Elastic-plastic finite element analysis of an excavated slope in soft clay

A man-made and monitored excavated slope is analyzed using total stress (undrained) analysis as well as coupled analysis. The soft postglacial clay is investigated by triaxial and oedometer tests mainly. Based on the test results the soil is modelled by a generalized ‘smooth’ Cap model containing a transition surface in addition to the cone and cap surfaces. The obtained displacement pattern and yield zones are generally consistent with the filed observations, however in the total stress analysis, the displacements are overestimated. The coupled finite element analysis provides a realistic distribution of the effective stresses around the excavation.