Finite element analysis of cone penetration in cohesionless soil

Displacement finite element analysis is performed for a cone-penetration test in cohesionless soils. By modelling finite strain in the soil and large scale sliding at the penetrometer–soil interface, a more realistic penetration process is simulated in which the penetrometer is assumed to be rigid and the soil is assumed to be an elastic-perfect-plastic continuum obeying the Mohr–Coulomb criterion. The cone resistance found from the calculations shows that the depth of steady-state penetration depends on the stress state and the soil properties. Parametric studies are performed to illustrate the influence of various factors on the cone resistance at the steady state. The deformation mode of the soil around the cone, as well as the plastic zone, is shown to be similar to that caused by cavity expansion. Indeed, the calculated cone resistances are comparable with empirical correlations based on cavity-expansion theory. 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.