Calibration of a comprehensive hypoplastic model for granular materials

Based on the concept of hypoplasticity, a comprehensive constitutive equation describing the three-dimensional nonlinear stress-strain behaviour of granular materials was presented by Gudehus (1996). This companion paper focuses more on experimental and numerical investigations for the calibration of this constitutive model. The representations of the functions chosen are discussed in detail. The consideration of special state paths permits an easy assignment of the constitutive parameters to the experimental data from standard and element tests. Numerical simulations of various element tests indicate that the model is able to reproduce the salient features of granular materials in a wide range of pressures, deformations and densities.