Large deformation simulations of structure–soil-interaction in anisotropic fine-grained soils

Structure–soil-interaction in fine-grained soils is strongly influenced by rate dependency, anisotropy, and overconsolidation effects. While advanced constitutive models such as Anisotropic Visco-Intergranular Strain Anisotropy (AVISA) can capture the fine-grained soil effects, the model application is typically limited to small strain problems due to numerical challenges. This study presents the first successful implementation of the AVISA model within explicit simulations in Abaqus, enabling robust modelling of large deformation problems in fine-grained soils. Two previously underexplored applications are investigated: (i) the stability assessment of a Liebherr LTR 1220 telescopic crawler crane during dynamic uppercarriage rotation under varying overconsolidation ratios (OCR), and (ii) the penetration process of an open-ended tubular pile in anisotropic, overconsolidated clay, focusing on penetration resistance and the evolution of stress and void ratio. Both problems are simulated using the Lagrangian FEM and the Coupled Eulerian–Lagrangian (CEL) approach and are qualitatively compared to available field data. The results demonstrate the capability of the AVISA model to address complex large deformation geotechnical problems realistically. The proposed approach provides new insights and practical tools for modelling structure–soil-interaction in situations where conventional methods often fail. • Explicit formulation of an advanced constitutive model considering anisotropy and viscosity for LDFE problems • LDFE simulations for crane stability and pile penetration in fine-grained soils • OCR dependent approximations for crane stability and penetration-resistance curves • Comparison of AVISA LDFE simulations against field tests • Overcoming convergence issues of advanced models in large deformation conditions