Dynamic Response of Flexible Foundations on Multilayered Medium

The dynamic response of flexible strip-foundations placed on a viscoelastic multi-layered medium under conditions of plane strain and subjected to harmonic excitation is studied in this paper. A semi-analytic model is developed to determine the dynamic flexibility matrix of the medium, and the spline finite element method is employed to treat the foundation. The two methods are appropriately combined through equilibrium and compatibility considerations at the soil-foundation interface. Numerical results describing the influence of the non-homogeneity of the soil medium on the compliance are presented, and the effects of the relative stiffness Kr on the foundation response are briefly discussed