A infiltração é o processo pelo qual a água atravessa a superfície do solo, com grande importância para a hidrologia, irrigação e agricultura. À medida que a água infiltra, as camadas superiores do solo vão se umedecendo, alterando gradativamente o perfil de umidade. Sob condições de campo, a água que infiltra pode fluir tanto na vertical, como na horizontal, dependendo do tipo de solo e declividade do terreno. A taxa de infiltração da água no solo é afetada, principalmente, pelas características do solo que afetam a geometria de seu sistema poroso, como textura e estrutura, e pode ser determinada tanto no campo como em laboratório, por diferentes métodos. Com a intenção de otimizar a previsão da infiltração da água no solo, diversos modelos foram desenvolvidos, podendo ser classificados em três grupos: empíricos, semi-empíricos e com base física. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a infiltração de água em solos com diferentes texturas e comparar a qualidade do ajuste de diferentes modelos usualmente empregados. As curvas da taxa de infiltração e da infiltração acumulada foram determinadas em laboratório utilizando amostras de solo homogeneamente acondicionadas em colunas e comparadas pelos seguintes modelos: Kostiakov, Horton, Green & Ampt, e Philip. Dentre os solos estudados, o solo 3 (textura franco arenosa) foi o que apresentou a maior taxa de infiltração e a maior VIB, provavelmente devido a menor proporção de argila e maior presença de macroporos, facilitando a infiltração da água no solo. Dos modelos analisados, o de Kostiakov, seguido pelo de Philip, foram os que apresentaram em média os melhores valores estimados da taxa de infiltração quando comparados com os valores medidos em laboratório. O gráfico do avanço da frente de molhamento com a raiz quadrada do tempo de infiltração (horizontal) ajustou-se perfeitamente ao modelo de Philip. No que respeita a infiltração vertical tal gráfico foi semelhante ao da horizontal (linha reta), mas com maior inclinação. / Infiltration is the process in which the water passes through the soil surface, being of great importance for hydrology, irrigation and agriculture. As the water infiltrates, the soil water content profile will changing and the infiltrated water can flow vertically or horizontally, depending on the soil type and land slope. The soil water infiltration rate is mainly affected by soil properties that affect its porous geometry, such as texture and structure, and can be determined in the field and in the laboratory, using different methods. In order to optimize the prediction of the soil water infiltration, many different models have been developed and may be classified into three groups: empirical, semi-empirical and physically based. The objective of this study was to evaluate the water infiltration in soils with different textures and compare the quality of fit of the different used models. The infiltration rate curves and the cumulative infiltration curves were determined in the laboratory using soil samples homogeneously packed in column and compared by the following models: Kostiakov, Horton, Green & Ampt and Philip. Among the studied soils, the soil 3 (sandy loam texture) presented the highest infiltration rate and the highest basic infiltration rate, probably due to lower clay content and larger quantity of macropores, facilitating the water infiltration into the soil. Among the tested models, Kostiakov, followed by Philip, presented, on average, the best estimated values of the infiltration rate compared to the values measured in the laboratory. The front of the advancing wetting graph of the square root of the infiltration time (horizontal) well set to Philip model. With respect to this vertical graph infiltration was similar to the horizontal (straight line) but more inclined.

