Determining an appropriate finite element size for modelling the strength of undrained random soils. (September 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Huang, J.; Griffiths, D.V.
• Is Part Of: Computers and geotechnics. Volume 69(2015)
• Page Start: 506
• Page End: 513
• Publication Date: 2015-09
• Subjects: Random field -- Discretization error -- Finite element method; Engineering geology -- Data processing -- Periodicals; Soil mechanics -- Data processing -- Periodicals; Rock mechanics -- Data processing -- Periodicals; 624.1510285
• DOI: 10.1016/j.compgeo.2015.06.020
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0266-352X

Abstract

Abstract: The mechanical properties of soils and rocks can be highly variable, and there has recently been a great deal of interest in modelling this variability using random field theory, in which the material properties vary from point to point. When these point-wise material properties are mapped onto a finite element mesh, discretization errors are inevitable. In this study, the discretization errors are studied and suggestions for element sizes in relation with spatial correlation lengths are given.