Computational Geotechnics

The main emphasis of the activities of the working group "Computational Geotechnics" may be categorized in two aspects. Firstly the assessment of numerical models with respect to their suitability for solving tunnelling problems, deep excavations and slope stability analyses. In addition the efficiency of various constitutive models for describing the nonlinear behaviour of soils is assessed for various types of practical applications. In this context elastic-plastic constitutive models are mainly employed but some consideration is also given to the so-called small-strain stiffness of soils, in particular with respect to excavation problems. Secondly the important problem of strain localization is addressed by means of a novel approach which is thought to be especially attractive for solving practical problems, namely the application of the multilaminate framework. The latter is also employed to model anisotropic soil behaviour.