Elastic analysis of layered soils by boundary elements: Comparative remarks or various approaches

The linear elastostatic analysis of layered soils often required for parametric studies in preliminary design of foundations, is tackled here by various boundary integral equation approaches apt to exploit the chain pattern of the system topology. These are: (a) a boundary element, transfer matrix method proposed by Banerjee and Butterfield; (b) a successive stiffness, boundary element procedure; (c) a successive compliance, boundary element method using half-space fundamental solutions and applicable to horizontally layered systems; (d) a procedure resting on Fourier series expansions and on the use of suitable Green’s functions. The seemingly new method (c) is dealt with in some detail, whereas procedures (b) and (d) expounded elsewhere by the writers are merely outlined. Numerical performances are discussed in general, “a priori” terms related to the underlying mechanics.