Application of the Coupled Eulerian-Lagrangian finite element method on piezocone penetration test in clays

Abstract

This paper proposed a Coupled Eulerian-Lagrangian (CEL) finite element model to estimate the undrained piezocone resistance and penetration pore pressure in modified Cam clay (MCC). The numerical model is verified through comparison with a series of miniature piezocone penetration test in calibration chamber. The value of cone tip resistance (qc), excess pore pressure at cone face (u1) and cone shoulder (u2) obtained from CEL model are also compared with the analytic closed-form solution of cavity expansion. Consequently, the value of qc is underpredicted by cavity expansion approach, but the predicted value of excess pore pressure for ordinary consolidated clays is in fairly good agreement with the value CEL modeled.