Improved numerical method for time domain dynamic structure-foundation interaction analysis based on scaled boundary finite element method

Abstract

Based on the reduced set of base function in scaled boundary finite element method (SBFEM), an improved time domain numerical approach for the dynamic structure-foundation interaction analysis was proposed. With reasonable choice of the number of base functions, the degrees of freedom on the structure-foundation interface were reduced and the associated computation for the calculation of convolution integral was greatly reduced. The results of this proposed approach applied to the calculation of a gravity dam and an arch dam. The acceleration frequency response functions were calculated and the influences affected by different reduced set of base functions as well as full set were compared. It was found that a higher degree of reduced set of base functions resulted in a significant increase of computational efficiency but a little bit of loss in accuracy. When the reduced set was decreased by 60%, the efficiency may be increased to up to five times, while the loss of accuracy of peak value of response will be less than 4%. It may be concluded that the proposed approach is suitable for large-scale structure-foundation interaction analysis.