Constitutive model for overconsolidated clays

Based on the relationships between the Hvorslev envelope, the current yield surface and the reference yield surface, a new constitutive model for overconsolidated clays is proposed. It adopts the unified hardening parameter, to which the potential failure stress ratio and the characteristic state stress ratio are introduced. The model can describe many characteristics of overconsolidated clays, including stress-strain relationships, strain hardening and softening, stress dilatancy, and stress path dependency. Compared with the Cam-clay model, the model only requires one additional soil parameter which is the slope of the Hvorslev envelope. Comparisons with data from triaxial drained compression tests for Fujinomori clay show that the proposed model can rationally describe overconsolidated properties. In addition, the model is also used to predict the stress-strain relationship in the isotropic consolidation condition and the stress paths in the undrained triaxial compression tests. Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 50479001 and 10672010), the National Science and Technology Supporting Item (Grant No. 2006BAK12B12), and the National Basic Research Program of China (Grant No. 2007CB714203)