Meshfree modeling of cyclic behavior of sands within large strain Generalized Plasticity Framework

Abstract In this publication the u - w finite strain formulation is enhanced with a Generalized Plasticity model for sands. The new model is numerically solved using an Optimal Transportation Meshfree approach that is best suited for numerical analysis at finite strains. This new model allows to capture the hydro-mechanical response under large deformations of a saturated sand like soils where acceleration of water with respect the solid skeleton is not negligible. To the authors’ knowledge, no attempt has been previously devoted to include in the u - w finite strain approach an elastoplastic behavior from the Generalized Plasticity theory. In order to assess the validity of the proposed model, four standard laboratory tests are numerically reproduced: i) an undrained triaxial test under monotonic loading, ii) a triaxial consolidation test under monotonic loading with drained boundary conditions, iii) an undrained cyclic triaxial test and iv) a drained cyclic triaxial test. The observed results are qualitatively correct and in agreement with numerical solutions previously obtained by other researchers and with related experimental data.