Finite element method of the internal friction angle and saturation degree with the groundwater levels variations

Abstract

ABSTRACTIn recent years, research on the internal friction angle was done by previous researchers. The research objective shows the relationship between water content, porosity, saturation, internal friction angle, and the vertical displacement of the ground with depth variations. The experiment and numerical model were used for comparison by Viet Nam’s standard “TCVN 4196: 2012” and the finite Element Method (PLAXIS 3D software). Results show remarkably water content (W%) and porosity (P%) at the maximum value of 94.35% at 4.8m depth, whereas the minimum value is 18.22% at 39.3m depth; which compared with porosity (P%) of 71.9% at 4.8m depth, and 40.4%. On the other hand, saturation results presented 88.09% and 86.79% at the center of the grounds. The increase of 23% and 75.42% (from 18.3m to 39.3m). Moreover, the vertical displacement maximum value of 0.01975 m (z = -36.9m) depth with ϕ0 = 290); whereas the minimum value is 0.002844 m (z = 0m) depth with ϕ0 = 20. The mean value at the center of the Clay layer was obtained at 0.0577m, and 0.0156 m at the Sand layer. From these research results, civil and geology researchers, scientists, and so on can use the best references for their works.

Keywords

• Water content
• porosity
• saturation
• internal friction angle
• vertical displacement
• groundwater levels