A Non-Isothermal Viscoplastic Constitutive Model for Clay Slip Surfaces

Abstract

Clayey slip surfaces control the reactivation and long-term deformation of slow-moving landslides and may experience thermal fluctuations from climate, seasonal ground-temperature changes, or subsurface heat sources. Experiments show that residual shear strength depends on temperature and shearing rate, yet most numerical approaches use temperature-independent strength parameters. We present a non-isothermal viscoplastic constitutive model for clayey slip surfaces implemented with zero-thickness interface elements. It includes temperature-dependent normal and tangential stiffness, progressive degradation of cohesion and friction angle, and rate-dependent viscoplastic slip governed by a non-associated flow rule. Coupling with hydraulic and thermal balance equations allows the interface response to evolve with stress state, temperature, aperture, and accumulated irreversible displacement. Validation against temperature-controlled drained ring-shear tests on bentonite and smectite-rich soils covers heating--cooling, cooling--heating, and combined thermal paths. The simulations reproduce thermal strengthening at slow shearing rates and thermal weakening or limited sensitivity at higher rates. Application to the Congress Street cut benchmark shows that zero-thickness elements improve the representation of strain localization and progressive failure. Increasing temperature progressively degrades interface strength, increases displacement, joint aperture, and shear strain, and accelerates sliding. Temperature-dependent interface degradation can therefore reduce the apparent stability margin of clayey slopes and should be included in slope-stability assessments involving thermal fluctuations.