PhD Concept Note

Development of Non Linear Analytical Model for

Foundation Analysis Considering Soil Structure
Interaction
(Geotechnical Engineering)

By
Mesafint Lisanu

SUBMITTED TO

FACULTY OF CIVIL AND WATER RESOURCE ENGINEERING

BAHIR DAR INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY - BAHIR DAR UNIVERSITY
FEBURARY 2021
Introduction
In the very early engineering design, engineers simplified the deformation behavior, constitutive
model and failure mechanism of rock and soil, which were limited to the scope of linear
elasticity. Later, with the development of geotechnical engineering, the scale of engineering
became larger and larger, and the problems involved became more and more complicated, and
engineering accidents caused by computing defects became more and more serious. Thus,
scholars have realized that it is not enough to treat rock and soil simply as a linear elastic
material. Nonlinear and numerical simulation is indispensable in geotechnical engineering.

Non-linearity is now also recognized as being of prime importance to understanding field

performance of soils under load. The significance of small strain non-linear elastic behavior is
increasingly evaluated in numerical studies in which the spatial influence of such behavior, for
soil-structure interaction analyses, is of primary importance. These studies have highlighted the
importance of both determining and modelling these aspects of soil behavior.

Discrepancies between predicted and actual field performances of foundations have, historically,
been variously ascribed to anisotropy or non-homogeneity of the soil. The elastic solutions were
therefore developed to include influence factors to account for idealizations of anisotropy and
non-homogeneity (the latter typically described as a linear increase of stiffness with depth,
though other distributions have also been considered). A summary of significant published
influence factor solutions are given in the research published, Hillier, 1992, presents a more
comprehensive overview).

Problem statement

Analyses of soil-structure interaction frequently involve the prediction of deformations and

stresses, both in the surrounding soil mass and over areas of contact with the loading boundaries.
In recent years it has become possible to compute solutions with increasingly complex
descriptions of the soil properties. However, the use of non-linear calculations in engineering
practice is restricted by time and cost. Moreover high quality stress-strain data are difficult to
obtain.

There is therefore a need for sensitivity studies using advanced soil models to investigate the
significance of various features of soil behavior such as non-linearity at small strains and local
failure. The most common types of analysis continue to be based on the theories of linear
elasticity. The underlying assumption is either that at working loads the soil mass is behaving in
a linearly elastic manner or that the stress changes in the soil are close to those given by linear
elasticity even though the soil itself may be non-linear.

Rationale

Routine effective stress analyses for failure of geotechnical structures use a linear Mohr-
Coulomb envelope and routine analyses for ground movements use linear elasticity with constant
Young’s Modulus E’ or one-dimensional modulus M’. However, Observations of soil behavior
show that strength and stiffness are non-linear and so the conventional simplifications do not
match these basic observations. Therefore, developing a nonlinear Analytical model for
foundation analysis would be an important research thematic area in geotechnical engineering.

Methodology

Extensive numerical experiments in 3D non-linear analysis supplemented with a series of

required laboratory test made possible a precise correlation of the response of any foundation
type, and within this framework suitable relationships with the ability to predict the response of
soil structure interaction for vertical and horizontal loading respectively. Discussed below is the
most common types of computational methods possibly to be used for the research.

Finite element method is the most widely used numerical simulation method in geotechnical
engineering. In recent years, scholars have applied finite element analysis software in slope
stability analysis, tunnel excavation, foundation pit excavation and other fields. For example,
based on the generalized Biot’s dynamic consolidation theory, Zou et al. analyzed saturated soils
by using the polygon scale boundary finite element method, and the results are in good
agreement with the computations of finite element method.

The finite difference method is an old numerical simulation method. In the 1980s, the ITASCA
Company of the United States developed the FLAC program based on the finite difference
method. Subsequently, this method is widely used in numerical simulation of geotechnical
engineering. Liu et al. used a finite difference time domain method to establish a three-
dimensional hole-bedrock-cave model for sonar detection of karst cavities. Kim and Larson used
FLAC3D to model the initiation and initial evolution of a strike-slip fault, and FLAC3D
successfully replicated and created 3D fault zone of strike-slip faults within the entire thickness
range of the model. There is also a paper in this Special Issue that utilizes the finite difference
method in geotechnical engineering, “Numerical Analysis of Hard Rock Tunnel Excavated by
Double Shield TBM based on CWFS model, Diyuan Li, Jing Sun, Quanqi Zhu, Xiangyun Xu,
Jian Jiao”. In their article, Flac3D was utilized to evaluate the practicability of DS-TBM (double
shield tunnel boring machine) in a deep-buried high geostress tunnel.

Compared with the finite element method, the advantage of the boundary element method is that
it can simplify the calculation by dimension reduction. Mostly, the boundary element method is
mainly utilized in an excavation of underground engineering, analysis of soil structure
interaction and seepage analysis. Based on the boundary element method, Auersch proposed a
method combining the finite element boundary element method to calculate the dynamic
interaction between soil mass and flexible structures such as single pile or complete wind tower.

There are two kinds of geotechnical materials targeted by the discrete element method: one is
granular geotechnical material, the other is continuum material. The application of the discrete
element method on geotechnical engineering was developed in a paper of this Special Issue:
“Numerical simulation of hydraulic fracturing in transversely isotropic rock masses based on
PFC2D, Lei Xia, Yawu Zeng”. In their article, the bonded-particle element method with
embedded smooth joints was applied to establish the transversely isotropic rock masses.

Objective

As mentioned previously, the purpose of this research will be to analyses a range of problems
related to non-linear characteristics in foundation analysis in such a way as to identify any major
differences between the results obtained and those predicted from linear elastic theory. The
specific objectives are;

(1) to identify several important features of behavior which stem from non-linear stress strain
characteristics
(2) to discuss the problems of selecting appropriate values of apparent elastic moduli for simple
elastic calculations
(3) to develop analytical models of foundation analysis for a variety of applications ;
 Footings
 Beam foundation
 Axially loaded piles
 SSI in soil dynamics
 Deep excavation excavations.

Conclusion

Finally, with the knowledge and experience, that the field of Civil engineering as an academician
and practicing engineer provides an outstanding platform of development in this field, I
anticipate that this PhD course would be a necessary step to consolidate my learning in this area.
As such it would be a great honor to be a part of the research group focusing on nonlinear
analysis of any geotechnical problems.

Finally, I would like to express my eagerness to be admitted in your institute to satisfy my

enthusiastic and highly motivated desire to learn and to be engaged in high caliber and cutting
edge researches from your highly qualified faculty members as well as to deeply experience the
sufficiently equipped research centers. And I am sure that you will do as much as you can to
help me and I eagerly expect your kind and positive response. Thank you very much for your
kind consideration. Please contact me for any additional information via my address provided in
the curriculum vitae. I am looking forward to hearing from you.