Back-Calculation of Element Tests with a Rate Dependent Soft Soil Model

It is well known that soft clays are geo-materials with properties such as fabric, bonding and rate-dependency. The response observed when modelling complex boundary value problems will depend on the ability of the soil model to capture these features. This paper point out the importance of modelling anisotropy, de-structuration and rate-dependency for normally or slightly over-consolidated clays. In this study, samples from Bothkennar clay (Scotland) were simulated and compared to laboratory data. The constitutive model used in this paper is the recently developed Creep-SCLAY1S. The model could predict both qualitative and quantitative the tests results. Selection of the parameters from standard laboratory tests was a key step in the predictions. It was relevant to have different types of laboratory tests to derive a best set of parameters.