Application of an advanced multi-surface kinematic constitutive soil model

The implementation of the non‐linear elastic multi‐surface plastic kinematic constitutive soil model ALTERNAT into a general uncoupled finite element program called ALTICA is described. The principal features of the model are discussed and its implementation into an initial stress type excess plastic stress redistribution algorithm. To show the abilities of the model and validate the algorithm, several examples are presented including the calibration of the model to a real sand with measured monotonic and cyclic properties. In the monotonic examples, the ability of ALTICA to accurately reproduce the predicted collapse load of geotechnical structures is demonstrated using the results of finite element simulations of two typical boundary value problems (with known analytical or numerical solutions). In the cyclic examples, results of cyclic liquefaction simulation using both a non‐inertial ‘static’ and inertial ‘dynamic’ algorithm are presented. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.