Performance of Hyperbolic Model Parameters for Non-cohesive Soil-Concrete Interface

The response of the stress–strain curve at the soil-concrete interface is nonlinear. The interface response is generally idealized in numerical modeling using a hyperbolic model. The hyperbolic interface model (IHM) is versatile and has been used by researchers for various soil-structure interaction applications. The parameters (modulus number ‘Kj’, exponent ‘n’, friction angle between soil and concrete contact ‘δ’, and failure ratio ‘Rf’) for this model have been evaluated using an interface shear test in the laboratory. The parameters ‘Kj’, ‘n’, and ‘Rf’ have evaluated from the transformed shear stress–shear displacement curve, whereas ‘δ’ has been assessed directly from normal and shear stress. These parameters mainly depend on particle size, moisture content, and soil density. The process of evaluation for these parameters is very tedious if the samples are in large numbers. Thus it is necessary to study the IHM parameters for variation in particle size, moisture content, and density so that the appropriate correlations have to be established to evaluate these parameters directly. In this investigation, the large box shear test has been carried out on concrete-non-cohesive soil (coarse, medium, and fine sand as well as fine gravel) interface. The test was conducted in dry and moist conditions. The performance of IHM parameters for various particle sizes, moisture content, and density has been studied. The generalized correlations have been established for every parameter based on particle size, moisture content, and density. These correlations can be directly used for the evaluation of model parameters.