Mohr-Coulomb model

The Mohr-Coulomb model

Dennis Waterman Plaxis bv

Mohr-Coulomb model and soil stiffness

Objectives: To indicate features of soil behaviour To formulate Hookes law of isotropic linear elasticity To formulate the Mohr-Coulomb criterion in a plasticity framework To identify the parameters in the LEPP Mohr-Coulomb model To indicate the possibilities and limitations of the MC model

CG1 - Santiago, Chile - Octubre de 2012

Mohr-Coulomb model

Features of soil behaviour

Elasticity (reversible deformation; limited) Plasticity (irreversible deformation) Failure (ultimate limit state or critical state) Presence and role of pore water Undrained behaviour and consolidation Stress dependency of stiffness Strain dependency stiffness Time dependent behaviour (creep, relaxation) Compaction en dilatancy Memory of pre-consolidation pressure Anisotropy (directional strength and/or stiffness) > stiffness > stiffness, strength > strength

yy yz zy
zz zx

yx xy
xz xx

Concepts of soil modelling

Elasticity (reversible deformations)
Example: Hookes law

Relationship between stresses (stress rates) and strains (strain rates) d=f (d) d=f (d,,h)

Plasticity (irreversible deformations)

Perfect plasticity, strain hardening, strain softening

Yielding, yield function, plastic potential, hardening/softening rule Example: Mohr-Coulomb yielding

Time dependent behaviour (time dependent deformations)

Biots (coupled) consolidation Creep, stress relaxation Visco elasticity, visco plasticity

d=f (d,,t)

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Mohr-Coulomb model

Types of stress-strain behaviour

Linear-elastic

Non-linear elastic

Elastoplastic

Lin. elast. perfectly-plast.

EP strain-hardening EP strain-softening

Stress definitions
In general, soil cannot sustain tension, only compression PLAXIS adopts the general mechanics definition of stress and strain: Tension/extension is positive; Pressure/compression is negative

yy xx yy

yy xx xx yy xx

In general, soil deformation is based on stress changes in the grain skeleton (effective stresses) According to Terzaghis principle: = - pw

CG1 - Santiago, Chile - Octubre de 2012

Mohr-Coulomb model

Elasticity: Hookes law

1 xx yy zz E = (1 + )(1 2 ) 0 xy 0 yz zx 0

1 0 0 0
1 2

0 0 0

0 0 0 0 0

1 2

0 0 0 0 0

1 2

0 0 0 0 0

xx yy zz xy yz zx

Inverse: xx yy zz 1 = E xy yz zx

1 0 0 0

1 0 0 0

1 0 0 0

0 0 0 2 + 2 0 0

0 0 0 0 2 + 2 0

0 0 2 + 2 0 0 0

xx yy zz xy yz zx

Elasticity: Hookes law

In principal stress / strain components:

1 1 E = 1 2 (1 + )(1 2 ) 1 3

1 2 3

In isotropic and deviatoric stress / strain components:

p K q = 0

0 v 3G s

p=
q=

1 3

( 1 + 2 + 3 )

1 ( 1 2 ) 2 + ( 2 3 ) 2 + ( 3 1 ) 2 2

CG1 - Santiago, Chile - Octubre de 2012

Mohr-Coulomb model

Model parameters in Hookes law:

Two parameters: - Youngs modulus E - Poissons ratio

d1

- d1 - 1 d3 E 1 3 - 1 1

Meaning (axial compr.):

E =
=

d 1 d 1
d3 d1

Alternative parameters in Hookes law:

Shear modulus:

dxy dxy

G =

d xy d
xy

E 2 (1 + )

Bulk modulus:

dp dv - d1

dp E K= = d v 3(1 2 )
Oedometer modulus:

Eoed

E (1 ) d = 1= d1 (1 + )(1 2 )

- d1

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Mohr-Coulomb model

Hookes law for effective stress rates

The modeling of non-linear soil behaviour requires a relationship between effective stress rates (d ) and strain rates (d)

