IACMAG Symposium 2019

http://events.iitgn.ac.in/2019/iacmag/
5-7 March 2019, Gandhinagar, India

Comparative study of constitutive models for Lateritic soils in Goa

Smita S. Aldonkara* and Puranand P. Savoikarb

a
Goa College of Engineering, Farmagudi-Ponda, India
b
Goa College of Engineering, Farmagudi-Ponda, India
* haldankarsmita@gmail.com (pps@gec.ac.in)

Abstract

Abstract: Retaining walls are the most commonly adopted solution to retain soils in hilly areas and in
case of excavation involved structures like the railways,roadways prone to landslides in case of
monsoon or landslide invading stresses. The failure of retaining structures and landslides is a major
threat to human life. The study of soils and the failure criteria needs to be analysed before execution
of the technique recommended and adopted.. This paper will illustrate the study of retaining wall with
shelves in dry excavations. The established material models Mohr-Coulomb model (MC) and
Hardening Soil (HS) is used. Midas GEN software is used for the analysis. The material models is
used to analyse the soil behaviour considering the parameters like the stiffness, loading and unloading
conditions. Model is studied creating different layers of soils. A comparative study is presented using
the two models and using the MIDAS GEN NX Software. The study is basically carried out for the
Region of Goa and its soil conditions.

Keywords: Lateritic soils Goa, Mohr Coulomb, Hardeneing Soil Constitutive Modelling, MIDAS
GEN NX .

1. Introduction

Infrastructure is the key driver for the Indian economy. The is a major push in infrastructure
development in the construction industry across the nation: buildings, roads, dams, bridges, jetties.

1.1 Need of Retaining Structures in Goa

The Goa tourism industry demands better infrastructure and smoother roads connecting the interstate
and across the state which needs lot of cutting and filling of earth. The protection of slopes can be
IACMAG Symposium 2019
http://events.iitgn.ac.in/2019/iacmag/
5-7 March 2019, Gandhinagar, India

done by gabion walls, soil nailing, reinforced earth and different types of retaining walls. Due to
scarcity of space the construction of embankments need to be carried out within retaining walls than
with the side slopes. Hence the embankment require retention of the backfill soils for the stability of
slopes.

1.2 Types of Retaining Structures in Goa.

Retaining walls used in Goa since 1960’s were gravity types which are rigid in nature. In this type
of structures the stability of retaining walls is mainly due to the self weight and therefore the retaining
structures are bulky and voluminous incurring more cost and also the stability due to dynamic
conditions may be at risk.
The non gravity type structures derive their stability other than the self weight. This are flexible
types and designed of Reinforced Concrete material namely the cantilever and the counterfort type
retaining walls. They can be designed for retaining the heights of different types of backfill and can be
designed to make it economical. The retaining walls can also be designed to improve its behavior
incase of the dynamic forces especially in the case of earthquakes.
The sheet pile retaining walls are thin members they derive their stability from the penetration
depth into the soil and also incase it is anchored from the top end.this are mainly used in jetties and
ships and dry docks along the Mandovi and Zuari river in Goa.

The reinforced earth retaining structures are the flexible type of walls which basically is stable due
to the mechanical friction between the wall components. This are now being implemented along the
National Highways in Goa.

The gabion walls are the gravity types of structure for retaining the lateritic or gravely backfills
used along the konkan railway tracks and near ID Hospital in Ponda-Goa.

1.3 Retaining Walls with Relieving Shelf techniques

Retaining walls with relieving shelves is a innovative method in retaining structure types. When
retaining wall of cantilever needs to be of designed of greater heights they can work efficiently and
economically. These shelves extend into the backfill and the earth pressure on the stem reduces,
improving its stability. Various research are carried out on the stability analysis of such walls. The
variation in the shelves widths and height from the free end of retaining walls is also carried out for
the optimization of the walls with the shelves.
IACMAG Symposium 2019
http://events.iitgn.ac.in/2019/iacmag/
5-7 March 2019, Gandhinagar, India

2. Soils of Goa

2.1 Soil Profile of Goa

Goa Experiences heavy seasonal rainfall and consequently lateritic weathering profiles are a common
occurrence in Goa. Laterite is the most widespread of all duricrust types. Laterite represents the
uppermost levels of an extreme form of weathering profile, and typically forms 1 - 20 m thick surface
layer or 'duricrust' that can extend over areas of a few, to hundreds, or even thousands of square
kilometres (Nash and Maclaren, 2007). Laterite profiles in Goa consist of a progression from
unaltered protolith at the base, up through increasingly altered saprolite- parent rock, iron enriched
zones. The top layers are as an iron-rich laterite duricrust.

