7/4/2020

Simplified
Critical-State Soil Mechanics

Paul W. Mayne
Georgia Institute of Technology

PROLOGUE
 Critical-state soil mechanics is an effective
stress framework describing mechanical soil
response
 In its simple form here, we consider only
shear loading and compression-swelling.
 We merely tie together two well-known
concepts: (1) one-dimensional consolidation
σv’ curves); and (2) shear
behavior (via e-logσ
stress-vs. normal stress (ττ−σv’) plots from
direct shear (alias Mohr’s circles).

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Critical State Soil Mechanics (CSSM)

 Experimental evidence
 1936 by Hvorslev (1960, ASCE)
 Henkel (1960, ASCE Boulder)
 Parry (1961)
 Kulhawy & Mayne (1990): Summary of 200+ soils
 Mathematics presented elsewhere
 Schofield & Wroth (1968)
 Roscoe & Burland (1968)
 Wood (1990)
 Jefferies & Been (2006)
 Basic form: 3 material constants (φ φ', Cc, Cs)
plus initial state parameter (e0, σvo', OCR)

Critical State Soil Mechanics (CSSM)

 Constitutive Models in FEM packages:
 Original Cam-Clay (1968)
 Modified Cam Clay (1969)
 NorSand (Jefferies 1993)
 Bounding Surface (Dafalias)
 MIT-E3 (Whittle, 1993)
 MIT-S1 (Pestana, 1999; 2001)
 Cap Model
 “Ber-Klay” (Univ. California)
 others (Adachi, Oka, Ohta, Dafalias, Nova, Wood, Huerkel)
 "Undrained" is just one specific stress path
 Yet !!! CSSM is missing from most textbooks and
undergrad & grad curricula.

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One-Dimensional Consolidation
Sandy Clay (CL), Surry, VA: Depth = 27 m
1.0
σvo'=300 kPa
σp'=900 kPa
0.9
Cr = 0.04
Void Ratio, e

0.8 Overconsolidation Ratio, OCR = 3

Cs = swelling index (= Cr)
0.7 cv = coef. of consolidation
D' = constrained modulus
Cαe = coef. secondary compression
0.6
k ≈ hydraulic conductivity
Cc = 0.38
0.5
1 10 100 1000 10000

Effective Vertical Stress, σ v’ (kPa)

svo'

Direct Shear Test Results

Slow Direct Shear Tests on Triassic Clay,NC Slow Direct Shear Tests on Triassic Clay, Raleigh, NC
140 140
σn' Strength Parameters:
(kPa)
Shear Stress, τ (kPa)

φ ' = 26.1 o
120 120
(kPa)= c' = 0;
Peak
214.5
100 100
τ

80 80
Shear Stress,

Peak

60 135.0 60
0.491 = tan φ '
40 40
Peak
20 45.1 20

0 0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 0 50 100 150 200 250

Displacement, δ (mm) Effective Normal Stress, σn' (kPa)

τ τ σv’ τ τ σv’
δ

γs

Direct Shear Box (DSB) Direct Simple Shear (DSS)

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CSSM for Dummies

CC

Void Ratio, e
Void Ratio, e
σCSL’ ≈ ½σ
σNC’
e0 NC NC

CSL CSL

σCSL’ σNC’ Log σv' Effective stress σv'

CSL

Shear stress τ
tanφ'
CSSM Premise:
“All stress paths fail
on the critical state
line (CSL)” φ′
c′=0
Effective stress σv'

CSSM for Dummies

CC
Void Ratio, e

Void Ratio, e

e0
∆e NC
NC
ef
CSL CSL

σvo′
Log σv' Effective stress σv'
CSL
τmax = c′′ + σ′ tanφ
φ′
Shear stress τ

φ'
tanφ
STRESS PATH No.1
NC Drained Soil
Given: e0, σvo’, NC (OCR=1)
Drained Path: ∆u = 0
Volume Change is Contractive: c’=0
σvo′
εvol = ∆e/(1+e0) < 0
Effective stress σv'

