Numerical modeling of LEAP-2017 liquefiable sloping ground centrifuge tests using the ISA-hypoplasticity model

This article evaluates the prediction capabilities and limitations of the ISA-hypoplasticity constitutive model for sands in the simulation of liquefiable sloping ground dynamic centrifuge tests from the LEAP -2017 project. For that purpose, the experimental results of three centrifuge tests performed at different centrifuge facilities are considered. The corresponding dynamic coupled predictions were carried out using the finite element software Abaqus Standard. The material parameters of the adopted constitutive model were determined based on a detailed laboratory characterization of the tested Ottawa F-65 sand, which included drained monotonic triaxial and undrained cyclic triaxial tests considering a wide range of initial conditions and testing characteristics. The comparison between measured and computed sloping ground accelerations and spectral response suggests reasonable predictions by the model. Furthermore, the results suggest that the constitutive model is only able to realistically reproduce the trends of the experimental excess pore water pressure when considering cyclic mobility effects.