The Earthquake Engineering Online Archive

Strength, stress-stain and bulk modulus parameters for finite element analyses of stresses and movements in soil masses

Duncan, James M.; Byrne, Peter M.; Wong, Kai S.; Mabry, Phillip

UCB/GT-80-01, University of California, Berkeley, Geotechnical Engineering, 1980, PDF (4.8 MB)

For the results of a finite element analysis of stresses and movements in soil to be meaningful and realistic, it is necessary that the stress-strain characteristics of the soil be reasonably represented. The hyperbolic stress-strain relationships described in this report can be used to represent three important characteristics of the stress-strain behavior of soils: nonlinearity, stress dependency, and inelasticity. The values of these parameters may be determined from the results of conventional laboratory tests, and the parameters may be used for analysis of stresses and movements in stable soil masses. The techniques used to determine values of the parameters from the results of laboratory tests are explained in detail, and compilations of parameter values are given for soils tested under both drained and unconsolidated-undrained test conditions.

Available online: http://library.eerc.berkeley.edu/documents/GEOTECH/UCB-GT-80-01.pdf