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CSSM for Dummies

Void Ratio, e CC

Void Ratio, e
e0
NC
NC
CSL
CSL
σvf′ σvo′ Effective stress σv'
Log σv' CSL
φ'

Shear stress τ
tanφ
STRESS PATH No.2
NC Undrained Soil ∆u
τmax = cu=su
Given: e0, σvo’, NC (OCR=1)
Undrained Path: ∆V/V0 = 0
∆u = Positive Excess
+∆ σvf′
Porewater Pressures σvo′
Effective stress σv'

CSSM for Dummies

CC
Void Ratio, e
Void Ratio, e

NC NC

CSL CSL

Log σv' Effective stress σv'

CSL
Shear stress τ

φ'
tanφ
Note: All NC undrained
stress paths are parallel
to each other, thus:
σvo’ = constant
su/σ
σvo’NC = ½sinφ
DSS: su/σ φ’
Effective stress σv'

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CSSM for Dummies

Void Ratio, e CC

Void Ratio, e
CS OC
NC NC

CSL CSL

Effective stress σv'

Log σv' σ p'
CSL

Shear stress τ
Overconsolidated States: φ'
tanφ
e0, σvo’, and OCR = σp’/σ
σvo’
where σp’ = σvmax’ = Pc’ =
preconsolidation stress;
OCR = overconsolidation ratio
Effective stress σv' σ p'
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CSSM for Dummies

CC
Void Ratio, e
Void Ratio, e

e0
OC
CS NC
NC

CSL CSL

σvo' σvf' Log σv' Effective stress σv'

CSL
Shear stress τ

Stress Path No. 3 φ'

tanφ
Undrained OC Soil: ∆u
e0, σvo’, and OCR
Stress Path: ∆V/V0 = 0
Negative Excess ∆u
σvo' Effective stress σv'

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CSSM for Dummies

CC

Void Ratio, e
Void Ratio, e

e0
OC
CS NC
NC

CSL CSL

σvo' Log σv' Effective stress σv'

CSL

Shear stress τ
Stress Path No. 4 φ'
tanφ
Drained OC Soil:
e0, σvo’, and OCR
Stress Path: ∆u = 0
Dilatancy: ∆V/V0 > 0
σvo' Effective stress σv'

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Critical state soil mechanics

• Initial state: e0, σvo’, and OCR = σp’/σvo’
• Soil constants: φ’, Cc, and Cs (Λ = 1-Cs/Cc)
• For NC soil (OCR =1):
 Undrained (εvol = 0): +∆u and τmax = su = cu
 Drained (∆u = 0) and contractive (decrease εvol)

• For OC soil:
 Undrained (εvol = 0): -∆u and τmax = su = cu
 Drained (∆u = 0) and dilative (Increase εvol)

There’s more ! Semi-drained, Partly undrained, Cyclic response…..

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Equivalent Stress Concept

CC

Void Ratio, e
NC
Void Ratio, e

e0
OC NC
∆e CS
σp' σp'
ep

CSL CSL

σvo' σvf' σe' Log σv' Effective stress σv'

1. OC State (eo, σvo’, σp’) CSL

Shear stress τ
2. Project OC state to NC φ'
tanφ

line for equivalent stress, σe’ su

∆e = Cs log(σp’/σvo’) at σe’
∆e = Cc log(σe’/σp’) suOC = suNC
3. σe’ = σvo’ OCR[1-Cs/Cc] σvo' σ e' Stress σv'

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Critical state soil mechanics

• Previously: su/σvo’ = constant for NC soil
• On the virgin compression line: σvo’ = σe’
• Thus: su/σe’ = constant for all soil (NC & OC)
• For simple shear: su/σe’ = ½sin φ’
• Equivalent stress: σe’ = σvo’ OCR[1-Cs/Cc]

Normalized Undrained Shear Strength:

φ’ OCRΛ
σvo’ = ½ sinφ
su/σ

where Λ = (1-Cs/Cc)

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Undrained Shear Strength from CSSM

0.4
AGS Plastic
Amherst
Ariake
Bootlegger
su/σvo' NC (DSS)

0.3 Bothkennar
Boston Blue
Cowden
Hackensack
0.2 James Bay
Mexico City
Onsoy
Porto Tolle
Portsmouth
0.1 Rissa

σvo'NC (DSS) =½sinφ'

