Large Deformation Finite Element Analysis of Vane Shear Tests

In the present work, three dimensional large deformation elastoplastic finite element (FE) analysis of vane shear test (VST) has been carried out using the coupled Eulerian–Lagrangian (CEL) technique in FE software Abaqus/Explicit. The soil stress–strain response has been simulated using the Mohr–Coulomb constitutive model. The vane is modeled as rigid body in the simulation. The results of CEL simulations have been compared with the laboratory test results to understand the capability of CEL technique in simulating VST through large deformation FE procedure. It is observed that CEL can successfully simulate the laboratory VST. The success of numerical model was verified by comparing torque required at failure in numerical simulation that of laboratory results. The maximum rotation moment obtained from CEL-modelling of VST is lower compared to the experimentally obtained moment whereas the shear stress distributions obtained from VST simulation is reasonable.