Binary medium creep constitutive model for frozen soils based on homogenization theory

Abstract Based on test results of creep deformation characteristics of frozen soils, the creep breakage mechanisms of frozen soils are analyzed in detail by the concept of binary medium model under the framework of breakage mechanics for geomaterials and a new binary medium creep constitutive model is proposed for frozen soils. The binary medium creep model for frozen soils is formulated based on the homogenization theory by defining the creep constitutive model of the bonded elements, the creep constitutive model of the frictional elements and the breakage ratio, which can reflect the creep deformation characteristics of frozen soils under different stress states. Finally, the determination of these parameters of the binary medium creep constitutive model are presented through the triaxial creep tests of frozen soils and the creep test data of related literatures. The simulation results demonstrate that the binary medium creep constitutive model proposed here can describe the whole creep process and grasp the salient features of frozen soils relatively well.