A work softening joint element used in dynamic analysis of soil-structure

This paper introduces an elasto-plastic joint element characterised by strain hardening and softening in the analysis of dynamic soil-structure interaction. The phenomena of separation and sliding on the contact surface between soil and structure can be better simulated and the process can also be described. The interaction problems in a typical soil-structure system are analyzed in terms of elasto-plastic joint element as well as elastic ones. The results show that the elasto-plastic joint element is much better than the elastic one in modelling, especially in that the relative displacements accross the joint element can be much greater than that of the elastic case. Separation and sliding are not only related to the coefficient of friction and cohesion but also to their changes with plastic volumetric strain. The project is supported by the Sciences Foundation of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Disaster Provention Institute of Kyoto University (Japan).