Approximate Boundaries for Finite-Element Models of Static Soil–Foundation Interaction Problems

Abstract

In this paper, we examine the use of boundary springs as approximate external boundary conditions for the typical soil islands encountered in finite-element (FE) models of soil–foundation interaction problems. We present a set of simple uniformly distributed boundary springs and a set of variable boundary springs that account for the lateral distribution of contact forces between the foundation and the soil. We evaluate the accuracy of the approach for shallow foundations resting on soil islands of different dimensions. It is shown that significantly smaller errors can be achieved with these boundary springs than those obtained when fixed-fixed or fixed-free external boundary conditions are used. We present an iterative approach to determine the boundary springs for cases in which extremely small soil islands are required. Although the approach suggested to determine the boundary springs is best suited to shallow foundations, good results are also obtained for pile foundations. The approach presented applies to a uniform elastic half-space, but extensions to layered media are possible.