3D models for wave-induced pore pressures near breakwater heads

Abstract

Wave-induced pore pressure is one of the important factors in the analysis of foundation stability around coastal structures. Existing models for the wave-induced seabed response around breakwater heads have been limited to poro-elastic soil behavior and de-coupled oscillatory and residual mechanisms for the rise in excess pore water pressure. To overcome the shortcoming of the existing models, in this study a new three-dimensional poro-elastoplastic model is established, in which both oscillatory and residual mechanisms can be simulated simultaneously. The reduced cases of the proposed model are verified with existing 2D experimental data available and a 3D poro-elastic analytical solution in front of a breakwater. With the proposed new model, a parametric study is conducted to investigate the relative differences of the predictions of the wave-induced pore pressure and liquefaction with poro-elastic and poro-elasto-plastic models. Based on numerical examples, it can be concluded that relative differences between elastic and elasto-plastic models are significantly affected by wave periods and water depths. Wave height significantly affects the development of residual pore pressure versus time. Plastic soil behavior plays an important role in a seabed of low permeability. Plastic soil behavior has more significant influence on wave-induced residual pore pressure than the amplitude of the oscillating pore pressure. Furthermore, poro-elastic analysis tends to under-estimate the size of the liquefaction regions around breakwater heads.