[38] G. Itasca Consulting, FLAC3D: Fast Lagrangian Analysis of Continua in 3 Dimensions. [Minneapolis, Minn.]: [Itasca Consulting Group] (in English), 2002.
[39] M. Rayhani and M. H. El Naggar, “Numerical modeling of seismic response of rigid foundation on soft soil,” International Journal of Geomechanics, vol. 8, no. 6, pp. 336-346, 2008.
[40] J. Avilés and L. E. Pérez-Rocha, “Site effects and soil-structure interaction in the Valley of Mexico,” Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, vol. 17, no. 1, pp. 29-39, 1998.
[41] T. Balendra and A. C. Heidebrecht, “Influence of different sites on seismic base shear of buildings,” Earthquake Engineering & Structural Dynamics, vol. 14, no. 4, pp. 623-642, 1986.
[42] A. Veletsos, A. Prasad, and W. Wu, “Transfer functions for rigid rectangular foundations,” Earthquake Engineering & Structural Dynamics, vol. 26, no. 1, pp. 5-17, 1997.
[43] Y.-S. Kim and J. M. Roesset, “Effect of nonlinear soil behavior on inelastic seismic response of a structure,” International Journal of Geomechanics, vol. 4, no. 2, pp. 104-114, 2004.
[44] M. Rayhani and M. H. El Naggar, “Centrifuge modeling of seismic response of layered soft clay,” Bulletin of Earthquake Engineering, vol. 5, pp. 571-589, 2007.
[45] J. P. Stewart, S. Kim, J. Bielak, R. Dobry, and M. S. Power, “Revisions to soil-structure interaction procedures in NEHRP design provisions,” Earthquake Spectra, vol. 19, no. 3, pp. 677-696, 2003.
[46] X. Zhang and W. Broere, “Settlements of immersed tunnel on soft ground: A case study,” in Tunnels and Underground Cities. Engineering and Innovation Meet Archaeology, Architecture and Art: CRC Press, 2019, pp. 1234-1241.
[47] W. C. Grantz, “Immersed tunnel settlements. Part 1: nature of settlements,” Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology, vol. 16, no. 3, pp. 195-201, 2001.
[48] W. C. Grantz, “Immersed tunnel settlements: Part 2: Case histories,” Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology, vol. 16, no. 3, pp. 203-210, 2001.
[49] J. Shao, Study on prediction and control for settlements of immersed tunnel, Master’s thesis, Tongji University, Shanghai, China, 2003.
[50] X. Xie, P. Wang, Y. Li, J. Niu, and H. Qin, “Monitoring data and finite element analysis of long-term settlement of Yongjiang immersed tunnel,” Rock and Soil Mechanics, vol. 35, no. 8, pp. 2314-2324, 2014.
[51] T. Kasper, C. Rotwitt, P. Jackson, and K. Massarsch, “Foundation of an immersed tunnel on marine clay improved by cement deep mixing and sand compaction piles,” in Proceedings of the 17th International Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (Volumes 1, 2, 3 and 4), 2009: IOS Press, pp. 2415-2418.
[52] M. Kitazume and M. Terashi, The Deep Mixing Method. CRC press London, 2013.
[53] M. Kitazume, The Sand Compaction Pile Method. AA Balkema Publishers, 2005.
[54] J. Steenfelt, P. Jackson, C. Christensen, J. Lee, and Y. Ha, “Ground investigations for the Busan-Geoje immersed tunnel,” submitted to the 3rd International Conference on Site Characterisation (ISC), vol. 3, pp. 1-6, 2008.
[55] R. Brinkgreve and H. Bakker, “Non-linear finite element analysis of safety factors,” in Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Computer Methods and Advances in Geomechanics, 1991, pp. 1117–1122.
[56] T. Kasper and P. Jackson, “Stability of an underwater trench in marine clay under ocean wave impact,” in Geotechnical Aspects of Underground Construction in Soft Ground: CRC Press, 2008, pp. 679-684.
[57] T. Kasper, J. Steenfelt, L. Pedersen, P. Jackson, and R. Heijmans, “Stability of an immersed tunnel in offshore conditions under deep water wave impact,” Coastal Engineering, vol. 55, no. 9, pp. 753-760, 2008.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 The Author(s)

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.


