Validation of Theta-Stock, a Finite Element Software for the Analysis of Thermo-Hydro-Mechanical Behaviour of Engineering Clay Barriers

This paper on "Validation of θ-Stock, a Finite Element Software for the Analysis of Thermo-Hydro-Mechanical Behaviour of Engineering Clay Barriers" was presented at the NAFEMS World Congress on Effective Engineering Analysis - 25-28 April 1999, Newport, Rhode Island, USA.

Summary

This paper presents the numerical validation tests of the thermo-hydro-mechanical modelling of unsaturated soil behaviour using θ-STOCK, the finite element software, developed by the first author for the analysis of thermal behaviour of dry, saturated and unsaturated porous media, based on the investigations undertaken within the three last years (1994 - 1997). Set of fully coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical equations for the unsaturated case is given. In this formulation, the effects of deformation on the temperature and suction distribution in soil skeleton and the inverse effects are included via a temperature-dependent formulation of state surfaces of void ratio and degree of saturation. The non-linear (hyperbolic) constitutive law is assumed. The effect of soil non-homogeneity and phase changes are also introduced in this model. Comparisons with the results reported in the literature (analytical solutions, numerical results and experimental data) for dry, saturated and unsaturated cases are presented in order to validate the models incorporated in the program. A good agreement between the predictions of this new model and experimental results for unsaturated soils has shown the strong ability of this new model which is encouraging.