An Elasto-Plastic Model for Unsaturated Soil in Three-Dimensional Stresses

A three-dimensional elasto-plastic model for unsaturated soil is presented, using a transformed stress tensor based on the Extended SMP criterion. The influences of suction on the mechanical behavior of unsaturated soil are taken into account in the model by using a parameter named suction stress σ0(s), which is added to net stress to form an effective stress, and associating a yield stress and model parameters with it. The proposed model needs few material parameters, which can be easily determined from the results of ordinary tests, for example, oedometer and direct shear tests or triaxial test. It can predict the stress-strain-strength behavior of unsaturated soil under the conditions of three-dimensional stresses and constant or variable suction. A considerable number of triaxial compression and extension tests on unsaturated compacted kaolin were performed by using a suction-controlled triaxial apparatus, to measure the stress-strain behavior under different stress paths with constant and decreasing suction. The prediction of the proposed model shows good agreement with the measured behavior of unsaturated soil not only in triaxial compression but also in triaxial extension under the conditions of constant suction and reduction in suction, which may induce an irrecoverable volumetric compression (collapse).