Elastostatic Infinite Elements for Layered Half Spaces

Abstract

The far field behavior of a homogeneous half space and a layered half space is investigated under torsional, vertical, horizontal and moment loadings. Based on the derived far field behavior, three different finite‐element based algorithms, i.e., Ordinary Infinite Elements (OIE), Finite Elements by Singular Contraction (FESC) and Exactly Integrable Infinite Elements (EIIE) are developed to model the far field of multilayered half spaces. The coordinate mapping functions and displacement interpolation functions are selected in accordance with the derived far field model. All three schemes satisfy compatibility and completeness. Excellent results are obtained at a very low computational cost by modeling the near field using a small finite‐element mesh, together with any of the present schemes modeling the domain exterior to the finite elements. Considering the computational efficiency and ease in incorporating FESC into an existing finite element package, FESC is superior to the other two algorithms.