Biot's consolidation theory - application of BEM with time independent fundamental solutions for poro-elastic saturated media

This paper discusses the application of boundary elements, with time independent fundamental solutions, to solve Biot's plane strain consolidation equations for poro-elastic saturated media, assuming incompressible grains and fluid. The time marching scheme divides the analysis in small steps and applies finite differences to integrate the diffusion equations as well as to determine the time derivative of the total volumetric stresses. Each phase of the, consolidation phenomenon is solved independently within a time step, and the exchange of common data associated to an iterative procedure provides means of coupling the two analyses. The domain integrals in the elastostatic integral equation, provides simple means of simulating elastic media heterogeneity, without any changes in the existing matrices, using the same procedure adopted to introduce plasticity to the BEM. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.