Created in COMSOL Multiphysics 5.
Tri axi al Test
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Introduction
The triaxial test is one of the most common tests used in laboratory soil testing. The soil
sample is normally placed inside a rubber membrane and then axially compressed while
maintaining a constant radial pressure.
In this example, a vertical displacement and a confinement pressure are applied on the
sample. The static response and the collapse load for various confinement pressures are
studied. This example is adapted from Ref. 1.
The material is modeled with the soil plasticity feature and the Drucker-Prager criterion.
The analysis can be simplified by considering the axial symmetry of the example.
Model Definition
A cylindrical apparatus with a 10 cm diameter and a 20 cm height, presses the soil sample
from the top by a prescribed a displacement. A flexible membrane contains the soil radially,
allowing changes in radial forces by controlling the surrounding pressure.
Prescribed displacement
Axial symmetry
20 cm Boundary load,
confinement pressure
5 cm
Figure 1: Dimensions, boundary conditions, and boundary load for the triaxial apparatus.
SOIL PROPERTIES
The soil proprieties are taken from a standard clay.
• Young’s modulus, E = 2.5 MPa, and Poisson’s ratio ν = 0.3.
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• Cohesion c = 12 kPa, and angle of internal friction φ = 30° .
• Add a soil plasticity feature with Drucker-Prager criterion and select Match to Mohr-
Coulomb criterion.
CONSTRAINTS AND LOADS
• Model only the right half of the domain due to the axial symmetry. Use the Axial
Symmetry boundary condition at the left vertical boundary.
• The soil sample is supported by a rigid and perfectly rough base. Use a Fixed Constraint
at the lower horizontal boundary.
• The right vertical boundary is modeled by a confinement pressure, add there a
Boundary Load. Simulate the influence of the confinement pressure through a
parametric sweep with values 5, 20, and 35 kPa.
• Add a External Stress node for including the confinement pressure as a pore pressure.
• The soil sample is subjected to a loading at the top. Use a Prescribed Displacement
boundary, and gradually increase the vertical displacement up to 15 mm, by means of a
second parametric sweep.
Results and Discussion
After loading the soil sample it is possible to observe the distribution of plastic strains.
Most of the sample suffers from plastic deformation, only a minor part of it remains in the
elastic region, see Figure 2. The red zone shows the volume of soil that undergoes plastic
deformation. The 3D plot of the effective plastic strain is obtained from a revolution of the
2D axisymmetric data set.
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Figure 2: Effective plastic strain in the soil sample.
In order to plot the additional loading stress on the soil sample caused by the prescribed
top displacement, integrate the z component of the reaction force over the top surface
with
F res = σz 2πr dr
where the factor 2πr comes from the integration in cylindrical coordinates. This integral
is computed by the integration operator intop1, which applies the method Summation
over nodes for calculating the reaction force in the vertical direction.
F res = intop1 ( solid.RFz )
The extra loading stress (SI unit: Pa) is calculated by the difference between the resulting
stress and the confinement (radial) pressure
F res
σ a = – ----------2- – p c
πR
here, R is radius of the triaxial apparatus.
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The extra loading stress is the resulting stress on the porous matrix. It is shown in Figure 3
for the three different confinement pressures.
Figure 3: The extra loading stress for different confinement pressures.
Reference
1. D. Potts and L. Zdravkovic, Finite Element Analysis in Geotechnical Engineering,
Thomas Telford Publishing, 2001.
Application Library path: Geomechanics_Module/Verification_Examples/
triaxial_test
Modeling Instructions
From the File menu, choose New.
NEW
In the New window, click Model Wizard.
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MODEL WIZARD
1 In the Model Wizard window, click 2D Axisymmetric.
2 In the Select Physics tree, select Structural Mechanics>Solid Mechanics (solid).
3 Click Add.
4 Click Study.
5 In the Select Study tree, select General Studies>Stationary.
6 Click Done.
GLOBAL DEFINITIONS
1 In the Model Builder window, under Global Definitions click Parameters 1.
2 In the Settings window for Parameters, locate the Parameters section.
3 In the table, enter the following settings:
Name Expression Value Description
Pc 5[kPa] 5000 Pa Confinement pressure
Disp 1[mm] 0.001 m Prescribed displacement
D 100[mm] 0.1 m Diameter of the sample
H 200[mm] 0.2 m Height of the sample
GEOMETRY 1
1 In the Model Builder window, expand the Component 1 (comp1)>Geometry 1 node, then
click Geometry 1.
