Approximate Boundaries for Finite-Element Models of Static Soil–Foundation Interaction Problems
Publication: Journal of Engineering Mechanics
Volume 137, Issue 10
Abstract
In this paper, we examine the use of boundary springs as approximate external boundary conditions for the typical soil islands encountered in finite-element (FE) models of soil–foundation interaction problems. We present a set of simple uniformly distributed boundary springs and a set of variable boundary springs that account for the lateral distribution of contact forces between the foundation and the soil. We evaluate the accuracy of the approach for shallow foundations resting on soil islands of different dimensions. It is shown that significantly smaller errors can be achieved with these boundary springs than those obtained when fixed-fixed or fixed-free external boundary conditions are used. We present an iterative approach to determine the boundary springs for cases in which extremely small soil islands are required. Although the approach suggested to determine the boundary springs is best suited to shallow foundations, good results are also obtained for pile foundations. The approach presented applies to a uniform elastic half-space, but extensions to layered media are possible.
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Acknowledgments
The work described here was initiated while Carlos M. Mozos was at the University of California, San Diego, on leave from the University of Castilla-La Mancha. The writers acknowledge the support from the Spanish Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha, under a postdoctoral stay grant, and from the Spanish Ministry of Education, under the research project UNSPECIFIEDBIA2006-15471-C02-02.
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Information
Published In
Journal of Engineering Mechanics
Volume 137 • Issue 10 • October 2011
Pages: 648 - 659
Copyright
© 2011 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Sep 6, 2009
Accepted: Mar 29, 2011
Published online: Mar 31, 2011
Published in print: Oct 1, 2011
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