A infiltração é o processo pelo qual a água atravessa a superfície do solo, com grande importância para a hidrologia, irrigação e agricultura. À medida que a água infiltra, as camadas superiores do solo vão se umedecendo, alterando gradativamente o perfil de umidade. Sob condições de campo, a água que infiltra pode fluir tanto na vertical, como na horizontal, dependendo do tipo de solo e declividade do terreno. A taxa de infiltração da água no solo é afetada, principalmente, pelas características do solo que afetam a geometria de seu sistema poroso, como textura e estrutura, e pode ser determinada tanto no campo como em laboratório, por diferentes métodos. Com a intenção de otimizar a previsão da infiltração da água no solo, diversos modelos foram desenvolvidos, podendo ser classificados em três grupos: empíricos, semi-empíricos e com base física. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a infiltração de água em solos com diferentes texturas e comparar a qualidade do ajuste de diferentes modelos usualmente empregados. As curvas da taxa de infiltração e da infiltração acumulada foram determinadas em laboratório utilizando amostras de solo homogeneamente acondicionadas em colunas e comparadas pelos seguintes modelos: Kostiakov, Horton, Green & Ampt, e Philip. Dentre os solos estudados, o solo 3 (textura franco arenosa) foi o que apresentou a maior taxa de infiltração e a maior VIB, provavelmente devido a menor proporção de argila e maior presença de macroporos, facilitando a infiltração da água no solo. Dos modelos analisados, o de Kostiakov, seguido pelo de Philip, foram os que apresentaram em média os melhores valores estimados da taxa de infiltração quando comparados com os valores medidos em laboratório. O gráfico do avanço da frente de molhamento com a raiz quadrada do tempo de infiltração (horizontal) ajustou-se perfeitamente ao modelo de Philip. No que respeita a infiltração vertical tal gráfico foi semelhante ao da horizontal (linha reta), mas com maior inclinação. / Infiltration is the process in which the water passes through the soil surface, being of great importance for hydrology, irrigation and agriculture. As the water infiltrates, the soil water content profile will changing and the infiltrated water can flow vertically or horizontally, depending on the soil type and land slope. The soil water infiltration rate is mainly affected by soil properties that affect its porous geometry, such as texture and structure, and can be determined in the field and in the laboratory, using different methods. In order to optimize the prediction of the soil water infiltration, many different models have been developed and may be classified into three groups: empirical, semi-empirical and physically based. The objective of this study was to evaluate the water infiltration in soils with different textures and compare the quality of fit of the different used models. The infiltration rate curves and the cumulative infiltration curves were determined in the laboratory using soil samples homogeneously packed in column and compared by the following models: Kostiakov, Horton, Green & Ampt and Philip. Among the studied soils, the soil 3 (sandy loam texture) presented the highest infiltration rate and the highest basic infiltration rate, probably due to lower clay content and larger quantity of macropores, facilitating the water infiltration into the soil. Among the tested models, Kostiakov, followed by Philip, presented, on average, the best estimated values of the infiltration rate compared to the values measured in the laboratory. The front of the advancing wetting graph of the square root of the infiltration time (horizontal) well set to Philip model. With respect to this vertical graph infiltration was similar to the horizontal (straight line) but more inclined.

O objetivo central deste trabalho é o estudo da interação do solo com a estrutura. Para tanto, são introduzidos mais recursos na ferramenta numérica desenvolvida no trabalho de Almeida (2003a). O solo é modelado pelo método dos elementos de contorno (MEC) tridimensional, aplicando a solução fundamental de Kelvin. É possível analisar problemas nos quais o solo é composto por camadas de diferentes características físicas, apoiadas em uma superfície de deslocamento nulo e enrijecidas por elementos de fundação, também modelados pelo MEC tridimensional. A superestrutura tridimensional, diferentemente do modelo utilizado em Almeida (2003a), é simulada pelo método dos elementos finitos (MEF), sendo composta por elementos planos e reticulares com seis graus de liberdade por nó. Também é introduzido no programa o recurso de simular um número qualquer de blocos, modelados pelo MEC tridimensional, apoiados sobre o solo. Estes blocos podem ser utilizados como elementos de fundação para o edifício, permitindo estudar a interação do solo em conjunto com os blocos e o edifício. São analisados alguns exemplos, nos quais é validada a formulação empregada e é demonstrada a necessidade de se considerar a interação do solo com a estrutura em problemas práticos de engenharia / The main objective of this work is to study the soil structure interaction problem. For such, more resources in the numerical tool developed in Almeida (2003a) are introduced. The soil is simulated by the three-dimensional boundary element method (BEM), applying Kelvin’s fundamental solution. It is possible to analyze problems in which the soil is composed by layers of different