2 In the Settings window for Geometry, locate the Units section.
3 From the Length unit list, choose mm.
Rectangle 1 (r1)
1 In the Geometry toolbar, click Primitives and choose Rectangle.
2 In the Settings window for Rectangle, locate the Size and Shape section.
3 In the Width text field, type D/2.
4 In the Height text field, type H.
Rectangle 2 (r2)
1 In the Geometry toolbar, click Primitives and choose Rectangle.
2 In the Settings window for Rectangle, locate the Size and Shape section.
3 In the Width text field, type D/2.
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4 In the Height text field, type H/2.
5 Locate the Position section. In the z text field, type 1.5*H.
6 Click Build All Objects.
DEFINITIONS
Integration 1 (intop1)
1 In the Definitions toolbar, click Component Couplings and choose Integration.
2 In the Settings window for Integration, locate the Source Selection section.
3 From the Geometric entity level list, choose Boundary.
4 Select Boundary 3 only.
5 Locate the Advanced section. From the Method list, choose Summation over nodes.
The integral operator intop1 is used for calculating the resulting strength over the
whole soil sample. Since the reaction force is defined only at nodes, choose summation
over nodes as integration method.
Integration 2 (intop2)
1 In the Definitions toolbar, click Component Couplings and choose Integration.
2 In the Settings window for Integration, locate the Source Selection section.
3 From the Geometric entity level list, choose Boundary.
4 Select Boundary 6 only.
5 Locate the Advanced section. From the Method list, choose Summation over nodes.
Variables 1
1 In the Definitions toolbar, click Local Variables.
2 In the Settings window for Variables, locate the Variables section.
3 In the table, enter the following settings:
Name Expression Unit Description
Fres1 intop1(solid.RFz) Resulting strength
Fres2 intop2(solid.RFz) Resulting strength
SOLID MECHANICS (SOLID)
Linear Elastic Material 1
In the Model Builder window, under Component 1 (comp1)>Solid Mechanics (solid) click
Linear Elastic Material 1.
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Soil Plasticity 1
1 In the Physics toolbar, click Attributes and choose Soil Plasticity.
2 In the Settings window for Soil Plasticity, locate the Soil Plasticity section.
3 Select the Match to Mohr-Coulomb criterion check box.
Linear Elastic Material 1
In the Model Builder window, under Component 1 (comp1)>Solid Mechanics (solid) click
Linear Elastic Material 1.
External Stress 1
1 In the Physics toolbar, click Attributes and choose External Stress.
2 In the Settings window for External Stress, locate the External Stress section.
3 In the Sext text field, type -Pc.
Fixed Constraint 1
1 In the Physics toolbar, click Boundaries and choose Fixed Constraint.
2 Select Boundary 2 only.
Roller 1
1 In the Physics toolbar, click Boundaries and choose Roller.
2 Select Boundary 5 only.
Boundary Load 1
1 In the Physics toolbar, click Boundaries and choose Boundary Load.
2 Select Boundaries 7 and 8 only.
3 In the Settings window for Boundary Load, locate the Force section.
4 From the Load type list, choose Pressure.
5 In the p text field, type Pc.
Prescribed Displacement 1
1 In the Physics toolbar, click Boundaries and choose Prescribed Displacement.
2 Select Boundary 3 only.
3 In the Settings window for Prescribed Displacement, locate the Prescribed Displacement
section.
4 Select the Prescribed in r direction check box.
5 Select the Prescribed in z direction check box.
6 In the u 0 z text field, type -Disp.
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Prescribed Displacement 2
1 In the Physics toolbar, click Boundaries and choose Prescribed Displacement.
2 Select Boundary 6 only.
3 In the Settings window for Prescribed Displacement, locate the Prescribed Displacement
section.
