Minimum principle and related numerical scheme for simulating initial flow and subsequent propagation of liquefied ground

• Published in: International journal for numerical and analytical methods in geomechanics Vol. 29; no. 11; pp. 1065 - 1086
• Main Authors: Montassar, Sami, de Buhan, Patrick
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chichester, UK John Wiley & Sons, Ltd 01.09.2005; Wiley
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Bingham model; Buildings. Public works; Computation methods. Tables. Charts; decomposition-co-ordination method; Exact sciences and technology; finite element method; Geotechnics; liquefied soil; minimum principle; regularization method; Soil mechanics. Rocks mechanics; Structural analysis. Stresses; Propagation; Liquefaction; Decomposition method; minimum principle; Viscoplastic material; Forecast model; Soil mechanics; Regularization method; Finite element method; Bingham plastic; liquefied soil; Bingham model; decomposition-co-ordination method; Numerical simulation
• ISSN: 0363-9061; 1096-9853
• DOI: 10.1002/nag.443

The problem of predicting the evolution of liquefied ground, modelled as a viscoplastic material, is addressed by combining a minimum principle for the velocity field, which characterizes such an evolution, and a time step integration procedure. Two different numerical schemes are then presented for the finite element implementation of this minimum principle, namely, the regularization technique and the decomposition‐co‐ordination method by augmented Lagrangian. The second method, which proves more accurate and efficient than the first, is finally applied to simulate the incipient flow failure and subsequent spreading of a liquefied soil embankment subject to gravity. The strong influence of liquefied soil residual shear strength on reducing the maximum amplitude of the ground displacement is particularly emphasized in such an analysis. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.