Modelling soil desiccation cracking by peridynamics

Understanding of desiccation-induced cracking in soil has improved over the last 20–30 years through experimental studies, but progress predictive modelling desiccation been limited. The heterogeneous structure soils and multi-physics nature phenomenon, involving emergence propagation discontinuities, make mathematical description analysis a challenging task. authors present non-local hydro-mechanical model for capable predicting crack initiation growth. is based on peridynamics (PD) theory. Attempts to by PD are limited purely mechanical process that involves calibration parameters. In contrast, presented this paper describes as problem, where moisture flow deformation coupled. This allows investigating explaining mechanisms controlling discontinuities. applied tested against two sets data explain typical features drying-induced clays. validations use parameters (Young's modulus, water retention characteristics) avoid calibrations test accuracy model. correlations between shrinkage clay, changes displacement fields growth demonstrated. Crack initiation, ultimate patterns simulated found be very good agreement with observations. results show can capture realistically key hydraulic, geometry effects clay cracking.