4 Select the Prescribed in z direction check box.
5 In the u 0 z text field, type -Disp.
MATERIALS
Material 1 (mat1)
1 In the Model Builder window, under Component 1 (comp1) right-click Materials and
choose Blank Material.
2 In the Settings window for Material, locate the Material Contents section.
3 In the table, enter the following settings:
Property Variable Value Unit Property group
Young’s modulus E 2.5[MPa] Pa Basic
Poisson’s ratio nu 0.3 1 Basic
Cohesion cohesion 12[kPa] Pa Mohr-Coulomb
Angle of internalphi 30[deg] rad Mohr-Coulomb
internal friction
MESH 1
In the Model Builder window, expand the Component 1 (comp1)>Mesh 1 node.
Size
1 Right-click Mesh 1 and choose Mapped.
2 In the Settings window for Size, locate the Element Size section.
3 From the Predefined list, choose Extremely fine.
4 Click Build All.
STUDY 1
Use a parametric sweep to test 3 different confinement pressures.
Parametric Sweep
1 In the Study toolbar, click Parametric Sweep.
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2 In the Settings window for Parametric Sweep, locate the Study Settings section.
3 Click Add.
4 In the table, enter the following settings:
Parameter name Parameter value list Parameter unit
Pc (Confinement pressure) 5 20 35 kPa
Step 1: Stationary
1 In the Model Builder window, under Study 1 click Step 1: Stationary.
2 In the Settings window for Stationary, click to expand the Study Extensions section.
Use an auxiliary continuation sweep for the Disp parameter to gradually increase the
displacement.
1 Select the Auxiliary sweep check box.
2 Click Add.
3 In the table, enter the following settings:
Parameter name Parameter value list Parameter unit
Disp (Prescribed displacement) 15[mm]*range(0,0.05,1) m
4 In the Study toolbar, click Compute.
RESULTS
Stress (solid)
The first default plot shows the von Mises stress in 2D.
Stress, 3D (solid)
The second default plot shows the von Mises stress in 3D obtained by a revolution of the
2D axisymmetric data set.
3D Plot Group 3
1 In the Home toolbar, click Add Plot Group and choose 3D Plot Group.
2 In the Settings window for 3D Plot Group, type Plastic Region in the Label text field.
Surface 1
1 Right-click Plastic Region and choose Surface.
2 In the Settings window for Surface, click Replace Expression in the upper-right corner of
the Expression section. From the menu, choose Component 1>Solid Mechanics>Strain>
solid.epe - Effective plastic strain.
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3 Locate the Expression section. Select the Description check box.
4 In the Expression text field, type solid.epe>0.
5 In the Plastic Region toolbar, click Plot.
6 Click the Zoom Extents button in the Graphics toolbar.
The 3D image of the effective plastic strain is obtained by first generating a revolution
of the 2D axisymmetric data set.
Create a 1D plot to show the extra loading stress for different confinement pressures.
1D Plot Group 4
1 In the Home toolbar, click Add Plot Group and choose 1D Plot Group.
2 In the Settings window for 1D Plot Group, type Extra Loading Stress in the Label text
field.
3 Click to expand the Title section. From the Title type list, choose Manual.
4 In the Title text area, type Extra Loading Stress vs. Axial Strain.
5 Locate the Data section. From the Data set list, choose Study 1/
Parametric Solutions 1 (sol2).
Global 1
1 Right-click Extra Loading Stress and choose Global.
2 In the Settings window for Global, locate the y-Axis Data section.
3 In the table, enter the following settings:
Expression Unit Description
-Fres1/(pi*(D/2)^2)-Pc kPa Extra loading stress
4 Locate the x-Axis Data section. From the Parameter list, choose Expression.
5 In the Expression text field, type Disp/H.
6 Select the Description check box.
7 In the associated text field, type Axial strain.
8 Click to expand the Legends section. From the Legends list, choose Manual.
9 In the table, enter the following settings:
Legends
Pc=5 kPa, Conventional Triaxial Test
Pc=20 kPa, Conventional Triaxial Test
Pc=35 kPa, Conventional Triaxial Test
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10 In the Extra Loading Stress toolbar, click Plot.
