A continuum theory of granular media partially saturated with a viscous fluid

Abstract This paper is concerned with the behaviour of granular media containing voids penetrated by a mixture of viscous liquid and gas (air). It is assumed that, for such materials, the skeleton may be considered as rate‐independent and the sensitivity to the applied loading rate may be attributed to the viscosity of the liquid filling the void space. Within the context of geomechanics, such assumptions appear to be relevant to all coarse‐grained cohesionless materials, including saturated sands. A mathematical formulation for the description of undrained response is presented. The macroscopic properties are estimated based on volume averaging, which is applied to both stress and strain measures within the heterogeneous constituent medium. Numerical examples are provided illustrating the influence of the viscosity of the liquid on the liquefaction potential of a loose granular assembly.