Geometrical Nonlinearities on the Bearing Capacity in Clay: A Validation Data Set for Numerical Tools
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 150, Issue 10
Abstract
A series of plate loading tests on clay has been conducted in the centrifuge. The aim of the tests is to create a data set, which is freely downloadable, to validate numerical tools that account for geometrical nonlinearities. The tests include two sources of geometrical non-linearities. The first source is the reducing clay layer thickness below the plate, which causes an increase in resistance. The second source is the backflow of the clay around the tip of the plate. The backflow has a reducing effect on the plate resistance. This paper outlines four tests: two involving a wide plate and two with a small plate. Each plate geometry is investigated under both smooth and rough side model boundaries. An material point method (MPM) schematization is used for numerical analysis. The schematization and parameter selection are initially validated by comparing the MPM results against CPTu data in each test. The numerical analysis examines the impact of a finite layer thickness by analyzing various layer thicknesses. Furthermore, the analysis shows the influence of the backflow on the plate resistance by analyzing different ratios of shaft to plate width. In this study, the pore pressures below the plate and vertical and horizontal displacement fields are considered in addition to the load displacement curves. The MPM simulations are in good agreement with the centrifuge data.
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Data Availability Statement
All experimental data generated in this study is available online at Zwanenburg et al. (2023b): https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8066899.
Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank Deltares for financing this study. Also, the authors would like to thank the Deltares centrifuge crew for preparing and running the centrifuge tests. All MPM simulations were performed using a version of Anura3D developed in-house by Deltares.
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Published In
Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 150 • Issue 10 • October 2024
Copyright
© 2024 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jul 12, 2023
Accepted: Feb 26, 2024
Published online: Jul 18, 2024
Published in print: Oct 1, 2024
Discussion open until: Dec 18, 2024
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