Shear band analysis and shear moduli calibration

Strain localization is a well known phenomenon, generally associated with plastic deformation and rupture in solids, especially in geomaterials. In this process, deformation is observed to concentrate in narrow zones called shear bands. This phenomenon has been studied extensively in the last 20 years by different researchers, experimentally, theoretically and numerically. A criterion for the onset of localization can be predicted solely on the basis of the constitutive law of the material, using the so-called shear band analysis. This criterion gives the critical orientation, and the critical stress state and strain for a given loading history. An important point, already stressed by Vardoulakis in 1980, is that in particular, out-of-axes shear moduli play a central role in the criterion. These are the moduli involved in the response to a deviatoric stress increment with principal axes oriented at 45degrees from total stress principal axes. Out-of-axes shear moduli are difficult parameters to calibrate; common tests, with fixed principal stress and strain directions, do not provide any information on these moduli, as long as they remain homogeneous. Still, real civil engineering and environmental problems are definitely not simple axisymmetric triaxial tests; practical modeling involves complex stress paths, and need complex parameters to be calibrated. Only special tests, like compression-torsion on hollow cylinder tests, or even more complex tests can be used for shear moduli calibration. However, shear band initiation in homogeneous, fixed-axes tests does activate out-of-axes shear. Hence, it is natural that shear band analysis makes shear moduli enter into the analysis. Then, a typical inverse analysis approach can be used here: experimental observation of strain localization in triaxial tests can be used together with a proper shear band analysis for the model considered, in order to determine out-of-axes shear moduli. This approach has been used for a stiff marl in the framework of a calibration study on a set of triaxial tests. The steps of the method are presented, and the bifurcation surface in the stress space is exhibited. (C) 2002 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.