Numerical and experimental study of initiation and propagation of desiccation cracks in clayey soils

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Title:	Numerical and experimental study of initiation and propagation of desiccation cracks in clayey soils
Author:	Levatti, Hector Ulises; Prat Catalán, Pere; Ledesma Villalba, Alberto
Other authors:	Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. Departament d'Enginyeria Civil i Ambiental; Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. MECMAT - Mecànica de Materials; Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. MSR - Mecànica del Sòls i de les Roques
Abstract:	This paper presents the fundamentals and the mathematical formulation to study desiccation cracking in soils based on Unsaturated Soil Mechanics as well as a numerical analysis of a previous desiccation test program. The numerical approach implemented in MATLAB is used in 2D simulations on radial sections of the cylindrical specimens and in a theoretical study of the stress field in plane strain conditions. The numerical analysis, based on two stress stare variables (total net stress and suction) is consistent and in good agreement with the experimental results, including the location of cracks and time of crack initiation.
Abstract:	Peer Reviewed
Subject(s):	-Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Enginyeria civil::Geotècnia::Mecànica de sòls -Clay soils -Desiccation cracking -Hydro-mechanical coupling -Unsaturated soils mechanics -Finite element method -Sòls argilosos
Rights:	Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Spain http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/es/
Document type:	Article - Submitted version Article
Published by:	Elsevier
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