SCS: A one‐dimensional piecewise‐linear large strain consolidation model for structured soils.

Soil structure is an important mechanics property which has drawn much attention from researchers. A piecewise‐linear numerical model, called SCS, is developed to investigate the large strain consolidation of structured soils. SCS accommodates large strain, soil self‐weight, vertical flows, time‐dependent loading, unloading/reloading, seepage force, soil heterogeneity, and soil structure. A three‐stage formulation is proposed to specify the compressibility behaviors of structured soils in SCS. The accuracy of SCS in the cases of small strain and large strain is checked comparing with analytical solutions and numerical solutions respectively. The effect of the main factors impacting soil structure on the consolidation processes of structured soils is investigated using several SCS simulations. Finally, a few SCS simulations with multiple structured soil layers are conducted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]