San Francisco
Silty Holocene
su/σ
Wroth (1984)
0.0
0.0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8
φ'
sinφ

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Undrained Shear Strength from CSSM

10 Amherst CVVC
σvo'

Atchafalaya
DSS Undrained Strength, su/σ

Bangkok
Bootlegger Cove
Λ Boston Blue
φ' = 40o Cowden
Intact
30o Drammen
Clays
20o
Hackensack
Haga
1 Lower Chek Lok
Maine
McManus
Paria

φ' OCRΛ
Portland
σvo' = ½ sinφ
su/σ Portsmouth
Silty Holocene
Note: Λ = 1 - Cs/Cc ≈ 0.8 Upper Chek Lok
0.1 40
30
1 10 100 20
Overconsolidation Ratio, OCR

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Porewater Pressure Response from CSSM

1 Amherst CVVC
∆us/σ φ'OCRΛ
σvo' = 1 - ½cosφ Atchafalaya
Bangkok
σvo'

0
Bootlegger Cove
Normalized Porewater, ∆u/σ

Boston Blue
-1 Cowden
Drammen
Hackensack
-2
Haga
Lower Chek Lok
-3 Maine
Intact McManus
Clays Paria
-4
Portland
φ' = 20o 30o 40o Portsmouth
-5 Silty Holocene
Upper Chek Lok
Λ = 0.9 0.8 0.7
20
-6
30
1 10 100
40
Overconsolidation Ratio, OCR

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Yield Surfaces
NC NC
CSL
Void Ratio, e

OC
Void Ratio, e

OC

σp'

CSL

σp' Normal stress σv'

Log σv'
CSL
Shear stress τ

 Yield surface represents

3-d preconsolidation

 Quasi-elastic behavior
within the yield surface

Normal stress σv'

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Critical state soil mechanics

• This powerpoint: geosystems.ce.gatech.edu
• Classic book: Critical -State Soil Mechanics by
Schofield & Wroth (1968):
http://www.geotechnique.info

• Schofield (2005) Disturbed Soil Properties and

Geotechnical Design Thomas Telford
• Wood (1990): Soil Behaviour and CSSM
• Jefferies & Been (2006): Soil liquefaction: a
critical-state approach www.informaworld.com

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ESA versus TSA

• Effective stress analysis (ESA) rules:
 c' = effective cohesion intercept (c' = 0 for OCR < 2
and c' ≈ 0.02 σp' for short term loading)
 φ' = effective stress friction angle
 τ = c' + σ' tan φ' = Mohr-Coulomb strength
criterion
 σv' = σv - u0 - ∆u = effective stress
• Total stress analysis (TSA) is (overly) simplistic
for clay with strength represented by a single
parameter, i.e. "φ = 0" and τmax = c = cu = su =
undrained shear strength (implying "∆u = 0")

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Explaining the myth that "φ = 0"

The effective friction angle (φ') is usually
between 20 to 45 degrees for most soils.
However, for clays, we here of "φ = 0"
analysis which applies to total stress
analysis (TSA). In TSA, there is no
knowledge of porewater pressures (PWP).
Thus, by ignoring PWP (i.e., ∆u = 0), there is
an illusional effect that can be explained by
CSSM. See the following slides.

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0.8 0.8
φ' = 30 °
Cc = 0.50
Void Ratio, e

Cr = Cs = 0.05
Void Ratio, e

0.7 0.7

0.6 0.6

0.5 0.5
10 100 1000 0 100 200 300 400 500
Log Effective stress,, σ v' σ v' (kPa)
300

(Undrained) Total Stress

τ = Shear Stress (kPa)

200
Analysis - Consolidated
Undrained Triaxial Tests 100

Three specimens initially consolidated

to σvc' = 100, 200, and 400 kPa 0
0 100 200 300 400 500

σv ' (kPa)

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(Undrained) Total Stress Analysis

