Calibration of cyclic constitutive models by oscillating functions

ABSTRACT

Most structures are subjected to more cyclic loads during their life time than static loads. These cyclic action could be a result of either natural or man-made activities and may lead to soil failure. In order to understand the response of the foundation and its interaction with these complex cyclic loadings, various researchers have over the years developed different constitutive models. Although a lot of research is being carried out on these relatively new models, little or no details exist in literature about the model-based identification of the cyclic constitutive parameters which to a large extent govern the quality of the model output. This could be attributed to the difficulties and complexities of the inverse modeling of such complex phenomena. A variety of optimisation strategies are available for the solution of the sum of least-squares problems as usually done in the field of model calibration. However, for the back analysis (calibration) of the soil response to oscillatory load functions, this article gives insight into the model calibration challenges and also puts forward a method for the inverse modeling of cyclic loaded foundation response such that high-quality solutions are obtained with minimum computational effort.

KEYWORDS:

• Inverse modeling
• soil structure interaction
• elasto-plastic model
• unsaturated soil
• cyclic loading
• model calibration

Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge the support of the German Research Foundation (DFG) through the Research Training Group 1463 ‘Evaluation of Coupled Numerical Partial Models in Structural Engineering’ in Weimar.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

The authors gratefully acknowledge the support of the German Research Foundation (DFG) through the Research Training Group 1463 ‘Evaluation of Coupled Numerical Partial Models in Structural Engineering’ in Weimar.