Modelling strain-rate-dependency of natural soft clays combined with anisotropy and destructuration

The paper aims to investigate modelling the strain-rate-dependency of natural soft clays combined with anisotropy and destructuration using an elasto-viscoplastic model. The model is based on Perzyna's overstress theory and the elastoplastic model S-CLAY1S. Tests at constant strain-rate and creep tests under both one-dimensional and triaxial conditions on several clays are simulated. Simulations highlight the loading scenarios in which it is necessary to account for anisotropy and/or destructuration in order to get accurate predictions. Comparisons between the predicted and measured results demonstrate that the proposed model can successfully reproduce the time-dependent behaviour of natural soft clays under different loading conditions.