3D Analyses of Open Trench Barriers Filled with Water

This study uses three-dimensional time-domain finite-element analyses to study the isolation efficiency of open trenches filled with various levels of water. The trench is generated along the X direction, the trench thickness is in the Y direction, and negative gravity is in the Z direction. First, the finite-element model is validated by using field experiments for a full water trench with results in good agreement. A parametric study from finite-element analyses indicates that the efficiency of the water trench is similar to or sometimes better than that of the open trench for X- and Z-direction waves. However, the water trench is not efficient for isolating the Y-direction wave, because the Y-direction wave passing through the water trench is similar to a compressive wave that is difficult to reduce in water. DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0000530. (C) 2011 American Society of Civil Engineers.