A Method for Nonlinear Seismic Analysis of Waterfront Retaining Walls

• Type: Article in International Conference Proceedings Book
• Date: 1991

Authors

José Eduardo Tavares Quintanilha de Menezes (Author) FEUP; Raimundo Delgado (Author) FEUP; Manuel Matos Fernandes (Author) FEUP

Conference proceedings International

Title: 7th Conference of the International Association for Computer Methods and Advances in Geomechanics

Pages: 851-855

Other information

Abstract (EN): The failure of waterfront retaining walls in result of earthquakes has been, in many cases, caused by deterioration of soil mechanic properties. As a matter of fact, decrease of soil shearing resistance, or liquefaction when there are saturated sand deposits, taking place in wide zones causes global failures which result in important damages. So, the knowledge of soil behaviour during earthquakes is very important. Comparison of computer models and field and laboratory measurements can lead to greater insight in predicting real soil structures response to dynamic loading. A finite element analysis representing a system of soil, water, retaining structure and interfaces between different materials is proposed for studying the seismic response of these structural systems. A few results are compared with those obtained by other authors with centrifuge testing. Some reasonable agreement is found in the comparison of maximum increase values and final wall displacements.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 5