A bounding surface plasticity model for unsaturated structured soils

A bounding surface plasticity model based on the effective stress concept is presented to describe behaviour of unsaturated structured soils subjected hydro-mechanical loadings. The structural degradation effects compressive and tensile strength are considered through controlling size surface, allowing for a smooth transition response from unstructured states. modelled using work hardening approach, considering both magnitude accumulated plastic strain process. void ratio-dependent water retention adopted, taking effect hydraulic hysteresis into account. Attention also given stiffening decrease in degree saturation mechanical wetting-induced collapse. radial mapping rule with mobile centre homology adopted capture soil under unloading–reloading conditions. predictive capability demonstrated comparison simulations experimental data different conventional laboratory tests including constant-suction oedometer triaxial shearing wetting tests.