The Application of Improved Duncan-Chang Model in Unloading Soil

Abstract

On the basis of the representative samples of silty clay found in Wuhan, China, the lateral unloading of soil’s stress path produced by excavating foundation pit engineering, was simulated by triaxial experiment. A series of consolidated- drained true triaxial test and normal triaxial test were conducted. According to the results of tests, the parameter of the Duncan-Chang Model was determined. A modulus formula was used for the foundation soil in the lateral unloading stress path tests to replace the modulus formula of Duncan-Chang Model based on the σ₃ =const . Moreover, the Duncan- Chang hyperbola nonlinear elastic constitutive model was used to simulate the plane strain test. A method to improve the ability of Duncan-Chang model in order to take into account the effects of the intermediate principal stress on the strength and deformation was presented as well as all the model parameters were also determined. The adaptability of the model for unloading the stress path was verified by comparing the theoretical stress-strain relationship and empirical stress-strain relationship.