Geotechnical Hybrid Simulation System for One-Dimensional Consolidation Analysis

A system for a hybrid consolidation simulation was developed to predict more realistically the nonlinear behavior of the consolidation settlement of soft clay, including a large strain consolidation problem. The hybrid simulation method can introduce the mechanical behavior of the soils directly by combining numerical analysis and the soil element test in an online state. In this paper, a fundamental study to apply the hybrid simulation method to the consolidation settlement problem, a basic concept, and the corresponding algorithm and components are presented. Furthermore, using preconsolidated Kaolinite clays, verification studies were also conducted in the laboratory to verify the operational performance and data reliability of the system. On the basis of the test results, we concluded that the new consolidation analysis system using the hybrid simulation concept provided an adequate performance in the reproduction of the consolidation behavior of preconsolidated Kaolinite clays in the aspect of the dissipation of excess pore water pressure and corresponding consolidation settlement.