physical characteristics, supported by a rigid and adhesive interface and reinforced by foundation elements, also simulated by the three-dimensional BEM. The three-dimensional superstructure is simulated using the finite element method (FEM), with shell and frame elements with six degrees of freedom by node. This model is different of the one used in Almeida (2003a). It is also introduced in the program the resource to consider blocks, simulated by the three-dimensional BEM and supported by the soil. These blocks can be used as foundation elements for the building, coupling the non-homogeneous soil-foundation-blocks-superstructure system as a whole. Some examples are analyzed, in order to validate the theory employed and demonstrate the necessity of considering the soil structure interaction in practical problems of engineering

O objetivo central deste trabalho é o estudo da interação do solo com a estrutura. Para tanto, são introduzidos mais recursos na ferramenta numérica desenvolvida no trabalho de Almeida (2003a). O solo é modelado pelo método dos elementos de contorno (MEC) tridimensional, aplicando a solução fundamental de Kelvin. É possível analisar problemas nos quais o solo é composto por camadas de diferentes características físicas, apoiadas em uma superfície de deslocamento nulo e enrijecidas por elementos de fundação, também modelados pelo MEC tridimensional. A superestrutura tridimensional, diferentemente do modelo utilizado em Almeida (2003a), é simulada pelo método dos elementos finitos (MEF), sendo composta por elementos planos e reticulares com seis graus de liberdade por nó. Também é introduzido no programa o recurso de simular um número qualquer de blocos, modelados pelo MEC tridimensional, apoiados sobre o solo. Estes blocos podem ser utilizados como elementos de fundação para o edifício, permitindo estudar a interação do solo em conjunto com os blocos e o edifício. São analisados alguns exemplos, nos quais é validada a formulação empregada e é demonstrada a necessidade de se considerar a interação do solo com a estrutura em problemas práticos de engenharia / The main objective of this work is to study the soil structure interaction problem. For such, more resources in the numerical tool developed in Almeida (2003a) are introduced. The soil is simulated by the three-dimensional boundary element method (BEM), applying Kelvin’s fundamental solution. It is possible to analyze problems in which the soil is composed by layers of different physical characteristics, supported by a rigid and adhesive interface and reinforced by foundation elements, also simulated by the three-dimensional BEM. The three-dimensional superstructure is simulated using the finite element method (FEM), with shell and frame elements with six degrees of freedom by node. This model is different of the one used in Almeida (2003a). It is also introduced in the program the resource to consider blocks, simulated by the three-dimensional BEM and supported by the soil. These blocks can be used as foundation elements for the building, coupling the non-homogeneous soil-foundation-blocks-superstructure system as a whole. Some examples are analyzed, in order to validate the theory employed and demonstrate the necessity of considering the soil structure interaction in practical problems of engineering

O estudo do comportamento mecânico do complexo sistema advindo da interação entre solo/subestrutura/superestrutura é o tema do trabalho. Neste contexto, a representação do maciço é feita usando-se o método dos elementos de contorno (MEC) em abordagem 3D, de maneira que se possa simular o maciço com características mecânicas não-homogêneas, além de se considerar uma camada de apoio indeslocável a distâncias prescritas a priori e condição de aderência perfeita. A subestrutura também é representada via MEC tridimensional, a qual está imersa dentro deste meio heterogêneo. A infra e a superestrutura são modeladas empregando o método dos elementos finitos (MEF), com o uso de elementos estruturais reticulares e elementos laminares. São apresentados alguns exemplos em que se valida a formulação e outros que demonstram a potencialidade e a necessidade de se empregar a formulação para a melhor análise do complexo fenômeno em estudo. Por fim, demonstra-se a obrigatoriedade de se otimizar a formulação, empregando-se duas grandes ferramentas numéricas: o paralelismo e o emprego de um adequado método de resolução de sistemas esparsos. / The analysis of the soil-structure system interaction is a vast field of interest in the area of civil engineering. A realistic representation of its behaviour. Thus, in the present research, the soil is considered a non-homogeneous continuum supported by a rigid and adhesive interface and modelled by boundary element method via Kelvin solution in 3D space. The foundation is also modelled by this above-mentioned modelling technique. The raft foundation and the superstructure are represented by finite shell and 3D frame elements. In order to estimate the accuracy and the potentiality of the proposed numerical formulation, some examples are validated when compared to similar approaches, and others simulations are presented to stress the necessity of coupling the non-homogeneous soil-foundation-radier-superstructure system as a whole. Finally, to acquire numerical time efficiency, it is shown that it is imperative to apply parallel processing and sparse techniques for the solution of the final system.

