Trust-region reflective optimisation to obtain soil visco-plastic properties

Abstract

Purpose

A non-linear creep function embedded in an elastic visco-plastic (EVP) model can simulate the decrease of creep compression rate with time. It overcomes the limitation of a linear logarithmic creep function, by which creep continuously increases to infinite value as time approaches infinity. However, the determination of the creep model parameters is a challenging task to apply the EVP model. Therefore, this paper presents a new numerical solution to determine the EVP model parameters applying trust-region reflective least square optimisation algorithm and the finite difference scheme to simulate stress-strain behaviour of soft soil.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, the developed method is verified against the field case study of Väsby test fill. A set of EVP model parameters is obtained by applying the developed method to the available laboratory consolidation results of Väsby clay. Then, the predictions of settlement and the excess pore water pressure at different depths are compared to the available field measurement.

Findings

The analysis results show the developed method is a reliable tool to evaluate the long-term performance of soft soils under embankments.

Practical implications

Practicing engineers can use the proposed optimisation algorithm to increase the accuracy of the soil visco-plastic model parameters by utilising all laboratory results of several loading stages during and after the dissipation of the excess pore water pressure.

Originality/value

A novel numerical solution to determine the viscoplastic model parameters applying trust-region reflective least square optimisation algorithm has been developed.

Citation

Le, T.M. and Fatahi, B. (2016), "Trust-region reflective optimisation to obtain soil visco-plastic properties", Engineering Computations, Vol. 33 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/EC-11-2014-0236