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Numerical integration of an elastic–viscoplastic constitutive model for dry metamorphosed snow
Author(s) -
Cresseri Silene,
Genna Francesco,
Jommi Cristina
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
international journal for numerical and analytical methods in geomechanics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.419
H-Index - 91
eISSN - 1096-9853
pISSN - 0363-9061
DOI - 10.1002/nag.864
Subject(s) - viscoplasticity , constitutive equation , snow , geotechnical engineering , geology , viscosity , curvature , finite element method , dependency (uml) , mechanics , materials science , engineering , mathematics , structural engineering , physics , geometry , composite material , geomorphology , systems engineering
A constitutive model for dry metamorphosed snow is proposed, within the framework of elasto‐viscoplasticity, which is able to reproduce the most relevant features of the macroscopic behaviour of snow, particularly its time and rate dependency. The basic ideas for modelling stem from the conceptual forms proposed for bonded geomaterials, such as cemented soils or soft rocks. The high viscosity of snow is accounted for by adopting an overstress approach, suitably modified. An evolution law for the curvature‐driven process of sintering, by which intergranular ice necks form and grow, is established. The system of constitutive equations is then numerically integrated via a fully implicit time stepping scheme. Selected results from finite element simulations of laboratory tests, available in the literature, are presented. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.