Pseudo-static limit analysis by discontinuity layout optimization: Application to seismic analysis of retaining walls

Abstract

Discontinuity layout optimization (DLO) is a recent development in the field of computational limit analysis, and to date, the literature has examined the solution of static geotechnical stability problems only by this method. In this paper the DLO method is extended to the solution of seismic problems though the use of the pseudo-static approach. The method is first validated against the solutions of Mononobe–Okabe and Richards and Elms for the seismic stability of retaining walls, and then used to study the effect of a wider range of failure modes. This is shown to significantly affect the predicted stability. A framework for modelling water pressures in the analysis is then proposed. Finally an example application of the method is illustrated through the assessment of two quay walls subjected to the Kobe earthquake.