Numerical Modelling of Desiccation Cracking of Clayey Soil by Using Cohesive Fracture Model

The formation and propagation of desiccation cracks in soil is extremely complex because of the coupling between hydraulic and mechanical phenomena in soil. This paper presents a study on the desiccation cracking by a numerical simulation approach. The initiation and propagation of cracks are investigated using a finite element code including damage-elastic cohesive crack elements to describe the behaviour of cracks. The simulation of multi cohesive cracks shows that the cracking occurs successively to form the different cracks families. But the cracks in the same family can appear simultaneously. In addition, the cracks can propagate unstably in the initiation moment and propagate after progressively.