A load transfer model considering strain softening of soils

A new load transfer model considering friction resistance softening of soils is proposed. Its parameters have clear physical significance, their values are easy to obtain, and the proposed value of softening coefficient c is given in accordance with the engineering experience in Zhejiang province. In this load transfer model, the softening coefficient c decides the degree of softening, the parameter decides the ultimate friction resistance, and the parameter decides the ultimate relative displacement. When the relative displacement is smaller than the ultimate displacement, the friction resistance increases with relative displacement nonlinearly. When the relative displacement is equal to the ultimate displacement, the friction resistance reaches the peak value; when the relative displacement is larger than the ultimate displacement, friction resistance begins to decrease gradually. The normalized analysis of data from case histories and the comparison with the hyperbolic load transfer model indicate that the load transfer model considering strain softening of soils is better than the hyperbolic load transfer model in simulating the stress-strain curve of softening soils.