A continuum-discrete hydromechanical analysis of granular deposit liquefaction

A coupled continuum-discrete hydromechanical model was employed to analyse the liquefaction of a saturated loose deposit of cohesionless particles when subjected to a dynamic base excitation. The pore fluid flow was idealized using averaged Navier-Stokes equations and the discrete element method was employed to model the solid phase particles. A well established semi-empirical relationship was utilized to quantify the fluid-particle interactions. The conducted simulations revealed a number of salient micromechanical mechanisms and response patterns associated with the deposit liquefaction. Space and time variation of porosity was a major factor which affected the coupled response of the solid and fluid phases. Pore fluid flow was within Darcy's regime. The predicted response exhibited macroscopic patterns consistent with experimental results and case histories of the liquefaction of granular soil deposits. Copyright (C) 2004 John Wiley Sons, Ltd.