Implementation and Verification of NorSand Model in General 3D Framework

NorSand is a critical state (plasticity) model for soils in which particle to particle interactions are controlled by contact forces and slips. The state parameter allows capturing soil behavior over a wide range of confining stresses and densities using relatively few and familiar soil properties that can be determined from the routine laboratory or in situ tests. This paper presents the implementation of NorSand in the leading geotechnical software platform FLAC3D. This implemented version includes the usual three-dimensional aspects allowing for the proportion of intermediate principal stress as well as the far less common feature of principal stress rotation; these aspects allow simulation of cyclic mobility as well as static liquefaction. The results are cross-verified with a VBA-coded spreadsheet for simulations of various densities, drainage conditions, and test types, including triaxial compression and simple shear.