Numerical investigation of the kinematic interaction in a rigid inclusion-reinforced soft ground: site amplification response
Numerical investigation of the kinematic interaction in a rigid inclusion-reinforced soft ground: site amplification response
The presence of rigid inclusions (RI) in a soft clay ground modifies the free-field response due to kinematic interaction (KI) stemming from the stiffness incompatibility between the soft soil and the RIs. Numerical simulations of an RI-reinforced multi-layered soft soil model were performed using ABAQUS, and a full 3D nonlinear finite element model (FEM) was built based on dynamic centrifuge tests performed at Gustave Eiffel University. The soil consisted of three layers: a stiff sand layer at the base in which the RIs were anchored (end-bearing condition), a soft clay layer in which the RIs were embedded, and a sand load transfer platform (LTP). The response of the RIs was modelled as linear elastic, while the three soil layers were modelled as nonlinear using advanced hypoplastic models for sand and clay. The numerical model was validated against a dynamic centrifuge test. A parametric numerical study shows that the presence of the RI with an end-bearing condition causes a significant surface acceleration amplification.
Charbel NOHRA; Zheng Li; Sandra Escoffier; Luc Thorel
11th International Conference on Physical Modelling in Geotechnics (ICPMG2026)
Special Session 5: Combination of numerical and physical modelling
https://doi.org/10.53243/ICPMG2026-69