ABSTRACT
This paper presents the application to a boundary value problem, namely a benchmark embankment, of a novel constitutive model for soft structured clays that includes anisotropic behavior both of elastic and plastic nature. The model was developed based on an existing model called S-CLAY1S, which is a Cam clay type model that accounts for plastic anisotropy and destructuration. The new model incorporates stress-dependent cross-anisotropic elastic behavior within the yield surface using just 3 independent elastic parameters. Only an additional parameter that relates the vertical and horizontal elastic stiffnesses was introduced for the sake of simplicity. The model does not consider evolution of elastic anisotropy, but laboratory results show that large strains are necessary to cause noticeable changes in elastic anisotropic behavior. Model predictions show a good agreement with laboratory tests available in the literature. Finally, the application of the constitutive model to a benchmark embankment on a soft soil, is presented. A parametric analysis shows the influence of the anisotropic behavior within the elastic range.
