Overview of Constitutive Models for Soils

Numerous constitutive models have been developed over the past forty years for modeling the stress-strain behavior of soils. These models are to be used with finite element and/or finite difference calculations of soil structures and soil/structure interaction problems under axisymmetric, plane strain, and/or general three-dimensional conditions. Simple as well as advanced models have been formulated on the basis of principles of mechanics, some more rigorous than others, some based on experimental evidence, and others based on theoretical principles. The capabilities and the shortcomings of these models are not always easy to ascertain, and the requirements for determination of parameters are not uniform. It is consequently difficult to determine which model to select for a particular task. Presented here is an overview of the principles, main characteristic features, and components of existing, widely available constitutive models. Their requirements in terms of experimental data for calibration are presented, and their capabilities are reviewed.