An experimental study and numerical analysis of interface behaviour

Abstract

The development of a mathematical model for the mechanical behaviour of soil-structure interfaces requires a full knowledge of both the stress and strain states within the laboratory soil samples. It is difficult, however, to measure all components of stresses and strains experimentally everywhere in a sample. Considering the stresses, only the average values of the normal stress and shear stress acting on the contact surface are determined from the measured normal and tangential forces. In the direct shear interface tests, the tangential displacement of the interface plate and the displacement in the direction perpendicular to the top of the soil sample are measured. It is also possible to measure the amount of slip between the interface plate and soil sample if a simple shear type of apparatus is used in the experiments. The main objective of the present investigation is to determine stresses and strains numerically in both the direct shear type and simple shear type of interface tests. The finite element method of analysis is used for this purpose. A commercial finite element program, Plaxis, is employed in the calculations. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)