Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2006. / Title from title screen (site viewed April 26, 2007). PDF text: vii, 158 p. : ill. UMI publication number: AAT 3221294. Includes bibliographical references. Also available in microfilm and microfiche formats.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

A general framework is described for the solution of two-phase fluid-object interaction problems on the basis of coupling a distributed-Lagrange-multiplier fictitious domain method and a level-set method, intended for application to the problem of seabed scour by ice ridges. The resulting equations are discretized in space using stabilized finite-element methods and integrated in time using the generalized-α method. This approach is simple to implement and applicable to both structured and unstructured meshes in two and three dimensions. By means of examples, it is shown that despite the simplicity of the approach, good results are obtained in comparison with other more computationally demanding methods. A robust approach is utilized for constructing signed-distance functions on arbitrary meshes by introducing artificial numerical diffusivity to improve the robustness of classical signed-distance construction approaches without resorting to common pseudo-time relaxation. Under this approach, signed-distance functions can be rapidly constructed while preserving the numerical convergence properties and, generally, having minimal interfacial perturbation. The method is then applied with a modified deformation procedure for fast and efficient mesh adaptivity, including a discussion how it may be used in computational fluid dynamics. The two-phase fluid-object interaction approach is then customized for modeling of the seabed scour and soil-pipe interaction. In this approach, complex history-dependent soil constitutive models are replaced with a simple strain-rate dependent model. Utilization of this constitutive model along with the framework developed earlier leads to the treatment of seabed scour as a two-phase fluid-object interaction, and the soil-pipe interaction as a fluid-structure interaction problem without the need for remeshing. Good agreement with past experimental and numerical studies are obtained using our approach. The dissertation is concluded by conducting a parametric study of seabed scour in two- and three-dimensions. / text

The most popular method for dynamic soil-structure interaction analysis is the finite element method. The versatility in problems involving different materials and complex geometries is its main advantage, yet the FEM can not simulate unbounded domains completely. Several schemes have been proposed to overcome this shortcoming, such as the use of either imperfect or perfect transmitting boundaries, infinite elements and hybrid techniques. However, most of them were derived on the assumption that the soil mass can be represented as a homogeneous material despite the fact that stratified soil deposits are a common occurrence in nature. A hybrid method is proposed in this research for soil-structure interaction analysis in the frequency domain involving a multilayered linear elastic half-space. The near field region (structure and a portion of soil surrounding it) is modeled by finite elements while the far field formulation is obtained through the classical wave propagation theory based on the assumption that the actual scattered wave fields can be represented by a set of line sources. Traction reciprocity between the two regions is satisfied exactly, while the displacement continuity across the common interface is enforced in a least-squares sense. The two-dimensional system is excited by harmonic body waves (P and SV) propagating with oblique incidence. The structure can be considered either on the surface or deeply embedded in the multilayered half-space. Analytic solutions for the far field domain is obtained through the combined response of four simple problems that take into account the overall effects of the incident, reflected and scattered wave fields. The delta matrix technique is employed in order to eliminate the loss of precision problem associated with the Thomson-Haskell matrix method in its original form. Special numerical schemes are used to transform the solution from the κ- into the ω-plane due to the presence of poles on the path of integration. The few numerical examples studied in this research validate the proposed hybrid technique, but the relatively high computational cost required for evaluation of the Green's functions is still a serious drawback. Some suggestions are made to minimize the problem as well as to extend this technique to cases involving material attenuation and forced vibrations.

This thesis presents the development of a reliable and efficient technique for the numerical simulation of dynamic soil-structure interaction problems in anisotropic and nonhomogeneous unbounded soils of arbitrary geometry. Such a technique is indispensable in the seismic analysis of large-scale engineering constructions and, to my best knowledge, does not exist at present. The theoretical framework of the research is based on the scaled boundary finite-element method. The following advances are achieved: The scaled boundary finite-element method is extended to simulate the dynamic response of non-homogeneous unbounded domains. The scaled boundary finite element equations in the frequency and time domains are derived for power-type non-homogeneity frequently employed in geotechnical engineering. A high-frequency asymptotic expansion of the dynamic-stiffness matrix is developed. The frequency domain analysis is performed by integrating the scaled boundary finite-element equation in dynamic stiffness. In the time domain, the scaled boundary finite-element equation including convolution integrals is solved for the unit-impulse response at discrete time stations. A Pad?? series solution for the scaled boundary finite-element equation in dynamic stiffness is developed. It converges over the whole frequency range as the order of the approximation increases. The computationally expensive task of numerically integrating the scaled boundary finite-element equation is circumvented. Exploiting the sparsity of the coefficientmatrices in the scaled boundary finite-element equation leads to a significant reduction in computer time and memory requirements for solving large-scale problems. Furthermore, lumped coefficient matrices are obtained by adopting the auss-Lobatto-Legendre shape functions with nodal quadrature, which avoids the eigenvalue problem in determining the asymptotic expansion. A high-order local transmitting boundary constructed from a continued-fraction solution of the dynamic-stiffness matrix is developed. An equation of motion as occurring in standard structural dynamics with symmetric and frequency-independent coefficient matrices is obtained. This transmitting boundary condition can be coupled seamlessly with standard finite elements. Transient responses are evaluated by using a standard timeintegration scheme. The expensive task of evaluating convolution integrals is circumvented. The advances developed in this thesis are applicable in other disciplines of engineering and science to the analysis of scalar and vector waves in unbounded media.

published_or_final_version / Civil Engineering / Master / Master of Philosophy

This thesis presents the development of a reliable and efficient technique for the numerical simulation of dynamic soil-structure interaction problems in anisotropic and nonhomogeneous unbounded soils of arbitrary geometry. Such a technique is indispensable in the seismic analysis of large-scale engineering constructions and, to my best knowledge, does not exist at present. The theoretical framework of the research is based on the scaled boundary finite-element method. The following advances are achieved: The scaled boundary finite-element method is extended to simulate the dynamic response of non-homogeneous unbounded domains. The scaled boundary finite element equations in the frequency and time domains are derived for power-type non-homogeneity frequently employed in geotechnical engineering. A high-frequency asymptotic expansion of the dynamic-stiffness matrix is developed. The frequency domain analysis is performed by integrating the scaled boundary finite-element equation in dynamic stiffness. In the time domain, the scaled boundary finite-element equation including convolution integrals is solved for the unit-impulse response at discrete time stations. A Pad?? series solution for the scaled boundary finite-element equation in dynamic stiffness is developed. It converges over the whole frequency range as the order of the approximation increases. The computationally expensive task of numerically integrating the scaled boundary finite-element equation is circumvented. Exploiting the sparsity of the coefficientmatrices in the scaled boundary finite-element equation leads to a significant reduction in computer time and memory requirements for solving large-scale problems. Furthermore, lumped coefficient matrices are obtained by adopting the auss-Lobatto-Legendre shape functions with nodal quadrature, which avoids the eigenvalue problem in determining the asymptotic expansion. A high-order local transmitting boundary constructed from a continued-fraction solution of the dynamic-stiffness matrix is developed. An equation of motion as occurring in standard structural dynamics with symmetric and frequency-independent coefficient matrices is obtained. This transmitting boundary condition can be coupled seamlessly with standard finite elements. Transient responses are evaluated by using a standard timeintegration scheme. The expensive task of evaluating convolution integrals is circumvented. The advances developed in this thesis are applicable in other disciplines of engineering and science to the analysis of scalar and vector waves in unbounded media.