O estudo do comportamento mecânico do complexo sistema advindo da interação entre solo/subestrutura/superestrutura é o tema do trabalho. Neste contexto, a representação do maciço é feita usando-se o método dos elementos de contorno (MEC) em abordagem 3D, de maneira que se possa simular o maciço com características mecânicas não-homogêneas, além de se considerar uma camada de apoio indeslocável a distâncias prescritas a priori e condição de aderência perfeita. A subestrutura também é representada via MEC tridimensional, a qual está imersa dentro deste meio heterogêneo. A infra e a superestrutura são modeladas empregando o método dos elementos finitos (MEF), com o uso de elementos estruturais reticulares e elementos laminares. São apresentados alguns exemplos em que se valida a formulação e outros que demonstram a potencialidade e a necessidade de se empregar a formulação para a melhor análise do complexo fenômeno em estudo. Por fim, demonstra-se a obrigatoriedade de se otimizar a formulação, empregando-se duas grandes ferramentas numéricas: o paralelismo e o emprego de um adequado método de resolução de sistemas esparsos. / The analysis of the soil-structure system interaction is a vast field of interest in the area of civil engineering. A realistic representation of its behaviour. Thus, in the present research, the soil is considered a non-homogeneous continuum supported by a rigid and adhesive interface and modelled by boundary element method via Kelvin solution in 3D space. The foundation is also modelled by this above-mentioned modelling technique. The raft foundation and the superstructure are represented by finite shell and 3D frame elements. In order to estimate the accuracy and the potentiality of the proposed numerical formulation, some examples are validated when compared to similar approaches, and others simulations are presented to stress the necessity of coupling the non-homogeneous soil-foundation-radier-superstructure system as a whole. Finally, to acquire numerical time efficiency, it is shown that it is imperative to apply parallel processing and sparse techniques for the solution of the final system.

The problem of pile - soil interaction is examined in the Thesis at hand by means of both theoretical analyses and experimental investigations. Pile foundations in seismically prone areas are subjected to both direct loading, such as axial and lateral forces imposed at their heads, resulting from a phenomenon known as inertial interaction, and indirect loading along their body, such as imposed displacements due to the passage of various types of seismic waves, resulting from a phenomenon known as kinematic interaction. Along this vein, a family of analytical models of the Tajimi type are presented in the framework of linear elastodynamic theory to explore the effects of axial and lateral pile - soil interaction in homogeneous and inhomogeneous soil under static and dynamic (kinematic and inertial) loading. Apart from simplified two-dimensional models of the Baranov - Novak type, few analytical solutions are available to tackle these problems in three dimensions, the majority of which are restricted to the analysis of an elastic half space under static conditions. The proposed models are based on a continuum solution pioneered by Japanese investigators (notably Matuso & Ohara and Tajimi) in the 1960’s. In the realm of this approach the soil is modelled as a continuum, while the pile is conveniently modelled as a rod or a beam by strength-of-materials theory. Displacements and stresses are expressed through Fourier series in terms of the natural modes of the soil medium. Fundamental to the analysis presented in this study is that the influence of horizontal soil displacement on axial pile response and vertical displacement on lateral response, respectively, are negligible. However, their effect on stresses is not negligible which differentiates the proposed models from the classical Tajimi solutions in which the aforementioned displacements are set equal to zero. The above approximations are attractive, as they lead to a straightforward uncoupling of the equations of motions, even in inhomogeneous media, unlike the classical elastodynamic theory where the uncoupling is generally impossible in presence of inhomogeneity. Although approximate, the proposed models are advantageous over available analytical models and rigorous numerical schemes, as they require relative simple computations and provide excellent predictions of pile response at the frequency ranges of interest in earthquake engineering and geotechnics. In addition, they are advantageous over existing simplified analytical approaches of the Winkler type, as they are more accurate, self - standing, free of empirical constants and provide more realistic simulation of the problem. The main advantage over numerical methods (finite and boundary elements) lies in the derivation of the solution in closed form and the elucidation of complex mechanisms related to the dynamic interaction phenomenon, such as radiation damping and wave propagation in in homogeneous media. The main goal of the theoretical effort lies in the derivation of solutions in closed - form for: (i) the static stiffness and the dynamic impedances (dynamic stiffness and damping coefficients) at the pile head, (ii) translational and rotational kinematic response factors (pile head displacement or rotation over free-field response), (iii) actual, depth- dependent, Winkler moduli (spring and damping coefficients), (iv) corresponding average, depth- independent, Winkler moduli to match the pile head stiffness. In addition, simple approximate formulae for Winkler moduli to be used in engineering practice are proposed, to improve the predictions of Winkler models. Pile-to-pile interaction is investigated on the basis of the superposition method for axially loaded piles. Closed-form expressions for attenuation functions are derived to be used individually or in conjunction with more elaborate methods providing more accurate predictions for static and dynamic interaction factors to assess the vertical stiffness of pile groups. New dimensionless frequency ratios controlling pile response are introduced. Finally, new solutions are added in the context of analytical Winkler models for investigating the behaviour of piles under kinematic loading due to vertically-propagating S waves. Emphasis is given on the influence of boundary conditions of the pile. With reference to kinematic pile bending, insight into the physics of the problem is gained through a rigorous superposition scheme involving an infinitely-long pile excited kinematically, and