A Constitutive Model for Chemically Sensitive Clays

Abstract

This paper deals with a chemo-hydro-mechanical (CHM) model for unsaturated clays. The chemo-mechanical effects are described within an elasto-plastic model using the concept of chemical softening proposed by Hueckel (1997). The constitutive behaviour of partially saturated clays is modelled following Alonso-Gens' formulation. The equilibrium equations with the chemo-hydro-mechanical constitutive relations are combined with the governing equations for liquid transfer and contaminant transport, and are solved numerically using finite elements. Numerical examples are presented to analyse the chemical effects upon the response during wetting of a clay specimen, and during an excavation.