The effect of finite layer thickness; a validation of MPM analysis by centrifuge testing

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4. The effect of finite layer thickness; a validation of MPM analysis by centrifuge testing

A series of 4 plate loading tests on peat has been conducted in the centrifuge, to study the effect of finite layer thickness and to validate numerical techniques that capture large strain effects. The tests comprise a wide and small plate with smooth and rough boundary conditions. Remarkably, despite the applied displacement rate of 15 mm/min, the peat behaves partly or even nearly drained, providing a relatively large resistance. A clear difference in failure mechanism is found for the large and small plate. Numerical analysis is conducted using the material point method, MPM. The failure mechanisms and load displacement curves are well captured by the analysis when increasing the strength beyond the values found in conventional laboratory test data. Larger differences are found for analysis of the wide plate, which is explained by the irregularities induced by failure plane development and heterogeneity in the peat layer. For the small plate the finite layer effect influences the load when displacements reach 70% of the original layer thickness. Numerical analysis shows that the depth at which the finite layer effect influences the load -displacement curve is different for drained and undrained behaviour.

10th European Conference on Numerical Methods in Geotechnical Engineering (NUMGE2023)

2. Finite element, finite difference, discrete element, material point and other methods