A theory for the mechanical behaviour of sand

Abstract

In the absence of a stress/strain theory proper to sand various writers have given approximate solutions to sand problems on the basis of linear elasticity (e.g. [1, 2]), of visco-elasticity [3], or of perfect plasticity [4, 5], More recently it has been suggested by Drucker, Gibson and Henkel [6] that the stress/strain behaviour of soils, including sands, may be adequately represented at the moment of failure by the theory of perfect plasticity, and before failure by the theory of elastic-plastic work-hardening materials.¹ The criterion of a stable work-hardening material adopted was that of [9]:

If an external agency slowly applies and then removes additional forces to a work-hardening body which is already loaded, then (1) positive work is done by the external agency during the application, and (2) positive or zero net work is done by the external agency over the cycle of application and removal.