Derivation of hardening soil model properties from triaxial tests

Abstract

This paper presents the derivation of Hardening Soil-small (HSS) constitutive model parameters for a reconstituted sand using results from triaxial tests. The model is shown to be unable to capture the observed dependence of secant soil stiffness on stress level. Finite Element analyses of model footing tests conducted using the same sand in a laboratory pressure chamber are presented and it is shown that reasonable predictions of the footing response under load are obtained provided that the selected HSS parameters lead to operational stiffness moduli consistent with the initial stress level in the vicinity of the footing. Show more