Auto-Mesh Generation Technique of Near Field Zone for Soil-Structure Interaction Analysis Using Coupled FE-IE Methodology

Abstract

This paper presents an auto-mesh generation technique using KIESSI (KAIST Infinite Elements for Soil-Structure Interaction) of near field zone for soil-structure interaction analysis (SSI). The working principle of KIESSI is based on coupled three dimensional finite element-infinite element methodology. Also, KIESSI is based on finite element method (FEM) for structure and near-field soil medium and infinite element method for layered half-space far-field. This study utilizes the auto mesh generation technique of near field zone on KIESSI package. The verification example for the effectiveness of automatically meshing technique may be shown through a compliance analysis of layered surface footing. For application example, seismic response analysis at a typical nuclear power plant is carried out in consideration of SSI. The obtained floor response spectrum results in good agreement as compared with the measured response data and the results from SSI analysis package such as SASSI (A System for Analysis of Soil-Structure Interaction).