In TSA, however, ∆u not known, so plot stress paths for "∆u = 0"
Obtains the illusion that " φ ≈ 0° "
300
τ = Shear Stress (kPa)

200
su400
su200
su100
100

0
0 100 200 300 400 500

Effective stress,, σv' (kPa)

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0.8 0.8
Void Ratio, e
Void Ratio, e

0.7 0.7

VCL
0.6 CSL 0.6
Cs from Pc' = 400 kPa
Cs from Pc' = 500 kPa
Cs from Pc' = 600 kPa

0.5 0.5
10 1000 0 100 200 300 400 500 600
σv' (kPa) σv' (kPa)

300
τ = Shear Stress (kPa)

Another set of undrained Total

Stress Analyses (TSA) for UU tests 200

on clays: 100

0
UU = Unconsolidated Undrained 0 100 200 300 400 500 600

σ v ' (kPa)

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(Undrained) Total Stress Analysis

Again, ∆u not known in TSA, so plot for stress paths for "∆u = 0"
Obtains the illusion that " φ = 0° "
300
τ = Shear Stress (kPa)

200

su
100

0
0 100 200 300 400 500

Effective stress,, σv' (kPa)

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Explaining the myth that "φ = 0"

 Effective Stress Analyses (ESA)
• Drained Loading (∆u = 0)
• Undrained Loading (∆V/V0 = 0)

 Total Stress Analyses (TSA)

 Drained Loading (∆u = 0)
 Undrained Loading with "φ = 0"
analysis: ∆V/V0 = 0 and "∆u = 0"

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Cambridge University q-p' space

σ 1'
σ 1 - σ 3) 6 sin φ '
σ 2' = σ 3' Triaxial Mc =
Compression 3 − sin φ '
q = (σ

Undrained OC
Stress Path
Λ
M  OCR 
Undrained NC ( su / p0 ' )TC = c 
Stress Path 2  2 
Drained
Stress Path
3V : 1H

σvo' = P0'
σ1' + σ2' + σ3')/3
P' = (σ

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Port of Anchorage, Alaska

0.8
10
Deviatoric Stress = q* = (σ 1-σ 3)/σ p'

Critical State Soil Mechanics

0.7
(Modified Cam Clay)
Bootlegger o
0.6 φ ' = 27.7
Strength Ratio, su/σ vo'

Cove Clay Λ = 0.75

0.5

0.4
1
0.3 M c = (q/p')f = 1.10
φ '/(3-sinφ
M c = 6sinφ φ ') DSS Data
0.2
φ ' = 27.7o CIUC Data

0.1 MCC Pred CIUC

MCC Pred DSS
0.0
0.0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.1
1 10 100
σ 1'+σ
Effective Stress, p'* = (σ σ 2'+σ
σ 3')/(3σ
σ p') Overconsolidation Ratio, OCR

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Cavity Expansion – Critical State Model for Evaluating

OCR in Clays from Piezocone Tests
1/ Λ
 1  q T − ub  
OCR = 2   
 195
. M + 1  σ vo ' 
φ’/(3-sinφ
where M = 6 sinφ φ’) Overconsolidation Ratio, OCR

Λ = 1 – Cs/Cc ≈
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
and 0.8 0

Depth (meters)
fs 8
Bothkennar, UK
10

12
CPTU
ub 14
CRS
IL Oed
16 RF

qc → qT 18

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Cambridge University q-p' space

6 sin φ '
Mc =
3 − sin φ '
σ 1 - σ 3)

Yield Surface
q = (σ

Original Cam Clay

Modified Cam Clay

Bounding Surface

Cap Model

Pc'

σ1' + σ2' + σ3')/3

P' = (σ

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Anisotropic Yield Surface

φ’/(3-sinφ
Mc = 6sinφ φ’)
σ 1 - σ 3)
Yield Surface fctn(K0NC)
q = (σ

σp’
OC Y2
e0
σvo’
Y1 NC
Y3 = Limit State
K0
G0

σ1’ + σ2’ + σ3’)/3

P’ = (σ

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Cambridge University q-p' space 6 sin φ '

Mc =
3 − sin φ '
Yield Surface
σ 1 - σ 3)

