Experimental Determination of Probability Distributions for Parameters of a Salem Limestone Cap Plasticity Model.

Marginal probability density functions and a correlation matrix are determined for parameters of a familiar cap plasticity model. The paper describes a program comprising precision laboratory testing, parameter estimation, and probability distribution model fitting. A novel testing scheme allows a complete set of material parameters to be determined from a single test specimen. Statistical properties and distributions are determined by replication involving 20 test specimens. The fitted model is validated by predicting loading histories not included in the fitting database.