Study on Stability of Elastic Compression Bending Bar in Viscoelastic Medium

Abstract

In the southeastern coastal regions of China, thick layers of marine soft soil are widely distributed, exhibiting characteristics such as high compressibility, high porosity, low strength, high sensitivity, and easy thixotropy, and these viscoelastic behaviors of foundation soil have significant implications for elastic compression bending bar, as evidenced by issues such as post-construction settlement of roadbeds and long-term operation deviation of bridge pile foundations. In this study, a mechanical model of an elastic bar embedded in an elastic and viscoelastic medium, fixed at the base and free at the top, is established based on the Winkler foundation assumption. The deflection function of a bar subjected to both axial force and locally distributed horizontal load is derived using the Rayleigh-Ritz method. Utilizing the elastic-viscoelastic correspondence principle, the viscoelastic medium surrounding the bar is modeled as an elastic medium in which the ground reaction coefficient varies within phase space formulation. This study provides a robust theoretical foundation for soft soil foundation engineering projects and fills a significant gap in the literature by offering a comprehensive framework for understanding displacement in elastic bars within viscoelastic media. Drawing upon the derivation of the deformation function for elastic rods within a viscoelastic medium, the findings of this research hold significant applicability across a range of domains. These include, but are not limited to, the expansion of roadways in regions characterized by coastal soft soil, as well as the monitoring of deformation and lifespan in bridge pile foundations.