ELASTO-PLASTIC ANALYSIS OF CONSOLIDATION AND DEFORMATION OF SOFT GROUND

This paper summerizes the author’s research work on the finite-element analysis of the coupled problem of consolidation and deformation of soft ground. The elasto-plastic model of soils with double-yield surfaces and the procedure of determination of its related parameters are outlined. This model has been used to analyze several engineering projects and compared with two other models, i.e. the Cambridge model and the elastic model. The settlements of the 5 projects estimated by this model range from 70 to 110 per cent of those measured, and the computed pore pressure values are also in reasonable agreement with the observations. On the other hand, the Cambridge model tends to the underestimation of settlements, while the simple elastic model to the overestimation.