Finite element analysis of soil compaction

Abstract

The problem of predicting soil compaction is one of major concern to those in the agricultural industry. In this investigation the feasibility of using a numerical analysis technique to study force-compaction phenomena in soils was considered. The finite element technique was used to observe compaction in a triaxially loaded soil sample. The stress-strain relationship used for the analysis was a generalized Von Mises yield criterion developed from triaxial test data for prepared Ottawa silica sand samples. An incremental non-linearization technique was employed to approximate this stress-strain relationship. It was found that soil compaction was dependent upon the mean normal stress and shear stress. The latter had a much greater influence upon compaction, for the range of pressures studied.