Development of a Nonlinear Model for Soft Rock and its Applications

A phenomenological model has been developed for soft rock based on the results of a series of triaxial compression (TC) tests conducted on Kobe sandstone with a very high precision measurement. From the analysis and interpretation of the test results, it has been found that small strain Young’s modulus (Ee) was a function of the major principal stress. Ee for elastic strains of soft rock was assumed to be cross-anisotropic. A damage function has been used to derive the appropriate elastic Young’s modulus when subjected to shear loading. As the basic stress–strain relation, the relationship between the tangent modulus and the shear stress level was used. The differential form of which was subsequently integrated by a 4th order Runge–Kutta solver to obtain the stress–strain relation. The model of soft rock is based on an isotropic strain hardening elasto-plastic framework which takes into account the pressure sensitivity, cross-anisotropy, degradation of Young’s modulus with the degree of mobilized shear stress and the nonlinearity of the shear stress-shear strain relationship. Although the model was developed from the analysis of the TC tests results of Kobe sandstone, it was also applied to the other types of soft rock or stiff geomaterials. Plate loading tests were conducted at a level of 61 m below the ground level at the bottom of a large excavated shaft at four locations. Finally, the model was used to simulate the plate loading test results successfully. This model was successfully calibrated with Akashi sandstone and applied in the simulation for the settlement of Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge piers. The simulations were carried out for both drained and undrained condition by changing the Poisson’s ratio. The layering information beneath the foundations were used in the FEM simulation. The use of very accurate Young’s modulus from the field shear wave velocity test was the key to the successful simulation of the settlement under bridge pier foundations.

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