Fig 1. Lateritic Profile of Soil at Ponda-Goa

The exposed lateritic section (25 m) reveals a weathering profile that progresses from the pinkish at
the floor to red lateritic soil at the top(Fig 1). The sampled profile has been characterised using a
combination of field observation and Geotechnical analyses. Throughout the depth the profile shows
in variation in colouration and composition. This colouration is due to increasing concentrations of
Fe-rich oxhydroxides, these lamination remain readily recognizable. Fig 2
 IACMAG Symposium 2019
http://events.iitgn.ac.in/2019/iacmag/
5-7 March 2019, Gandhinagar, India

Fig 2. Sketch of Lateritic Profile of Ponda-Goa.

2.2 Properties of the Goan Lateritic Soils

Lateritic soils in Goa have properties varying with depth and color. The main soil is red lateritic soil
and the underlying soil is of variegated color and properties. The soil in the region of study was
pinkish in color. The properties of soils used in the model are given below (Table 1). They are silty
sandy in nature with 15-30 clay content.

Table1. Geotechnical Properties of soils in Goa

Soil E ν Γ Γsat E50 Eoed Eur eo Ko c Φ Ψ Pref
type Kn/m 2
Kn/m 3
Kn/m 3

Red 1.2x104 0.33 19.5 22.2 4x104 4x104 12x104 0.5 0.38 12 38 7 80
lateritic
Pink 1.2x104 0.3 16.8 17.6 15x104 15x104 45x104 0.45 0.52 17 33 3 70
lateritic

Table 2. Geotechnical Properties of Concrete

Retaining E ν Γ Γsat Ko
wall Kn/m 2
Kn/m 3
Kn/m 3

Material

Concrete 2x107 0.18 25 25 1

IACMAG Symposium 2019
http://events.iitgn.ac.in/2019/iacmag/
5-7 March 2019, Gandhinagar, India

3. Constitutive Models

3.1 Types of Constitutive Models

There are different constitutive models provided for soils in MIDAS-GTX-NS. These can be
broadly classified as : Isotropic, Orthotropic, Interface / Pile
1. Elastic
2. Tresca
3. von Mises (Nonlinear)
4. Mohr-Coulomb
5. Drucker Prager
6. Hoek Brown
7. Generalized Hoek Brown
8. Hyperbolic(Duncan-Chang)
9. Strain Softening
10. Modified Cam Clay
11. Jardine
12. Modified Mohr-Coulomb
13. Soft Soil
14. Soft Soil Creep
15. Modified UBCSAND
16. Sekiguchi-Ohta(Inviscid)
17. Sekiguchi-Ohta(Viscid)
18. Modified Ramberg-Osgood
19. Modified Hardin-Drnevich
20. Hardening Soil(small strainstiffness)
21. Jointed Rock Mass
22. 2D Orthotropic
23. Geogrid
24. Interface
25. Shell Interface
26. Pile

Isotropic materials have the same properties in every direction and is used to define material
behavior properties of most linear-elastic / nonlinear elastic / elasto-plastic materials.
IACMAG Symposium 2019
http://events.iitgn.ac.in/2019/iacmag/
5-7 March 2019, Gandhinagar, India

Orthotropic materials show directionally varring properties. Natural ground is generally layered
and sloped, making it possible to have different strengths in each orthogonal direction. This option
can also be used to define Jointed Rocks, which have different properties depending on the direction
and behave differently according to the specific confinement conditions.

Interface / Pile materials are special materials applied when simulating relative behavior (interface
behavior) between ground and structure.

3.2 Mohr Coulomb Model(MC)

The first method of estimating stresses in soil was the Mohr-Coulomb (MC) Method. Due to its
constant stiffness, the analysis is simple and very fast. The model is ideally correct for stability test,
but the displacements and forces obtained do not give a realistic estimate of the failuer. Parameters
commonly used for MC model are given below:
1. (E) Young’s modulus [kN/m2]
2. (ν) Poisson’s ratio [-]
3. (φ) Friction angle [°]
4. (c) Cohesion [kN/m2]
5. (ψ) Dilatancy angle [°]

Fig 3: Mohr-Coulomb Failuer Criteria for drained and undrained Condition.

