Efficient Dynamic Analysis of Foundation via a Coupled Axisymmetric SBFEM-3D FEM

Abstract

An axisymmetric scaled boundary finite element method for the elastodynamic analysis of 3D layered systems is derived in frequency domain The general three-dimensional problem of unbounded domain can be divided into a number of independent two-dimensional problems and a pseudo three-dimensional analysis can be performed. The aforementioned analysis offers considerable savings in terms of storage and computation cost when compared with a full three-dimensional analysis. A new coupled strategy is proposed in order to match the axi-symmetrically modeled unbounded far field to a general 3D finite element model of the near field. The derived formulation is implemented for frequency domain analysis of foundation embedded in or resting on the surface of 3D layered homogenous or inhomogeneous soil deposits over rigid bedrock. The dynamic response calculated using the proposed method is compared with analytical or numerical solutions. Numerical examples demonstrate the accuracy and high efficiency of the new proposed method.