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An approach for undrained geotechnical problems accounting for the development of partial saturation
Author(s) -
Genna Francesco,
Gioda Giancarlo
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
international journal for numerical methods in engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.421
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1097-0207
pISSN - 0029-5981
DOI - 10.1002/nme.1620211205
Subject(s) - geomechanics , saturation (graph theory) , finite element method , geotechnical engineering , complementarity (molecular biology) , development (topology) , mathematics , mathematical optimization , calculus (dental) , computer science , geology , engineering , structural engineering , mathematical analysis , medicine , dentistry , combinatorics , biology , genetics
A mathematical programming approach is discussed for the finite element‐analysis of two‐phase undrained problems in the field of geomechanics. This approach enables us to account for the possible development of partially saturated zones in the geotechnical medium, due to the attainment of a given lower limit in the pore pressure distribution. Two alternative formulations are presented, both of them in terms of linear complementarity and quadratic programming problems, and the computational advantages of one of them are illustrated. The main characteristics of a step‐by‐step solution technique are presented. Finally, the solutions of some test problems are discussed and compared with those deriving from the traditional analyses in which the development of partial saturation is neglected.