a pile of finite length excited by a concentrated force and a moment at the tip. Contrary to the classical elastodynamic theory where pile response is governed by six dimensionless ratios, in the realm of Winkler theory three only ratios suffice to fully describe the interaction problem, from which the mechanical slenderness and the effective dimensionless frequency are introduced for the first time. The selection of an appropriate value for the Winkler modulus in the accuracy of the kinematic Winkler model is demonstrated. The theoretical results are compared to new experimental data obtained from a series of tests on piles carried out on scaled models performed on the shaking table at University of Bristol Laboratory (BLADE) within the framework of the Seismic Engineering Research Infrastructures (SERIES) program, sponsored by FP7, and contribute in the investigation of pile - soil interaction. / Στην παρούσα διατριβή εξετάζεται το πρόβλημα της αλληλεπίδρασης πασσάλου - εδάφους μέσω συνδυασμένης θεωρητικής ανάλυσης και πειραματικής διερεύνησης. Οι πάσσαλοι, ως μέσο θεμελίωσης σε σεισμογόνες περιοχές, υπόκεινται σε άμεση φόρτιση στην κεφαλή, μέσω δυνάμεων και ροπών, ως αποτέλεσμα του φαινομένου της αδρανειακής αλληλεπίδρασης, αλλά και σε έμμεση φόρτιση σε όλο τους το μήκος, μέσω επιβαλλόμενων εδαφικών μετακινήσεων, ως αποτέλεσμα του φαινομένου της κινηματικής αλληλεπίδρασης. Στην κατεύθυνση αυτή παρουσιάζεται η ανάπτυξη οικογένειας αναλυτικών προσομοιωμάτων τύπου Tajimi, στο πλαίσιο της γραμμικής ελαστοδυναμικής θεωρίας, για τη διερεύνηση της αξονικής και πλευρικής αλληλεπίδρασης πασσάλου - εδάφους σε ομοιογενείς και ανομοιογενείς εδαφικούς σχηματισμούς, υπό στατική και δυναμική φόρτιση κινηματικής και αδρανειακής μορφής. Εκτός από απλοποιημένα διδιάστατα προσομοιώματα τύπου Baranov - Novak, ελάχιστες αναλυτικές λύσεις είναι διαθέσιμες σε τρεις διαστάσεις, οι περισσότερες των οποίων περιορίζονται στην ανάλυση ελαστικού ημίχωρου υπό στατικές συνθήκες. Τα προτεινόμενα προσομοιώματα βασίζονται σε μια πρωτοποριακή λύση συνεχούς μέσου (κατά Matsuo & Ohara και Tajimi) η οποία αναπτύχθηκε στη δεκαετία του 1960, αλλά δεν επεκτάθηκε ουσιαστικά μέχρι την παρούσα εργασία. Στο πλαίσιο αυτής της προσέγγισης το έδαφος προσομοιώνεται ως συνεχές μέσο και ο πάσσαλος ως ράβδος ή δοκός σύμφωνα με τη τεχνική θεωρία της κάμψης (παραδοχή επιπεδότητας των διατομών), ενώ οι μετακινήσεις και οι τάσεις εκφράζονται μέσω αναπτυγμάτων Fourier σε όρους των φυσικών ιδιομορφών του εδαφικού μέσου. Θεμελιώδης παραδοχή της προτεινόμενης ανάλυσης είναι ότι η επιρροή της οριζόντιας εδαφικής μετακίνησης στην αξονική απόκριση του πασσάλου, αλλά και η επιρροή της κατακόρυφης μετακίνησης στην πλευρική απόκριση θεωρούνται αμελητέες, ωστόσο η επίδρασή τους στις τάσεις είναι μη μηδενική, πράγμα που τις διαφοροποιεί από τις κλασσικές λύσεις τύπου Tajimi στις οποίες οι ανωτέρω μετακινήσεις μηδενίζονται. Οι ανωτέρω προσεγγίσεις κρίνονται ως ιδιαίτερα ελκυστικές καθώς οδηγούν στην άμεση απόζευξη των εξισώσεων της κίνησης, ακόμη και σε ανομοιογενή μέσα, αντίθετα με την κλασσική ελαστοδυναμική θεωρία, η απόζευξη είναι γενικώς αδύνατη παρουσία εδαφικής ανομοιογένειας. Παρά τον προσεγγιστικό τους χαρακτήρα, τα προτεινόμενα αναλυτικά προσομοιώματα πλεονεκτούν ως προς διαθέσιμα αναλυτικά προσομοιώματα και αυστηρά αριθμητικά