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The basic philosophy regarding deployment of all numerical techniques is the top
to down approach that is discretization i.e. a procedure in which complex problem
is divided smaller parts or components. The mode of discretization may differ
depending on the numerical method being employed like in finite element
The basic problems in geotechnical engineering can be classified under five heads:
1) Steady (or equilibrium based), 2) Transient (or propagation), 3) Eigenvalue based
dynamic problems, 4) Interaction based problems (Soil-structure-Fluid interaction),
5) Sudden transient loading problems (Shock waves).
The fundamental problems in steady or equilibrium state are the stress-stress
deformation analyses for foundations, slopes, banks, tunnels, reinforced soil walls,
ground improvement analysis etc. The transient or propagation problems may
involve stress-deformation behavior of soil structures under time-dependent forces,
consolidation analysis, viscoelastic analysis, transient fluid flow and dispersion,
wave propagation etc. The eigenvalues problems may involve evaluation of natural
frequencies of foundations and structures under dynamic loadings. Interaction
problems may involve soil-structure interaction, soil-structure-fluid interaction and
many other interaction effects. Sudden transient loading may occur due to blast,
earthquake, and tsunamis and should be separately studied.
Why finite element method has taken over finite difference method over recent
years, well the simple answer it is more practical even though it does not possess
the rigorous mathematical base of finite difference method and still lot of work
needs to be done to give it a sound mathematical moorings yet it works. Though
intuitively finite difference method came to the engineer with sufficient ease as a
considerable mathematical basis for solving differential equations was already
existing. What won the day for finite element method is the ease, diverse
applicability and generalization for the solutions of complex problems that had
defied the conventional, empirical and closed-form solutions.