A compression model for non-brittle soft clays and peat

A simple and effective model is presented for the calculation of the compression of non-brittle soft clays and peat, It is based on a unique relationship between stress, strain and creep strain rate, It combines features of existing models in an eclectic fashion and some new features, The treatment of unload-reload behaviour is unique to this model, as is the use of natural strain, A new measure-intrinsic time-is introduced to describe creep, The constitutive behaviour is combined with hydraulic storage and flow in a finite strain consolidation equation, A simplified derivation of the finite strain equation is presented, The model is shown to fit accurately the entire stress-strain-time response of a soft organic clay and a peat subjected to incremental loading oedometer tests, Some special effects of the model are shown.