BEM-FEM coupling model for the analysis of soil-pile-structure interaction in the frequency domain

Abstract

This communication presents a three-dimensional Boundary Element – Finite Element coupling model for the dynamic analysis of soil-pile-structure interaction in the frequency domain. The soil is modelled by the Boundary Element Method (BEM) and one-dimensional Finite Elements are used to model the piles as Bernoulli beams, whose heads can be linked by rigid pile caps. One or more superstructures can also be considered as piled shear building models, so that dynamic SSI problems can be addressed. Some structure-soil-structure interaction analyses are presented. It is shown that the presence of neighbouring structures with similar fundamental periods modifies the dynamic behaviour of buildings founded on soft to medium soils.