| dc.description.abstract | For many years fatigue in soils has been a major design challenge. Due to cyclic loading the material behavior changes and permanent deformations are observed. Although explicit cyclic calculation methods exists, none are ideal for cyclic design computation. The available methods are currently either to simplified, labor-intensive or inaccurate.
A framework based on Python, Matlab and Fortran has been developed for creating soil models and doing cyclic simulations. The script Destructor is an interface for PLAXIS 2D and automates the whole calculation process. An average and a cyclic material model based on elasto-plasticity and non-linear elasticity has been created and coupled together. A state variable used to model material softening is used to couple the materials. The material equations were defined in Matlab and generated as object-oriented Fortran code ready to be compiled together with a Fortran wrapper.
Plane strain simulations has been done for monopiles, represented by a wall, and gravity based structures. The results are encouraging. The material models and Python framework is able to simulate loss of ultimate strength capacity, higher long-term settlements, permanent deformations and a change in pore pressure after cyclic loading. The verification was done qualitative. | |
