An interface to numerically model undrained soil-structure interactions

Abstract

The traditional Coulomb friction model is commonly used to illustrate interactions at the soil-structure interface, but it assumes zero tangential resistance when the normal stress on the interface is in tension. This is not realistic for modelling the undrained behaviour of geo-structures deeply embedded in the seabed because the soil adheres to the structure due to the suction generated. This note proposes a new interface model that captures the undrained behaviour of soil at the structural interface, including the ability to maintain frictional shear stresses under tensile normal stress. Based on simple elastic-perfectly plasticity theory the constitutive behaviour of the interface and th..