' 1 ' ' d 'xx ' 1 ' ' d ' yy ' d 'zz ' 1 ' E' = 0 0 d 'xy (1 + ')(1 2 ') 0 0 d ' yz 0 0 0 0 d 'zx 0
Symbolic:

0 0 0
1 2

0 0 0 0
1 2

' 0 0

' 0

0 0 0 0 0 1 ' 2

d xx d yy d zz d xy d yz d zx

d ' = D d
e

d = D

( )

e 1

d '

Plasticity
Basic principle of elasto-plasticity:
e ij = ij + ijp e d ij = d ij + d ijp

(total strains) (strain rates)

Elastic strains: Hookes law Plastic strains: 3 questions 1. Does plasticity occur? 2. If so, in what direction? 3. How much plasticity?

-> yield function -> potential function -> magnitude d

CG1 - Santiago, Chile - Octubre de 2012

Mohr-Coulomb model

Plasticity does plasticity occur?

Determination based on yield function f = f (,)
If f < 0 If f = 0 and df < 0 If f = 0 and df = 0 Pure elastic behaviour Unloading from plastic state (= elastic behaviour) Elastoplastic behaviour

Plasticity does plasticity occur?

Yield function f is (a.o.) a function of the stress state f=0 can be represented as a border in the stress space (yield contour) Within the yield contour: On the yield contour: Outside the yield contour:

f<0 f=0 f>0

(impossible stress state)

f=0
Condition: Yield contour must be convex

f<0 f>0

CG1 - Santiago, Chile - Octubre de 2012

Mohr-Coulomb model

Plasticity in what direction?

Determination based on potential function g = g (,) The direction of plastic strain is determined by the vector Perpendicular to the plastic potential function Metals (a.o): Soils: f = g (associated flow) f g (non-associated flow)

q,s

q,s

g f=g
p,v

f
p,v

Plasticity how much?

Determination based on magnitude scalar d The magnitude of plastic strain can be found with the so-called consistency condition, stating that for plasticity the stress state should remain on the yield surface:

df =

f f d + d = 0

CG1 - Santiago, Chile - Octubre de 2012

Mohr-Coulomb model

Plasticity
Basic principle of elasto-plasticity:
e ij = ij + ijp e d ij = d ij + d ijp

(total strains) (strain rates)

Elastic strain rates:

e d ij = (D e )ijkl d 'kl 1

Plastic strain rates:

d ijp = d

g 'ij

d = scalar; magnitude of plastic strains dg/d = vector; direction of plastic strains g = plastic potential function

The Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion

Origin: F T n c - n tan A F c n

Coulomb: T

T A + F tan

CG1 - Santiago, Chile - Octubre de 2012

Mohr-Coulomb model

The Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion

n In general: 3

1 The condition c - n tan must hold for arbitrary angle

The Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion

c cos -s* sin t* c -n MC criterion: t* c cos - s* sin

-3 -s*

-1

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Mohr-Coulomb model

The Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion

MC criterion: t*c cos - s* sin t* = (3 - 1) s* = (3+1)
1 2

( '3 '1 ) c' cos ' 1 2 ( '3 + '1 ) sin '

'1 2c' cos ' 1 + sin ' '3 1 sin ' 1 sin '

Note: Compression is negative and 1 2 3

Visualisation of the M-C failure criterion

c n -1 b 1 a -3

a=

2c' cos ' 1 sin ' 1 + sin ' 1 sin '

b=

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Mohr-Coulomb model

Full Mohr-Coulomb criterion

1

( '3 '2 ) c' cos ' 1 2 ( '3 + '2 ) sin ' 1 1 2 ( '2 '3 ) c ' cos ' 2 ( '2 + '3 ) sin ' 1 1 2 ( '3 '1 ) c ' cos ' 2 ( '3 + '1 ) sin ' 1 1 2 ( '1 '3 ) c ' cos ' 2 ( '1 + '3 ) sin ' 1 1 2 ( '2 '1 ) c ' cos ' 2 ( ' 2 + '1 ) sin ' 1 1 2 ( '1 '2 ) c ' cos ' 2 ( '1 + '2 ) sin '
1 2

