Strain-softening behavior of soil poses a significant challenge in finite element (FE) modeling of many offshore and onshore geotechnical problems. The FE results are mesh size dependent; therefore, several mesh regularization techniques have been proposed. FE modeling becomes more difficult for large deformation problems, such as submarine landslides and penetration of surface laid pipelines in deepwater. In the present study, FE analyses are performed for two idealized problems to show the performance of two regularization techniques: (i) element size scaling, and (ii) nonlocal method. Both approaches are implemented in a Eulerian-based FE modeling technique that can handle large deformation without causing numerical issues related to mesh distortion. Conducting analyses for the undrained loading condition, advantages and limitations of these approaches are presented.
Jin Chen and Bipul Hawlader
Keywords: Strain-softening, large deformation, Eulerian-based finite-element, strain localization
Publisher: DFI