Cavity expansion in sands under drained loading conditions

Solutions for the expansion of cylindrical and spherical cavities in sands are presented. The sand is modelled using recently proposed critical‐state models in which the values of the friction and dilation angles depend on the deformation history. Similarity solutions are obtained which enable the limit pressure to be calculated as a function of the initial conditions. Comparisons with existing perfectly plastic theories are made and consequences for the interpretation of cone penetrometer measurements are indicated.