Analysis of creep behaviour using interface elements
The creeping response of the most widely used interface elements, i.e. the thin-layer element, the virtual thickness element and the conventional solid element is analyzed. An elasticviscoplastic model was developed to describe the soil creeping behaviour. Within the elastic range the response is assumed independent of time and only in viscoplastic region time effects are considered. The corresponding strain vector is estimated using Perzyna's theory of viscoplasticity. The model was incorporated into a special finite element code which was prepared by the authors for the numerical simulation of the soil creeping response. Based on the computed results of an extended parametric study the creeping behaviour of the interface elements is analyzed. Useful criteria for each element are provided, in order to prevent instability of the numerical, finite element based, procedure and to obtain a reliable creeping response in the interface zone.
creep interface elements viscoplasticity finite element analysis