Serviceability criteria for offshore monopiles include the estimation of long-term, permanent tilt under repeated operational loads. In the lack of well-established analysis methods, experimental and numerical research has been carried out in the last decade to support the fundamental understanding of monopile-soil interaction mechanisms, and the conception of engineering methods for monopile tilt predictions. With a focus on the case of monopiles in sand, this work shows how step-by-step/implicit, three-dimensional (3D) finite-element (FE) modelling can be fruitfully applied to the analysis of cyclic monopile-soil interaction and related soil deformation mechanisms. To achieve adequate simulation of cyclic sand ratcheting and densification around the pile, the recently proposed SANISAND-MS model is adopted. The link between local soil behaviour and global monopile response to cyclic loading is discussed through detailed analysis of model prediction. Overall, the results of numerical parametric studies confirm that the proposed 3D FE modelling framework can reproduce relevant experimental evidence about monopile-soil interaction, and support future improvement of engineering design methods.@en

This paper presents an objective comparison between two recent constitutive models employing the concept of the hardening memory surface to predict the high cyclic loading behaviour of granular soils. The hardening memory surface is applied to the well-known Severn-Trent sand and the SANINSAND04 constitutive models. While the addition of the new model surface (the memory surface) leads to enhanced model capabilities, slight differences in the implementation can lead to different model performances and simulations. This paper describes the differences between the two implementations and highlights the most relevant modelling ingredi-ents to predict particular features of the cyclic soil behaviour. This paper will help the reader in selecting the most suitable model and related ingredients for a particular geotechnical application.@en

The modelling and simulation of cyclic sand ratcheting is tackled by means of a plasticity model formulated within the well-known critical state, bounding surface SANISAND framework. For this purpose, a third locus – termed the ‘memory surface’ – is cast into the constitutive formulation, so as to phenomenologically capture micro-mechanical, fabric-related processes directly relevant to the cyclic response. The predictive capability of the model under numerous loading cycles (‘high-cyclic’ loading) is explored with focus on drained loading conditions, and validated against experimental test results from the literature – including triaxial, simple shear and cyclic loading by oedometer test. The model proves capable of reproducing the transition from ratcheting to shakedown response, in combination with a single set of soil parameters for different initial, boundary and loading conditions. This work contributes to the analysis of soil–structure interaction under high-cyclic loading events, such as those induced by environmental and/or traffic loads.@en

Earthquake-induced build-up of pore water pressure may be responsible for reduced soil capacity, while the accumulation of shear strains may lead to a violation of serviceability limits. Predicting accurately the soil cyclic behaviour in relation to seismic numerical simulations is still a challenging topic in many respects. Efforts are required to improve several technical aspects, including the development of a reliable and complete constitutive model. This paper reports recent developments after the work of Liu et al. (2018a), and particularly about the performance of a new SANISAND formulation incorporating the memory surface concept (Corti et al., 2016). The performance of the model in terms of strain accumulation and pore pressure build-up is validated against high-quality laboratory test results. A modified dilatancy relationship is given to reproduce within the proposed framework proper cyclic mobility response. The effects of preliminary drained cyclic preloading on soil liquefaction resistance are also studied.@en