Dynamic Analysis of Multilayered Soils to Water Waves and Flow

Abstract

In nature, a soil profile generally consists of several heterogeneous layers. This study is aimed at discussing the interactive problem of oscillatory water waves and flow passing over multilayered soils. The soil behavior is considered as viscoelastic in the present mathematical model modified from Biot’s poroelastic theory. Employing this model, the dynamic response including the profiles of pore water pressure and effective stress in the multilayered soils is discussed. The results reveal that the perturbed pore pressure is different from that inside a single-layered soil where the thickness of the first soil layer is less than the water wavelength. The discrepancy of the vertical effective stresses between multilayered and single-layered soils is even much more apparent under the same conditions. Moreover, seepage force is examined and is found to be larger near the bed surface and the bottom of the first soil layer where soils are easily disturbed by external disturbance. The locations where soil failure might happen are found near the troughs of surface water waves.