Extra Loading Stress
1 In the Model Builder window, under Results click Extra Loading Stress.
2 In the Settings window for 1D Plot Group, locate the Legend section.
3 From the Position list, choose Lower right.
Global 2
1 In the Model Builder window, under Results>Extra Loading Stress right-click Global 1 and
choose Duplicate.
2 In the Settings window for Global, locate the y-Axis Data section.
3 In the table, enter the following settings:
Expression Unit Description
-Fres2/(pi*(D/2)^2)-Pc kPa Extra loading stress
4 Click to expand the Coloring and Style section. Find the Line style subsection. From the
Line list, choose Dash-dot.
5 From the Color list, choose Cycle (reset).
6 Locate the Legends section. In the table, enter the following settings:
Legends
Pc=5 kPa, Improved Triaxial Test
Pc=20 kPa, Improved Triaxial Test
Pc=35 kPa, Improved Triaxial Test
7 In the Extra Loading Stress toolbar, click Plot.
Add Cut Points at middle of the geometry in order to check the variation of volumetric
plastic strain with mean stress.
Cut Point 2D 1
1 In the Results toolbar, click Cut Point 2D.
2 In the Settings window for Cut Point 2D, locate the Point Data section.
3 In the R text field, type D/2.
4 In the Z text field, type H/2.
5 Locate the Data section. From the Data set list, choose Study 1/
Parametric Solutions 1 (sol2).
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Cut Point 2D 2
1 In the Results toolbar, click Cut Point 2D.
2 In the Settings window for Cut Point 2D, locate the Data section.
3 From the Data set list, choose Study 1/Parametric Solutions 1 (sol2).
4 Locate the Point Data section. In the R text field, type D/2.
5 In the Z text field, type 1.75*H.
1D Plot Group 5
1 In the Results toolbar, click 1D Plot Group.
2 In the Settings window for 1D Plot Group, type Volumetric Plastic Strain vs.
Mean Stress in the Label text field.
3 Locate the Title section. From the Title type list, choose Manual.
4 In the Title text area, type Volumetric Plastic Strain vs. Mean Stress.
5 Locate the Axis section. Select the Manual axis limits check box.
6 In the x minimum text field, type 0.
7 In the x maximum text field, type 75.
8 In the y minimum text field, type -0.01.
9 In the y maximum text field, type 0.35.
Point Graph 1
1 Right-click Volumetric Plastic Strain vs. Mean Stress and choose Point Graph.
2 In the Settings window for Point Graph, locate the Data section.
3 From the Data set list, choose Cut Point 2D 1.
4 Click Replace Expression in the upper-right corner of the y-axis data section. From the
menu, choose Component 1>Solid Mechanics>Strain>solid.epvol -
Volumetric plastic strain.
5 Click Replace Expression in the upper-right corner of the x-axis data section. From the
menu, choose Component 1>Solid Mechanics>Stress>solid.pm - Pressure - N/m².
6 Locate the x-Axis Data section. From the Unit list, choose kPa.
7 Click to expand the Legends section. Select the Show legends check box.
8 From the Legends list, choose Manual.
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9 In the table, enter the following settings:
Legends
Pc=5 kPa, Conventional Triaxial Test
Pc=20 kPa, Conventional Triaxial Test
Pc=35 kPa, Conventional Triaxial Test
Point Graph 2
1 Right-click Results>Volumetric Plastic Strain vs. Mean Stress>Point Graph 1 and choose
Duplicate.
2 In the Settings window for Point Graph, locate the Data section.
3 From the Data set list, choose Cut Point 2D 2.
4 Click to expand the Coloring and Style section. Find the Line style subsection. From the
Line list, choose Dash-dot.
5 From the Color list, choose Cycle (reset).
6 Locate the Legends section. In the table, enter the following settings:
Legends
Pc=5 kPa, Improved Triaxial Test
Pc=20 kPa, Improved Triaxial Test
Pc=35 kPa, Improved Triaxial Test
7 In the Volumetric Plastic Strain vs. Mean Stress toolbar, click Plot.
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