Critical State Soil Mechanics

Code:

MMSEG1101

Acronym:

MSEC

Instance: 2004/2005 - 1T

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Department of Civil and Georesources Engineering
Course/CS Responsible:	Master in Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering.

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
MMSEG	8	Oficial 2000	1	1	3	-
PMSEG	12	Oficial2004	1	1	3	-

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

Introduction to the essential topics of Critical State Soil Mechanics, a fundamental theoretical tool to understand the integrated behaviour of soil (stress-strain-shear strength). Study of three critical state models: Cam Clay, modified Cam Clay and p-q-theta. These models help to clarify the underlying theory but are also practical tools for the modelling of soil constitutive behaviour in numerical analyses of geotechnical structures by the finite element method.

Program

Notion of critical state, undrained strength and residual strength. Hvorslev shear strength parameters and their variation with void ratio. Shear strength and volume variation. Rendulic relation between void ratio and stress state. Critical state model, state line and boundary surface in the p-q-n referential; wet and dry sides. Limit surface representation. Critical state models: Cam Clay, Modified Cam Clay and p-q-theta. Yield, failure and critical state of real soils. Applications of the critical state models. Calculation of stress-strain in drained and undrained tests using the normality law and yield surface. Elasto-plastic formulation; yield and ultimate failure surfaces; hardening law; elasto-plastic matrix. Examples of numerical application.

Mandatory literature

José Leitão Borges; Modelos de Estados Críticos, FEUP, 1998
Luís Lemos; Mecânica dos Solos dos Estados Críticos, FCTUC, 1998

Complementary Bibliography

Ortigão, J. A. R; Soil mechanics in the light of critical state theories : an Introduction. ISBN: 90-5410-195-4
Atkinson, John; The mechanics of soils and foundations. ISBN: 0-07-707713-X

Teaching methods and learning activities

Gradual explanation of the subject matter and resolution of practical problems.

Evaluation Type

Evaluation with final exam