Coupled dynamic elastic–plastic analysis of earth structures

A fully coupled finite element code based on mixture theory is developed. Prévost's multi-surface constitutive model is tailored to three-dimensional loads and used to predict effective stresses. A new viscous boundary is implemented to avoid wave reflections towards the structure. In contrast to traditional methods, this boundary is able to absorb the two dilatational waves and the shear wave.Two soil deposits and two dams, with different slopes, composed by loose and dense sands have been subjected to the Pacoima accelerogram. Results show how the liquefaction propagates in the soil deposits and earth dams. The importance of the coupling between dilatancy–contractancy and filtration is highlighted by a parametric investigation. Phenomena such as liquefaction and cyclic mobility are reproduced, indicating the robustness of the constitutive model and finite element simulations. As an outcome of the parametric analysis, the seismic stability of dams cannot be improved by decreasing the upstream or downstream slopes.