A surrogate model to efficiently predict changing strength and stiffness of soft soils through whole-life episodic cyclic loading
A surrogate model to efficiently predict changing strength and stiffness of soft soils through whole-life episodic cyclic loading
Whole-life geotechnical design accounts for the evolution of geotechnical properties due to the actions imparted on the infrastructure during the design life to improve design outcomes. In fine-grained soils, geotechnical properties evolve as a result of cyclic softening from excess pore pressure generation under undrained cyclic loading, and hardening during subsequent dissipation. Traditionally geotechnical design has focused on reduced strength and stiffness from softening, overlooking beneficial effects of hardening leading to increases in strength and stiffness. This paper presents a surrogate model that can capture the evolution of geotechnical properties of normally and lightly over consolidated clays through episodes of undrained pre-failure cyclic loading with intervening consolidation, validated against laboratory element test results. The surrogate model is shown to capture the essential elements of the whole-life soil–structure interaction, which include: (i) the excess pore pressure generated during undrained cyclic loading and the associated soil softening; (ii) the reduction in void ratio caused by the dissipation of excess pore pressured during the consolidation process; and (iii) the evolution of undrained shear strength and stiffness through these processes. The surrogate model allows rapid estimation of evolving soil properties in design, enabling automated optimization of geotechnical design calculations (such as required size of foundations or anchors), and use in probabilistic analyses such as Monte Carlo approaches, to quantify the influence of uncertainty in loading history and geotechnical parameters on system reliability.
Consolidation, Cyclic loading, Offshore foundations, Soft soils, Whole-life geotechnics
Laham, Noor
d4af2376-9e9c-4b89-aa76-972f2b78fb0e
Kwa, Katherine
18faee0d-75d9-4683-a2c8-604625eecbb0
White, David
a986033d-d26d-4419-a3f3-20dc54efce93
Gourvenec, Susan
6ff91ad8-1a91-42fe-a3f4-1b5d6f5ce0b8
18 November 2025
Laham, Noor
d4af2376-9e9c-4b89-aa76-972f2b78fb0e
Kwa, Katherine
18faee0d-75d9-4683-a2c8-604625eecbb0
White, David
a986033d-d26d-4419-a3f3-20dc54efce93
Gourvenec, Susan
6ff91ad8-1a91-42fe-a3f4-1b5d6f5ce0b8
Laham, Noor, Kwa, Katherine, White, David and Gourvenec, Susan
(2025)
A surrogate model to efficiently predict changing strength and stiffness of soft soils through whole-life episodic cyclic loading.
Computers and Geotechnics, 177 (Pt. B), [106895].
(doi:10.1016/j.compgeo.2024.106895).
Abstract
Whole-life geotechnical design accounts for the evolution of geotechnical properties due to the actions imparted on the infrastructure during the design life to improve design outcomes. In fine-grained soils, geotechnical properties evolve as a result of cyclic softening from excess pore pressure generation under undrained cyclic loading, and hardening during subsequent dissipation. Traditionally geotechnical design has focused on reduced strength and stiffness from softening, overlooking beneficial effects of hardening leading to increases in strength and stiffness. This paper presents a surrogate model that can capture the evolution of geotechnical properties of normally and lightly over consolidated clays through episodes of undrained pre-failure cyclic loading with intervening consolidation, validated against laboratory element test results. The surrogate model is shown to capture the essential elements of the whole-life soil–structure interaction, which include: (i) the excess pore pressure generated during undrained cyclic loading and the associated soil softening; (ii) the reduction in void ratio caused by the dissipation of excess pore pressured during the consolidation process; and (iii) the evolution of undrained shear strength and stiffness through these processes. The surrogate model allows rapid estimation of evolving soil properties in design, enabling automated optimization of geotechnical design calculations (such as required size of foundations or anchors), and use in probabilistic analyses such as Monte Carlo approaches, to quantify the influence of uncertainty in loading history and geotechnical parameters on system reliability.
Text
1-s2.0-S0266352X24008346-main
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More information
Accepted/In Press date: 1 November 2024
e-pub ahead of print date: 18 November 2024
Published date: 18 November 2025
Keywords:
Consolidation, Cyclic loading, Offshore foundations, Soft soils, Whole-life geotechnics
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 497659
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/497659
ISSN: 0266-352X
PURE UUID: 3db15075-588a-4283-914a-5314fe8ef3f4
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Date deposited: 29 Jan 2025 17:30
Last modified: 22 Aug 2025 02:27
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