Limit Analysis
Advanced numerical procedures for limit analysis in geotechnical engineering
This project will involve the development, implementation and evaluation of novel techniques for computational limit analysis. The focus of this project will be the static (lower bound) and kinematic (upper bound) methods for limit analysis, implemented using different types of finite element discretization and different optimization algorithms. The finite elements will include standard linear and quadratic elements with adaptive mesh refinement. Other approaches using higher-order elements, mesh-free methods (SPH), isogeometric analysis and smoothed finite element methods will also be explored. The arising optimization problems will be solved using appropriate conic optimization and nonlinear programming techniques. Validation analyses and parametric studies will be used to incorporate the stochastic spatial variability of soil properties within the numerical limit analysis.
In addition, this project will focus on numerical analysis of plasticity problems in geotechnical engineering. This will concentrate on the use of advanced software for direct solution of failure in 3D using lower and upper bound methods. Applications will include tunnelling as well as other applications.
This project will corporate with Prof. Guy Houlsby and Prof. Chris Martin at the University of Oxford.
Selected papers
- H.C. Nguyen (2020). The use of adaptive smoothed finite-element limit analysis to seismic stability of tunnels, 10th International Symposium on Geotechnical Aspects of Underground Construction in Soft Ground (IS-Cambridge 2020), accepted
- H.C. Nguyen (2020). Upper bound analysis of seismic stability of tunnels using cell-based smoothed finite element, 10th International Symposium on Geotechnical Aspects of Underground Construction in Soft Ground (IS-Cambridge 2020), accepted
Dr Nguyen gratefully acknowledges Professor Nguyen-Thoi Trung for sharing code and discussion on the smoothed finite element method.