Modeling of the steady-state response of granular soils

The paper presents a study of the static liquefaction of granular soils, particularly the existence and uniqueness of the so-called steady-state and the conditions leading to the steady-state. The study is carried out using a simple constitutive model for granular soils established using a few well-known relationships based on results of drained triaxial tests on sands and silts. The paper clarifies the necessary theoretical and experimental conditions in determining whether a soil has achieved the steady-state. The results of the analytical study strongly emphasize the importance of dilatancy and deformability on the steady-state response of granular soils. It is shown that, in the absence of instability, liquefaction should be treated simply as another aspect of the stress-strain response of granular soils, and liquefaction should be treated not just as a strength problem but also as a deformation problem.