Comparative analysis of some geomechanics problems using finite and infinite element methods

Four classical geomechanics problems involving semi-infinite linear elastic media have been solved numerically using recently developed mapped infinite elements coupled to finite elements.The effect of the remoteness of the truncated boundary and the location of infinite element coupling on solution accuracy has been studied. The results of conventional analyses using finite elements over a relatively large but restricted region are compared to the coupled analyses. Comparison of the results shows that for the same number of degrees of freedom the performance of the coupled solutions is superior to the conventional approach with respect to accuracy of solution and computational efficiency. Finally, some general guidelines are proposed for the efficient numerical solution of these types of problems using the coupled finite/infinite element approach.     

Dynamic stress analysis of a class of geomechanics problems by the boundary element method

This paper presents the application of an advanced BEM for periodic and transient dynamic stress analyses of a class of geomechanics problems. For transient dynamic analysis, the problem is first solved in the Laplace transform space, which happens to be similar to the periodic dynamic analysis, and then the time domain solution is obtained by numerical inversion of transform domain solutions. The numerical implementation of the BEM used to present the results in this paper is complete and most general available to date. It is capable of treating very large, multi-layered problems by substructuring and satisfying the equilibrium and compatibilities at the interfaces. With the help of this substructuring, capability problems related to layered media and soil–structure interaction have been analysed. A number of examples are presented and through comparisons with available analytical and numerical results, the applicability and usefulness of the present analysis to real geomechanical problems are established.     

Coupled boundary element/finite element analysis in geomechanics including body forces

A coupling scheme for boundary and finite elements using joint elements is proposed which includes the consideration of body forces. In this scheme the boundary and joint elements are formulated in a similar way as finite elements (i.e., the equivalent FE procedure). These joint elements are efficiently used to combine different BE regions. For the evaluation of a body forces, two methods are compared on computational efficiency and it is found that the method using Galerkin tensor is more efficient than the method dividing the problem domain into several internal cells. Two main geotechnical problems considering self weight are numerically examined using this coupling procedure.     

有限单元法分析边坡稳定的若干问题研究

系统介绍了有限单元法分析边坡稳定的基本原理,对安全指标与判断标准两个重要方面进行了详细论述,并采用面向对象技术编制了相应的可视化分析软件AFEAS。结合一个边坡稳定工程实例,对比了有限单元法和刚体极限平衡法的分析结果。分析结果证明了所给的安全指标与判断标准是可行的,并表明了有限单元法分析边坡稳定的优越性。     

应变局部化弹黏塑性分析的内嵌局部软化带模型

针对岩土介质结构在破坏过程中局部化变形的问题,结合位移不连续的思想,提出内嵌局部软化带模型来捕捉结构中的局部化带。通过虚功原理建立了含局部化带影响的弹黏塑性的有限元计算模式,其中分叉理论作为局部化判断条件。模型将局部化带的形成视为一个黏塑性屈服流动过程,从而能够连续地描述局部化变形前后的力学性质。特点是计算量小、物理意义明确,可以方便地整合到传统有限元分析程序中。算例表明,计算模型是合理和有效的。     

岩质滑坡稳定性有限元分析

目前国内外大多数规范中推荐或者强制性规定滑坡稳定性分析采用极限平衡法。由于极限平衡法本身的局限性,存在诸多不合理之处,如何对其进行改进使之更加合理已成为岩土工程中的重要课题之一。针对岩质滑坡存在明显的软弱滑动带的特点,提出了有限元计算过程中不同滑动带的处理方法,结合工程中常用的不平衡推力传递法,给出了滑坡稳定性的有限元分析方法,将其应用于芡草沱滑坡,并与基于刚体极限平衡原理的不平衡推力传递法的计算结果进行了比较,表明其计算方法可靠,可直接应用于实际工程。     

Some applications of the boundary element method in geomechanics

This paper presents the complete formulation for the application of the Boundary Element Method to solve non-tension material problems. The formulation is based on including an extra term due to an initial stress field into the boundary integral statement. This is then used to iterate the solution until a state of non-tension is achieved. The resulting iteration process is very simple to apply and basically consists only of a single matrix–vector product. The applications show that accurate resultscan be obtained for boundary discretizations involving a small number of unknowns. Whenever possible, results are compared with analytical solutions or finite elements.     

An edge-based strain smoothing particle finite element method for large deformation problems in geotechnical engineering

To solve large deformation geotechnical problems, a novel strain-smoothed particle finite element method (SPFEM) is proposed that incorporates a simple and effective edge-based strain smoothing method within the framework of original PFEM. Compared with the original PFEM, the proposed novel SPFEM can solve the volumetric locking problem like previously developed node-based smoothed PFEM when lower-order triangular element is used. Compared with the node-based smoothed PFEM known as “overly soft” or underestimation property, the proposed SPFEM offers super-convergent and very accurate solutions due to the implementation of edge-based strain smoothing method. To guarantee the computational stability, the proposed SPFEM uses an explicit time integration scheme and adopts an adaptive updating time step. Performance of the proposed SPFEM for geotechnical problems is first examined by four benchmark numerical examples: (a) bar vibrations, (b) large settlement of strip footing, (c) collapse of aluminium bars column, and (d) failure of a homogeneous soil slope. Finally, the progressive failure of slope of sensitive clay is simulated using the proposed SPFEM to show its outstanding performance in solving large deformation geotechnical problems. All results demonstrate that the novel SPFEM is a powerful and easily extensible numerical method for analysing large deformation problems in geotechnical engineering.     

