Application of a Simplified Anisotropic Constitutive Model for Soft Structured Clay on Embankment Failure

Abstract

The design and maintenance of embankments is still a challenge in practical geotechnical engineering because of some features of soft sensitive soil behavior that are not considered in conventional methods. These features originate from the soil structure, including soil anisotropy, interparticle bonding, and decay as a result of the loading and deformation process. In recent years, many efforts have been made to incorporate the aforementioned features in various soil constitutive models. However, their application in practical geotechnical engineering is limited, owing to the complexity of the models, a number of parameters, and difficulties in the implementation in a computer code. The aim of this study is to modify a simple anisotropic constitutive model (SANICLAY) in order to take into account destructuration, named SANICLAY-D, and its implementation in computer code with a simple and robust algorithm. The capability of the proposed soil model in simulating the effects of the aforementioned soil features on the behavior of the well-known Test Embankment A constructed at Saint-Alban, Quebec, Canada, is explored. This model predicts, with sufficient accuracy, the effect of anisotropy on embankment failure behavior, especially the height and the failure surface, despite its simplicity.