Small‐strain stiffness in geotechnical analyses

Nonlinear soil behaviour at small strains is often neglected in geotechnical analyses. Doing so often leads to an overestimation of foundation settlements and retaining wall deflections. Settlement troughs behind retaining walls or above tunnels, on the other hand, may be analysed as too flat and extended. Comparing measured displacements of piles or anchors within the working load range, to those calculated without considering small‐strain stiffness, shows a considerably too soft response. This paper is concerned with a qualitative and quantitative discussion of the small‐strain stiffness phenomenon. In combination with the commercially available small‐strain stiffness model introduced, it provides the basics for incorporating small‐strain stiffness into routine design.