Application of enhanced assumed strain finite element method to predict collapse loads of undrained geotechnical problems

Many low‐order displacement‐based finite elements with exact integration are not suitable for estimating collapse loads of undrained geotechnical problems, especially for axisymmetric cases. As a result, higher‐order elements have to be used for these situations. In this technical note, the enhanced assumed strain (EAS) finite element method proposed by Simo and Rifai for elasticity problems are extended to plasticity problems to determine collapse loads. The numerical results for the problem of a smooth rigid surface footing on a deep purely cohesive undrained soil layer are given. It is demonstrated that the four‐noded quadrilateral EAS finite element is capable of estimating the collapse loads accurately for both undrained plane strain and axisymmetric problems. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

固结问题有限元法时步自适应研究

关于提高有限元法解的精度和稳定性问题已受到不少学者的重视。基于Biot固结理论,为提高有限元法计算的精度和稳定性,研究了固结过程中的时步自适应。采用基本原理推导出时步控制公式,从而全面控制应力和孔隙压力场。研究结果有助于准确模拟应力应变的发展,对粘土心墙土石坝等建筑物的设计及施工有重要意义。     

Zoned finite strip method and its applications in geomechanics

The technique of Finite Strip method has been extended for zoned strips. One strip can have several different materials in horizontal direction including dummy materials. The new developed zoned Finite Strip (Z.F.S.) method has many engineering applications, particularly in geomechanical problems. The formulation is presented and three different geotechnical problems have been solved using the new Z.F.S. method, which could not be solved by the original Finite Strip method. The results are compared with the solution for the same problems obtained by analytical and/or numerical (Finite Element) methods. The reduced input and output for the Z.F.S. method compared to the Finite Element method makes this method attractive particularly for practising engineers. However the results can be as good as the well known Finite Element method.     

模拟三维裂纹问题的扩展有限元法

扩展有限元法是一种在常规有限元框架内求解强和弱不连续问题的新型数值方法,其计算网格与不连续面相互独立,因此模拟移动不连续面时无需对网格进行重新剖分。给出了模拟三维裂纹问题的扩展有限元法。在常规有限元位移模式中,基于单位分解的思想加进一个阶跃函数和二维渐近裂尖位移场,反映裂纹处位移的不连续性。用两个水平集函数表示裂纹。采用线性互补法求解裂纹面非线性接触条件,不需要迭代,提高了计算效率。采用两点位移外推法计算裂纹前缘应力强度因子。给出了3个三维弹性静力问题算例,其结果显示了所提方法能获得高精度的应力强度因子,并能有效地处理裂纹面间的接触问题,同时表明扩展有限元结合线性互补法求解不连续问题具有较好的前景。     

用有限元极限平衡法分析边坡的稳定性

用有限元分析为基础的极限平衡法计算了边坡安全系数,并将结果与摩尔-库仑屈服准则、外接圆D-P屈服准则强度折减法得到的结果、以及Spencer（极限平衡）法的结果进行了比较,结果表明,有限元极限平衡法计算的边坡安全系数与摩尔-库仑屈服准则强度折减法和Spencer法的结果很一致,而D-P准则强度折减法得到的结果偏差较大。叙述了存在已知滑动面和不存在滑动面时有限元极限平衡法的计算方法。用大型通用有限元软件,如ANSYS等,可方便地进行这种方法的边坡安全系数的计算,并有足够的精度。     

土坡有限元稳定分析若干问题探讨

详细探讨了用有限元方法分析土坡稳定所遇到的问题及处理方法 ,主要包括: 有限元前后处理 ;有限元计算范围及网格划分对计算结果的影响 ;安全系数的定义 ;最危险滑动圆心位置及临界滑动面的形状等问题。     

Coupled meshfree and fractal finite element method for unbounded problems

This paper presents a coupling technique for integrating the element-free Galerkin method (EFGM) with the fractal finite element method (FFEM) to analyze unbounded problems in the half-space. FFEM is adopted to model the far field of an unbounded domain and EFGM is used in the near field. In the transition region interface elements are employed. The shape functions of interface elements which comprise both the element-free Galerkin and the finite element shape functions, satisfy the consistency condition thus ensuring convergence of the proposed coupled EFGM–FFEM. The proposed method combines the best features of EFGM and FFEM, in the sense that no structured mesh or special enriched basis functions are necessary. The numerical results show that the proposed method performs extremely well converging rapidly to the analytical solution. Also a parametric study is carried out to examine the effects of the integration order, the similarity ratio, the weight function, the scaling parameter and the number of transformation terms, on the quality of the numerical solutions.     

边坡稳定有限元分析中的三个问题

对大型有限元软件ABAQUS进行二次开发,提出了自动搜索安全系数的边坡稳定有限元分析模型。在此基础上进行大量变动参数研究,探讨了迭代不收敛、塑性区贯通及等效塑性应变贯通等3种边坡失稳判据的内在联系与适用性,其中迭代不收敛判据易于自动搜索的编程实现,且较少依赖研究者的经验。大多数情况下单元阶次不影响安全系数的确定,但一阶单元有时可能高估安全系数,建议采用二阶单元。基于更新拉格朗日格式实施边坡稳定大变形有限元分析,结果表明迭代不收敛准则不适用于大变形分析。