σχήματα, καθώς απαιτούν σχετικά απλούς υπολογισμούς και παρέχουν εξαιρετικές προβλέψεις της απόκρισης του πασσάλου για το εύρος συχνοτήτων που παρουσιάζει ενδιαφέρον στη σεισμική μηχανική και τα γεωτεχνικά. Επιπρόσθετα, υπερτερούν ως προς υφιστάμενες αναλυτικές προσεγγίσεις τύπου Winkler, καθώς είναι ακριβέστερα, αυτόνομα, απαλλαγμένα από εμπειρικές σταθερές και προσφέρουν ρεαλιστικότερη προσομοίωση του προβλήματος. Το κύριο πλεονέκτημα έναντι των αριθμητικών μεθόδων (πεπερασμένα και συνοριακά στοιχεία) έγκειται στην εξαγωγή της λύσης σε κλειστή μορφή και στη διερεύνηση πολύπλοκων φαινομένων που σχετίζονται με την αλληλεπίδραση πασσάλου - εδάφους, όπως αυτό της απόσβεσης ακτινοβολίας και της διάδοσης κυμάτων στο έδαφος - ειδικά παρουσία ανομοιογένειας. Ο κύριος στόχος της θεωρητικής διερεύνησης υλοποιείται με την εξαγωγή λύσεων σε κλειστή μορφή για: (i) τη στατική και δυναμική στιφρότητα και απόσβεση στην κεφαλή του πασσάλου, (ii) τους συντελεστές κινηματικής απόκρισης σε μετάθεση και στροφή, (iii) τους πραγματικούς, συναρτήσει του βάθους, συντελεστές Winkler (συντελεστής στιφρότητας ελατηρίων και συντελεστής απόσβεσης), (iv) τους αντίστοιχους μέσους, ανεξάρτητους από το βάθος, συντελεστές Winkler. Επιπρόσθετα, παρουσιάζονται ακριβέστερες των διαθέσιμων στη βιβλιογραφία απλές προσεγγιστικές σχέσεις για τον υπολογισμό του συντελεστή Winkler με σκοπό τη βελτίωση της ακρίβειας των προσομοιωμάτων Winkler. Διερευνάται η αλληλεπίδραση πασσάλου προς πάσσαλο στην περίπτωση αξονικά φορτισμένων πασσάλων με βάση την αρχή της επαλληλίας. Εξάγονται λύσεις σε κλειστή μορφή για τις συναρτήσεις εξασθένισης ώστε να χρησιμοποιηθούν αυτόνομα ή σε συνδυασμό με πιο εκλεπτυσμένες λύσεις δίνοντας με στόχο ακριβέστερες προβλέψεις για τους συντελεστές αλληλεπίδρασης, οδηγώντας έτσι σε πιο ρεαλιστικές εκτιμήσεις της κατακόρυφης στιφρότητας ομάδας πασσάλων. Εισάγονται νέοι αδιάστατοι λόγοι συχνοτήτων που καθορίζουν την απόκριση του πασσάλου. Τέλος, παρουσιάζονται νέες λύσεις σε αναλυτικά προσομοιώματα Winkler για τη διερεύνηση της συμπεριφοράς πασσάλων υποκείμενων σε φόρτιση λόγω της κατακόρυφης διάδοσης διατμητικών κυμάτων στο έδαφος, με έμφαση στην επίδραση των οριακών συνθηκών του προβλήματος. Σε αντίθεση με την κλασσική ελαστοδυναμική θεωρία που η απόκριση του πασσάλου καθορίζεται από έξι αδιάστατους λόγους, στο πλαίσιο της θεωρίας Winkler επαρκούν μόνο τρεις για την πλήρη περιγραφή της αλληλεπίδρασης πασσάλου - εδάφους, εκ των οποίων η μηχανική λυγηρότητα και η ενεργός αδιάστατη συχνότητα παρουσιάζονται για πρώτη φορά. Καταδεικνύεται η σημασία επιλογής της κατάλληλης τιμής του συντελεστή Winkler στην ακρίβεια των εν λόγω προσομοιωμάτων. Προτείνεται σύστημα υπέρθεσης που αποτελείται από ένα απειρομήκη πάσσαλο που διεγείρεται κινηματικά και έναν πάσσαλο πεπερασμένου μήκους που υπόκειται σε αδρανειακή φόρτιση για τη διαλεύκανση της λειτουργίας του θεμελιώδους μηχανισμού που καθορίζει την κινηματική κάμψη του πασσάλου. Τα θεωρητικά αποτελέσματα συγκρίνονται με νέα πειραματικά δεδομένα από σειρά δοκιμών σε διάταξη πασσάλων υπό κλίμακα που εκτελέστηκαν στο σεισμικό προσομοιωτή του Πανεπιστήμιου του Bristol στο πλαίσιο του Ευρωπαϊκού Προγράμματος SERIES, το οποίο χρηματοδοτήθηκε από το κοινοτικό πλαίσιο FP7 που συμβάλλουν στην περαιτέρω διερεύνηση του φαινομένου της κινηματικής αλληλεπίδρασης εδάφους - πασσάλου.

