Dynamic axial load transfer from elastic bar to poroelastic medium

Abstract

The time-harmonic response of a cylindrical elastic bar (pile) partially embedded in a homogeneous poroelastic medium and subjected to a vertical load is considered. The bar is modeled using 1D elastic theory valid for long bars in the low-frequency range, and the porous medium using Biot's 3D elastodynamic theory. The bar is bonded to the surrounding medium along the contact surface. The problem is formulated by decomposing the bar/porous medium system into a fictitious bar and an extended porous medium. A Fredholm's integral equation of the second kind governs the distribution of axial force in the fictitious bar. The integral equation involves kernels that are displacement and strain influence functions of a poroelastic half-space subjected to a buried, uniform vertical patch load. The governing integral equation is solved by applying numerical quadrature. The solutions for axial displacement and axial force of the bar, and the pore pressure are also derived. Selected numerical results for vertical impedance, axial force, and pore pressure profiles are presented to portray the influence of bar stiffness and length/radius ratio, frequency of excitation, and poroelastic properties.