Analysis of soil-structure interaction using BEM-FEM coupling

Author(s)

Dimas Betioli Ribeiro

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: São Carlos. , gráficos, ilustrações, tabelas.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos (EESC/SBD)
• Defense date: 2005-04-08

Examining board members

Joao Batista de Paiva; Nelson Aoki; Leandro Palermo Junior

• Advisor: Joao Batista de Paiva
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Civil Engineering
• Indexed in: Banco de Dados Bibliográficos da USP-DEDALUS; Biblioteca Digital de Teses e Dissertações - USP
• Location: Universidade de São Paulo. Biblioteca da Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos; EESC/TESE-EESC; R484ai

Abstract

The main objective of this work is to study the soil structure interaction problem. For such, more resources in the numerical tool developed in Almeida (2003a) are introduced. The soil is simulated by the three-dimensional boundary element method (BEM), applying Kelvin’s fundamental solution. It is possible to analyze problems in which the soil is composed by layers of different physical characteristics, supported by a rigid and adhesive interface and reinforced by foundation elements, also simulated by the three-dimensional BEM. The three-dimensional superstructure is simulated using the finite element method (FEM), with shell and frame elements with six degrees of freedom by node. This model is different of the one used in Almeida (2003a). It is also introduced in the program the resource to consider blocks, simulated by the three-dimensional BEM and supported by the soil. These blocks can be used as foundation elements for the building, coupling the non-homogeneous soil-foundation-blocks-superstructure system as a whole. Some examples are analyzed, in order to validate the theory employed and demonstrate the necessity of considering the soil structure interaction in practical problems of engineering (AU)