Dynamic response of elastic blocks by time domain BEM and FEM

Abstract

The dynamic behavior of massive elastic blocks bonded to an infinite soil medium (halfspace), and subjected to horizontal and vertical transient loads, is explored. The blocks, and, in some cases, a small portion of the underlying soil, are modeled by plane strain finite elements, whereas the remaining part of the halfspace is treated by a time domain boundary element method (BEM). Comprehensive investigations are performed to provide a quantitative assessment of the effects of various system parameters on the dynamic response of blocks. Thus, different soil stiffnesses, blocks of variable sizes and the effect of an embedment of the block into the soil, are considered. In addition, investigations taking into account an elastic inclusion in the interior of the halfspace or a second block (structure-soil-structure interaction effects) are discussed. Besides these studies, the finite element method (FEM)-BEM coupling approach presented permits an extension to consider nonlinear effects, as the entire formulation is given directly in the time domain.