Dynamic consolidation problems in saturated soils solved through u w formulation in a LME meshfree framework
Abstract A meshfree numerical model, based on the principle of Local Maximum Entropy (LME) including a B bar algorithm to avoid instabilities, is applied to solve axisymmetric consolidation problems in elastic saturated soils. This numerical scheme has been previously validated for purely elastic problems without water (mono phase) as well as for steady seepage in elastic porous media. Hereinafter, an implementation of the novel numerical method in the axisymmetric configuration is proposed, and the model is validated for well known theoretical problems of consolidation in saturated soils, under both static and dynamic conditions with available analytical solutions. The solutions obtained with the new methodology are compared with a finite element commercial software for a set of examples. After validated, solutions for dynamic radial consolidation and sinks, which have not been found elsewhere in the literature, are presented as a novelty. This new numerical approach is demonstrated to be feasible for this kind of problems in porous media, particularly for high frequency, dynamic problems, for which very few results have been found in the literature in spite of their high practical importance.