Hysteresis Model for Dynamic Load under Large Strains

Abstract

An appropriate constitutive model under cyclic shear loading must be able to characterize the behavior both at small and large strains correctly and consider the effects of degradation phenomena and the load history at the soil response. In this study, the limitations associated with the constitutive models at large and small strain under cyclic shear load, traditionally used in soil dynamics, are discussed. A new formulation based on the mathematical theory of hysteresis is presented. The concept of the normalized generating curve is introduced, and different zones are reached as the degradation progresses. The proposed formulation depends on the load history through the generating curve that evolves with the degradation produced in the soil structure and through the accumulation of the maximum and minimum amplitudes occurring in the load history and producing the model response; therefore, the soil response depends on this sequence. The stress–strain laws obtained by the performance of simple shear tests on cohesive soil samples are reproduced with precision.