Numerical Simulation of Smear Effect on Radial Consolidation

摘要

Elasto-plastic finite element analyses were performed based on the experimental investigations on smear effects using kaolin clay in a large scale consolidometer with extensive instrumentation. Satisfactory agreements were obtained between the computed and measured results of settlement, excess pore pressure and degree of consolidation. Detailed comparisons were made between the computed and measured isochrones of excess pore pressures. From the numerical analyses, the propagation mechanism of Mandel-Cryer effect from the drainage boundary to the undrained boundary was demonstrated. The numerical analyses also exhibit that stress history has significant influence on the developments of dissipation of excess pore pressures and settlements, and the influence is more pronounced on the former than on the latter. Further, significant discrepancy was found in the degree of horizontal consolidation between that assessed with respect to pore water pressure and with respect to settlement, which highlights the importance of making an explicit definition for the degree of horizontal consolidation, especially that for overconsolidated clays.