Large strain radial thermo-consolidation model for saturated soil foundation

Abstract

Based on the piecewise-linear approach, a large strain nonlinear radial thermo-consolidation model for saturated soil foundation, called RTCS1, is established. The model uses the finite difference method to solve the governing equations of radial heat transfer in the soil layer and couples it with large strain radial consolidation. RTCS1 accounts for thermal effect, thermal expansion, time-dependent load increment and time-dependent heat source temperature, unload/reload effects, radial and vertical flows, equal strain and equal stress, and the nonlinear changes of soil parameters during thermo-consolidation process. Validation of the model is conducted through laboratory and field test of thermo-consolidation from existing literature, and the RTCS1 numerical solution for settlement is in good agreement with the test values. Computational examples are presented to explore the effect of strain condition, strain magnitude, and heating mode on the thermo-consolidation of saturated soil foundations. The findings indicate that the consolidation rate under equal strain condition is greater than that under equal stress condition, the lager strain leads to faster heat transfer. Under the cyclic heating modes, the excess pore pressure cannot be completely dissipated, and the soil settlement, temperature and excess pore pressure fluctuated with time.