Validating the Use of Material Point Method and SANISAND Model for Relating the State Parameter with Cone Tip Resistance

Numerical simulations of cone penetration test (CPT) can provide valuable insights into the mechanical behavior and in situ state of geomaterials. However, adequate simulation of CPT is challenging due to the large deformations occurring during penetration and the need for representative soil constitutive models. This study investigates the use of the material point method (MPM) and a version of the SANISAND family of models as a representative constitutive model to simulate CPTs in dry sand. The numerical model is validated against experimental data on CPT in a calibration chamber. The simulations are done on a range of soil overburden pressures and void ratios. The results illustrate the sufficient adequacy of the numerical configuration in capturing the cone tip resistance for the soil states considered. Additionally, the variation of void ratio versus mean effective stress in selected material points is presented to explore details of material state evolution during the cone penetration.