IACMAG Symposium 2019
http://events.iitgn.ac.in/2019/iacmag/
5-7 March 2019, Gandhinagar, India

3.3 Hardening Soil Model(HS)

It is an advanced and latest model for Modelling and Simulation of soil behaviour. In Mohr-Coulomb
method, the limiting state of stress is calculated by these parameters: angle of friction friction (Φ),
cohesion (c) (sometimes for cohesionless soils the angle of dilatancy (Ψ) is also considered). But in
HS model, soil stiffness is explained much more correctly by using of extra three different input
stiffnesses: triaxial stiffness (E50), triaxial unloading stiffness (Eur), oedometer loading stiffness
(Eoed) and also used an extra cap shown in figure 2 related to MohrCoulomb model.
The primary load which creates both the elastic and plastic deformations has been explained in this
model using the unloading-reloading moduli and also the compression modulus. The elastic
deformation is recoverable upon unloading and plastic deformations are irrecoverable after unloading.

Fig:4 Failuer Envelope for Hardening Soil Model

4. Constitutive Modelling Using MIDAS GEN NX

4.1 Model Geometry Using MIDAS GEN NX

The material required for the model were defined first. A mesh of 1 meter is choosen for the model
analysis. 3D mesh was created for the purpose of FEM analysis. The base stratum, backfill and the
retaining wall with three relieving shelves were assigned properties in the model creation.
In Mohr Coulomb model, parameters: Young’s modulus, Poisson’s ratio, Friction angle,
Cohesion,Dilatancy angle are used (Table 1).
IACMAG Symposium 2019
http://events.iitgn.ac.in/2019/iacmag/
5-7 March 2019, Gandhinagar, India

In Hardening Soil model, basic Mohr Coulomb model parameters are used in addition to parameters
(Table1): Secant Modulus 50% Strength, Oedometric Modulus, Unloading-Reloading Modulus,
Unloading-Reloading Poisson’s Ratio, Exponent of the stress-stiffness function etc.
The Retaining wall of 9.5m with the three Reliving shelves at every of 2.5m from the free end is
considered for analysis and comparison using the MC and HS model . The retaining wall is modeled
for retaining the Goan lateritic Soil and with two layers of lateritic soils (Red and Pink laterite).

4.2 Analysis of Retaining wall with Relieving shelve for Mohr Coulomb Model

Fig 5. Horizontal Displacement(m) Mohr Coulomb Model

IACMAG Symposium 2019
http://events.iitgn.ac.in/2019/iacmag/
5-7 March 2019, Gandhinagar, India

Fig 6. Stress (Kn/m2) Values at depths from top of retaining Wall Mohr-Coulomb Model.

4.3 Retaining walls with Relieving shelve for Hardening Soil Model
IACMAG Symposium 2019
http://events.iitgn.ac.in/2019/iacmag/
5-7 March 2019, Gandhinagar, India

Fig 7. Horizontal Displacement(m) Hardening Soil Model

Fig 8. Stress (Kn/m2) Values at depths from top of retaining wall Hardening Soil Model
IACMAG Symposium 2019
http://events.iitgn.ac.in/2019/iacmag/
5-7 March 2019, Gandhinagar, India

Graph of comparison between MC and HS Model for displacement and height or retaining wall.
IACMAG Symposium 2019
http://events.iitgn.ac.in/2019/iacmag/
5-7 March 2019, Gandhinagar, India

Graph of comparison between MC and HS Model for stress and height or retaining wall.

.
5. Conclusions

A comparison of the Mohr Coulomb and Hardening soil Model is done with three relieving shelves
retaining wall in layered lateritic soils in Goa.
1. The displacements in the reliving shelves and the bottom of the retaining wall is measured in
both the MC and HS model. In Mohr Coloumb the displacement is seen to be critical at the
bottom whereas in Hradening soil model no such critical displacement conditions noticeable.
IACMAG Symposium 2019
http://events.iitgn.ac.in/2019/iacmag/
5-7 March 2019, Gandhinagar, India

The relieving shelves and the layered soil provide stability in displacement in the hardening
soil model.The unloading of the soil model provides stability in HS model.
2. The stress pattern is analysed for the MC and HS soil model.in HS model more stress is seen at
the end of the stem portion in the retaining wall.

Acknowledgements

The Organizing Committee greatly appreciates your contribution to make the conference fruitful
and exciting.

References

[1] Dr. Nainan P. Kurian

[2] Gaur A , Sahay A (2017) SSRG International Journal of Civil Engineering ( SSRG – IJCE ) – Volume
4 Issue 3 – March 2017 ISSN: 2348 – 8352 www.internationaljournalssrg.org Page 40
Comparison of Different Soil Models for Excavation using Retaining Walls

[3] Mike Widdowson Evolution OF laterites in Goa , In: Natural Resources of Goa: A Geological
Perspective. Editors: Antonio Mascarenhas and Glenn Kalavampara, pp. 35-68. ISBN 978-81-
908737-0-3 © 2009 Geological Society of Goa.

[4] Midas Manual MIDAS GEN NX