Nonlinear model and numerical simulation of thermal consolidation process of saturated soils

The governing equations and state equations for the thermosetting consolidation of saturated soils are given based on the coupled equations of thermo-hydro-mechanical coupling in porous media. And considering the influences of temperature and pore water pressure on the drained bulk modulus, the expression for nonlinear elastic modulus is established. The results are compared with those of the existing thermal consolidation tests, and the calculated results are in good agreement with the experimental results. The calculated results show that the change of permeability of water in soil specimens has a significant influence on the dissipation of water pressure and the evolution of volumetric strain. And the solid matrix is compressed and the bulk strain changes greatly in the isothermal consolidation process, whereas the solid matrix has a tendency to expand in the non-drainage heating consolidation process. Moreover, the upper bulk strain of porous media is larger than that of lower part due to the influences of gravity. The increase of temperature loading steps causes the pore water pressure to be continuously generated in the porous media, and the mean bulk strain increases with the discharge of pore water.