Geotechnical Finite Element Analysis – A practical guide

Contents Preface vii
About the author ix
1 How is a geotechnical finite element analysis
set up? 1
1.1 Analysis planning 1
1.2 Geometry 7
1.3 Meshing 17
1.4 Analysis stages 18
1.5 Constitutive models 26
1.6 Groundwater and drainage 27
References 27
2 How are constitutive models selected? 29
2.1 Introduction 29
2.2 Aspects of ground behaviour 31
2.3 Common constitutive model types 36
2.4 Typical applications 48
References 52
3 How are soil and rock parameters obtained? 55
3.1 Introduction 55
3.2 Soil and rock sampling and groundwater
measurement 59
3.3 Parameter testing 64
3.4 Parameter derivation and validation 85
Appendix 3.1 – Useful equations in the validation of
model or initial state parameters 97
References 99
4 How are groundwater effects taken into
account? 105
4.1 Introduction 105
4.2 Drained and undrained analyses 109
4.3 Groundwater flow analysis 118
4.4 Consolidation analysis 120
References 123
5 How are geotechnical structures modelled? 125
5.1 Structural geometry 125
5.2 Structural materials 152
5.3 Soil-structure interaction 156
References 160
6 Can FE analysis be used with design codes? 163
6.1 Introduction 163
6.2 Serviceability limit state (SLS) 167
6.3 Geotechnical ultimate limit state (ULS) 168
6.4 Structural limit states 180
References 181
7 How is the accuracy of outputs assessed? 183
7.1 Introduction 183
7.2 Assessing accuracy 188
7.3 Managing errors 192
References 197
8 Examples 199
8.1 Introduction 199
8.2 Raft foundation with settlement-reducing
piles example 199
8.3 Shaft excavation example 225
8.4 Embankment construction example 243
References 261
Index 263