Reformulation into yield functions

1 2

( '3 '1 ) c' cos ' 1 2 ( '3 + '1 ) sin '

1 f 2b = 1 2 ( '3 '1 ) + 2 ( '3 + '1 ) sin 'c ' cos '

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Mohr-Coulomb model

Reformulation into yield functions

1
1 f1a = 1 2 ( '3 '2 ) + 2 ( '3 + ' 2 ) sin 'c ' cos '

1 f1b = 1 2 ( ' 2 '3 ) + 2 ( '2 + '3 ) sin 'c ' cos '

1 f2a = 1 2 ( '1 '3 ) + 2 ( '1 + '3 ) sin ' c ' cos ' 1 f 2b = 1 2 ( '3 '1 ) + 2 ( '3 + '1 ) sin 'c ' cos '

1 f 3a = 1 2 ( ' 2 '1 ) + 2 ( '2 + '1 ) sin 'c ' cos ' 1 f 3b = 1 2 ( '1 '2 ) + 2 ( '1 + ' 2 ) sin ' c ' cos '

Parameters: Effective cohesion (c) and effective friction angle ()

Plastic potentials of the M-C model

1 g1a = 1 2 ( '3 ' 2 ) + 2 ( '3 + ' 2 ) sin c ' cos 1 g 2a = 1 2 ( '1 '3 ) + 2 ( '1 + '3 ) sin c ' cos 1 g 2b = 1 2 ( '3 '1 ) + 2 ( '3 + '1 ) sin c ' cos 1 g 3a = 1 2 ( ' 2 '1 ) + 2 ( '2 + '1 ) sin c ' cos 1 g 3b = 1 2 ( '1 '2 ) + 2 ( '1 + '2 ) sin c ' cos 1 g1b = 1 2 ( ' 2 '3 ) + 2 ( ' 2 + '3 ) sin c ' cos

Dilatancy angle instead of friction angle Motivation based on simple shear test

CG1 - Santiago, Chile - Octubre de 2012

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Mohr-Coulomb model

Failure in a simple shear test:

d yy d xy =
p d yy p d xy

= tan

xy

xy yy
dilatancy

xy

The LEPP Mohr-Coulomb model

Linear-elastic perfectly-plastic stress-strain relationship - Elasticity: - Plasticity: Hookes law Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion

The LEPP model with Mohr-Coulomb failure contour is in PLAXIS called the Mohr-Coulomb model For this model: Plasticity = Failure This does NOT apply to all models!!!

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Mohr-Coulomb model

The LEPP Mohr-Coulomb model

Model parameters: Youngs modulus (stiffness) Poissons ratio Cohesion Friction angle Dilatancy angle

Model parameters must be determined such that real soil behaviour is approximated in the best possible way

Parameter determination
Parameter determination from: Laboratory tests (triaxial test (CD, CU), oedometer test or CRS, simple shear test, ) Field tests (SPT, CPT, pressure meter (Menard, CPM, SBP), dilatometer, ) Correlations with qc , PI , RD and other index parameters Rules-of-thumb, norms, charts, tables Engineering judgement

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Mohr-Coulomb model

MC approximation of a CD triax. test

1-3

E 50

3 = confining pressure

2c 'cos ' 2 '3 sin ' 1 sin '

v
2 sin 1 sin

-1

1-2

-1

MC approximation of a compression test

-1

Eoed
-1

Eoed =

(1 + )(1 2 ) E (1 )

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Mohr-Coulomb model

Possibilities and limitations of the LEPP MohrCoulomb model

Possibilities and advantages
Simple and clear model First order approach of soil behaviour in general Suitable for many practical applications Limited number and clear parameters Good representation of failure behaviour (drained) Dilatancy can be included

Possibilities and limitations of the LEPP Mohr-Coulomb model

Limitations and disadvantages
Isotropic and homogeneous behaviour Until failure linear elastic behaviour No stress/stress-path/strain-dependent stiffness No distinction between primary loading and unloading or reloading Dilatancy continues for ever (no critical state) Be careful with undrained behaviour No time-dependency (creep)

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