Analysis of nonlinear large-strain consolidation of soft clay with exponential seepage flow law

Considering the exponential seepage flow law in soil and the nonlinear consolidation behavior of soil,the equations and solution conditions governing 1 D nonlinear large-strain consolidation,in which the excess pore water pressure served as variable,were founded in Lagrangian coordinates;and its numerical solutions were obtained by finite difference method.On condition that the exponential seepage flow law was degenerated into Darcy's law;the reliability of numerical solutions was testified by comparing the finite difference solutions to semi-analytical solutions.Finally,the consolidation behavior of 1-D non-linear large strain consolidation with exponential flow law were analyzed;and the results show that the rate of nonlinear large strain consolidation of soft clay slows down with increasing the external load in case of m 1,and accelerates with increasing the external load in case of m 1.The rate of nonlinear large strain consolidation is faster than that of nonlinear small strain consolidation;and the difference between them may intensify with increasing the external load.Furthermore,the final settlement by the theory of large strain consolidation is smaller than that of small strain consolidation,and the difference between them also may intensify with increasing the external load.