Fachthema
Small-strain stiffness in geotechnical analyses
Thomas Benz Prof. Dr.-Ing.,
Radu Schwab Dr.-Ing.,
Pieter Vermeer Prof. Dr.-Ing.,
Thomas Benz Prof. Dr.-Ing.
Geotechnical Division, Dept. of Civil and Transport Engineering, NTNU, Høgskoleringen 7a, N-7034 Trondheim, Norway
Search for more papers by this authorRadu Schwab Dr.-Ing.
Federal Waterways Engineering and Research Institute, Kußmaulstraße 17, D-76187 Karlsruhe, Germany
Search for more papers by this authorPieter Vermeer Prof. Dr.-Ing.
Institute of Geotechnical Engineering, University Stuttgart, Pfaffenwaldring 35, D-70569 Stuttgart, Germany
Search for more papers by this authorThomas Benz Prof. Dr.-Ing.,
Radu Schwab Dr.-Ing.,
Pieter Vermeer Prof. Dr.-Ing.,
Thomas Benz Prof. Dr.-Ing.
Geotechnical Division, Dept. of Civil and Transport Engineering, NTNU, Høgskoleringen 7a, N-7034 Trondheim, Norway
Search for more papers by this authorRadu Schwab Dr.-Ing.
Federal Waterways Engineering and Research Institute, Kußmaulstraße 17, D-76187 Karlsruhe, Germany
Search for more papers by this authorPieter Vermeer Prof. Dr.-Ing.
Institute of Geotechnical Engineering, University Stuttgart, Pfaffenwaldring 35, D-70569 Stuttgart, Germany
Search for more papers by this authorAbstract
Nonlinear soil behaviour at small strains is often neglected in geotechnical analyses. Doing so often leads to an overestimation of foundation settlements and retaining wall deflections. Settlement troughs behind retaining walls or above tunnels, on the other hand, may be analysed as too flat and extended. Comparing measured displacements of piles or anchors within the working load range, to those calculated without considering small-strain stiffness, shows a considerably too soft response. This paper is concerned with a qualitative and quantitative discussion of the small-strain stiffness phenomenon. In combination with the commercially available small-strain stiffness model introduced, it provides the basics for incorporating small-strain stiffness into routine design.
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