Effect of Soil Anisotropy on the Wave-Induced Pore Pressures in the Seabed

Abstract

Waves propagating over the ocean bottom create pressure waves on the seafloor, which during severe storms can lead to significant deformations or even failure. To investigate this phenomenon, a theoretical analysis of the wave-induced pore-water pressures in a semi-infinite bed of cohesionless soil has been performed. This analysis is based on the poroelastic theory of Biot and an anisotropic soil model, which allows us to consider physical properties, such as dilatancy. A much broader spectrum of soil responses can then be considered through the analysis. A parametric study has been performed to assess the effects of these factors. In addition, we compare the results from theoretical predictions with the pore pressure data obtained from a field monitoring program.