A modified elastoplastic damage structural constitutive model of unsaturated Q3 undisturbed loess

The weakening of loess structure under hydro-mechanical effect is an important reason for collapsible deformation of loess. Therefore, when establishing the constitutive model of unsaturated loess, it is necessary to consider the influence of loess structure to truly reflect the mechanical characteristics. A modified elastoplastic damage structural constitutive model (MEDSCM) is proposed for unsaturated Q₃ undisturbed loess based on the modified Barcelona basic model (MBBM), assuming that the yield stress of undisturbed loess is a coupling of remolded loess and structure, and adopting the non-associated flow rule. The structural evolution equations of unsaturated Q₃ loess in loading and collapsing are introduced respectively, and obtained the constitutive model of soil skeleton in loading and collapsing. There are a total of 18 parameters for the loading model and 15 parameters for the collapsibility model, which are determined by mechanical tests on unsaturated loess. By comparing the triaxial compression and collapsible test data with the model calculation results, the accuracy of the model is verified, and progress has been made in describing the weak hardening characteristics of unsaturated loess. The research results provide a new attempt for further understanding the mechanical properties of loess.