Evaluation of axial shear test using plane strain simulations

Abstract

The topic of soil anisotropy is still rather unfamiliar to the majority of geotechnical engineers. To clarify the effects that anisotropy can have on the response of soil specimens under plane unconfined vertical compression, the response of a simple anisotropic elastic specimen with inclined bedding plane and rough end platens is investigated numerically. In these simulations various lower platen boundary conditions, including axial shear control are applied. The results demonstrate that the response of the specimen depends on both the anisotropy of the material and the applied boundary conditions. For axial shear control the stress is shown to be homogeneous and coaxial with the sheared shape of the specimen in the central part. Also, the potential capabilities and limitations of axial shear control are investigated in an abstract way, giving support to the expectations of a novel elegant practical tool that could form the vital link in a chain of measures facilitating the incorporation of soil anisotropy in geotechnical engineering practice.