Ce travail de thèse qui a pour objet la génération et l'étude des couches absorbantes dans les problèmes impliquant la dynamique des sols, est divisé en trois parties essentielles. La première consiste à proposer une méthode de dimensionnement des couches absorbantes par l'amortissement de Rayleigh afin de simuler des problèmes de propagation d'ondes dans les milieux infinis. Cette méthode repose sur une analyse mathématique du problème de propagation d'ondes dans un milieu caractérisé par la matrice de Rayleigh, qui nous permet, d'une part, d'établir des conditions de minimisation des réflexions parasites aux interfaces, et d'autre part, de proposer une simple relation de dimensionnement du domaine absorbant basée sur la notion de décrément logarithmique. On se propose dans la deuxième partie d'appliquer une stratégie de couplage des schémas temporels pour des problèmes de propagation d'ondes dans les milieux infinis 1D et 2D. L'approche proposée est d'intégrer le domaine d'étude par un schéma explicite et le domaine absorbant par un schéma implicite, et d'évaluer le potentiel de cette méthode en faisant varier les rapports de pas de temps entre les sous domaines. Une attention particulière est accordée au cas 1D pour lequel l'effet de la finesse du maillage définie par le nombre d'éléments finis par longueur d'onde est également analysé. Par ailleurs, l'évolution du temps de calcul en fonction du rapport entre les pas de temps est étudiée afin d'estimer les gains réalisés par rapport à un calcul de référence où le problème global est intégré uniquement avec un schéma explicite. La dernière partie est dédiée à l'étude des couches amortissantes de type PML ("Perfectly Matched Layer") dans le cadre des couplages hybrides multi-pas de temps. Cette partie est introduite par une étude de stabilité des schémas temporels dans le cas d'une PML en 1D. La couche absorbante PML est intégrée selon un schéma implicite en adoptant des pas de temps plus importants que le domaine d'intérêt intégré selon un schéma explicite. Bien que cette méthodologie de couplage s'avère très efficace pour la reproduction des milieux infinis, les études paramétriques montrent une sensibilité à la taille du pas de temps plus forte que celle exhibée par les couches amortissantes de Rayleigh. / This thesis which deals with the study of absorbing layers for soil dynamics problems, is divided into three essential parts. The first part aims to propose a design method of absorbing layers by the Rayleigh damping to simulate wave propagation problems in infinite media. This method is based on a mathematical analysis of the wave propagation problem in a media characterized by a Rayleigh damping matrix, which allows us, firstly, to establish conditions for minimizing spurious waves at the interfaces, and another hand, to provide a simple design relationship for the absorbing domain based on the notion of the logarithmic decrement. The second part aims to apply the multi-time step strategy for wave propagation problems in 1D and 2D infinite media. The proposed approach is to integrate the physical domain by an explicit scheme and the absorbing domain by an implicit scheme and to evaluate the potential of this method by varying the time step ratio between subdomains. Special attention is given to the 1D case for which the effect of the mesh fineness, defined by the number of finite elements per wavelength, is also analyzed. Furthermore, the evolution of computing time depending on the time ratio is studied in order to estimate the gains made with respect to a reference computation achieved by a full explicit integration. The last part is dedicated to the study of the Perfectly Matched Layer (PML) as part of hybrid couplings multi-time step. This section is introduced by a stability study of temporal scheme for 1D cases. The absorbing layer PML is integrated by an implicit scheme with a time step larger than that of the domain of interest. Although this coupling methodology is very effective for the reproduction of infinite media, parametric studies show a sensitivity to the time ratio greater than that exhibited by the Rayleigh damping layers.