Quasi-static deformation of a poroelastic half-space with anisotropic permeability by two-dimensional surface loads

An analytical solution is obtained of the fully coupled diffusion–deformation system of equations governing the quasi-static plane strain deformation of a poroelastic half-space with anisotropic permeability and compressible constituents. The stresses and the pore pressure are taken as the basic state variables. Displacements are obtained by integrating the coupled constitutive relations. The problem of surface loads is discussed in detail. Explicit analytical solutions are derived for normal line loading, shear line loading and normal strip loading. The permeability anisotropy is found to have a significant effect on the quasi-static deformation of the half-space. However, in the drained and undrained limits, the anisotropy has no effect. The stresses in the drained and undrained states are independent of the poroelastic parameters. Numerical computation of the pore pressure indicates that ignoring permeability anisotropy may lead to an overestimation of the pore pressure at points vertically below the point of normal loading. Further, anisotropy in permeability may lead to a dilution in the theoretical prediction of the Mandel–Cryer Effect.