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In comparison with other geomaterials, constitutive modeling of rockfill materials and its validation is more complicated. This is principally due to the existence of more intricate phenomena such as particle crushing, as well as laboratory test limitations. These issues have necessitated developing more complex constitutive models, with many parameters. Regardless of the type of model, the calibrations of the parameters in such models are considered as one of the most important and challenging steps in the application of the model. Therefore, the need for comprehensive and rapid methods for evaluation of optimum parameters of the models is deemed necessary. In this paper, a Neuro-Fuzzy model in conjunction with Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) is used for calibration of the twelve parameters of Hierarchical Single Surface (HISS) constitutive model based on the Disturbed State Concept (DSC). The Neuro-fuzzy system is used to provide a high-degree nonlinear regression model between the deviatoric stress and volumetric strain versus axial strain that has been obtained from consolidated drained large scale tri-axial tests on rockfill materials. The model parameters are determined in an iterative optimized loop with PSO and ANFIS such that the equations of DSC/HISS are simultaneously satisfied. Material data used in this study are gathered from the results of large tri-axial tests for two rockfill dams in Iran. It is shown that the proposed method has higher accuracy and more importantly its robustness is exhibited through test predictions. The achieved improvement is substantiated in a comparison with the more widely used "Least-Square" method.

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In this paper, a finite element model is developed for the fully hydro-mechanical analysis of hydraulic fracturing in partially saturated porous media. The model is derived from the framework of generalized Biot theory. The fracture propagation is governed by a cohesive fracture model. The flow within the fracture zone is modeled by the lubrication equation. The displacement of solid phase, and the pressure of wetting and non-wetting phases are considered as the main unknown parameters. Other variables are incorporated into the model using empirical relationships between saturation, permeability and capillary pressure. Zero-thickness element and conventional bulk element are used for propagating fracture and the surrounding media, respectively. The model is validated with respect to analytical solution of hydraulic fracture propagation problem in saturated media and then the problem is solved in semi-saturated media, considering the wetting and non-wetting pore fluid.