Apparent
fctn(K0NC)
Mc
q = (σ

σp’

Y3 = Limit State

σ1' + σ2' + σ3')/3

P' = (σ

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MIT q-p' space

tan α c = sin φ '
σ 1 - σ 3)
fctn(K0NC)
Yield Surface
q = ½(σ

σp’

Diaz-Rodriguez, Leroueil,
OC and Aleman (1992, JGE)

σ1' + σ3')
P' = ½(σ

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Yield Surfaces
of Natural Clays

Diaz-Rodriguez,
Leroueil, & Aleman
(ASCE Journal
Geotechnical
Engineering July 1992)

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Friction Angle of Clean Quartz Sands

(Bolton, 1986 Geotechnique)

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State Parameter for Sands, ψ

(Been & Jefferies, 1985; Jefferies & Been 2006)

λ10
void λ10 Wet of Critical
ecsl
ratio (Contractive)
e ψ = e0 - ecsl
e0 VCL
Dry of Critical
(Dilative)
CSL
p0'
σ1'+σ
p' = ⅓ (σ σ2'+σ
σ3')
log p'
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State Parameter for Sands, ψ

(Simplified Critical State Soil Mechanics)

ψ = (Cs - Cc )∙log[ ½ cos φ' OCR ]

λ10 ∆u = (1 - ½ cos φ' OCRΛ ]∙σ
σvo'
λ10
void φ'
then CSL = OCR = 2/cosφ
ecsl
ratio
e ψ = e0 - ecsl
e0 VCL
CSL
p0' σ1'+σ
p' = ⅓ (σ σ2'+σ
σ3')

log p'
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State Parameter for Sands, ψ

(Been, Crooks, & Jefferies, 1988)

log OCRp = log2Λ + Ψ/(κ−λ)

where OCRp = R = overconsolidation ratio in Cambridge
q-p' space, Λ = 1−κ/λ, λ = Cc/ln(10) = compression
index, and κ ≈ Cs/ln(10) = swelling index

Georgia Tech

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MIT Constitutive Models

 Whittle et al. 1994: JGE Vol. 120 (1)
"Model prediction of anisotropic behavior
of Boston Blue Clay"
 MIT-E3: 15 parameters for clay
 Pestana & Whittle (1999) "Formulation of
unified constitutive model for clays and
sands" Intl. J. for Analytical & Numerical
Methods in Geomechanics, Vol. 23
 MIT S1: 13 parameters for clay
 MIT S1: 14 parameters for sand

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MIT E-3 Constitutive Model

Whittle (2005)

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MIT S-1 Constitutive Model

Pestana and Whittle (1999)

43

MIT S-1 Constitutive Model

Predictions for
Berlin Sands
(Whittle, 2005)

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Critical state soil mechanics

• Initial state: e0, σvo’, and OCR = σp’/σvo’
• Soil constants: φ’, Cc, and Cs
• Link between Consolidation and Shear Tests
• CSSM addresses:
 NC and OC behavior
 Undrained vs. Drained (and other paths)
 Positive vs. negative porewater pressures
 Volume changes (contractive vs. dilative)
 su/σ φ’ OCRΛ
σvo’ = ½ sinφ where Λ = 1-Cs/Cc
• Yield surface represents 3-d preconsolidation
• State parameter: ψ = e0 - ecsl

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Simplified Critical State Soil Mechanics

NC
CC
Void Ratio, e

dilative
Void Ratio, e

eOC
CS ∆u
-∆

OC
eNC ∆u
+∆
contractive

Log σv' σ p' Effective stress σv' φ'

τmax = σ′tanφ
φ′
Four Basic Stress Paths:
Shear stress τ

1. Drained NC (decrease ∆V/Vo) τmax = su NC

2 1
2. Undrained NC (positive ∆u)
su OC
3. Undrained OC (negative ∆u) Yield
Surface
4. Drained OC (increase ∆V/Vo) 3

4 ′≈ σp′
σCS′≈½σ σp'
τmax = c′′+σ
σ′tanφ
φ′ c'
Effective stress σv'

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