Sharif Digital Repository

A finite difference-based numerical model simulating the cone penetration process in unsaturated sands is presented. Mohr–Coulomb model (MCM) with simple modifications and Sun model (SM) were implemented to capture the unsaturated sand behaviour. It was shown that the cone tip resistance values resulting from the two models were fairly comparable. Predicted cone tip resistance values in dry, saturated and unsaturated sands using MCM were validated by the results of field and calibration chamber tests. Sensitivity analyses were performed, and the influence of parameters including relative density, mean effective stress and apparent cohesion due to suction on the tip resistance was...