A Similar Cam-clay Model for Sand Based on the Generalized Potential Theory

In a Cam-clay model, the energy equation assumption is lack of theoretical basis and it cannot describe the dilatancy of sand. Moreover, it needs to determine the plastic potential functions. In order to improve the Cam-clay model, mathematical principle of the energy equation assumption and the dilatancy equation in the Cam-clay model were analyzed and a similar Cam-clay model for sand was proposed based on the generalized potential theory. In the proposed model, the mathematical principle of each assumption is clear and only four conventional soil parameters are needed. The difficulties brought by the determination of plastic potential functions are avoided. Rationality of the proposed model was verified by the test results of sand under different stress paths. The results show that the predicted results of the proposed model agree well with the test ones and the dilatancy of sand can also be described. It proves that the proposed model is more reasonable than Cam-clay model.