A SANISAND model with anisotropic elasticity

Numerous experimental studies indicate that as a result of shear stress, the elastic behavior of granular media becomes both non-linear and anisotropic. This paper presents a simple constitutive model for sands with respect to anisotropic elasticity. To this aim, using the concept of second order fabric tensor, a simplified elasticity theory is presented which is capable of considering the effect of induced anisotropy on the elastic response. SANISAND is the name used for a family of simple anisotropic sand models developed in the framework of critical state soil mechanics and bounding surface plasticity. An existing SANISAND model is modified in order to include the proposed anisotropic elasticity. The modified model simulations are compared with those obtained from the other members of this family. It is shown that considering anisotropic elasticity can take part in explanation of drastic loss of mean principal stress when sand is subjected to reverse loading in dilative branch of behavior and as a result, improve the liquefaction simulations. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.