On Improving the Solution by Using Lower Bound Finite Elements Limit Analysis and Linear Programming

This study presents an improved technique for obtaining the collapse loads for any geotechnical stability problem with the application of the lower bound finite elements limit analysis in combination with linear programming. In the proposed method, a lower order polygon is initially used throughout the problem domain to model the Mohr-Coulomb yield function; the order of the polygon refers to its total number of sides. After obtaining the initial solution, the problem domain is then discretized into a number of zones in which a different order polygon is used to model the yield surface. It is noted that a higher order polygon needs to be chosen only in a region, not everywhere, where the stress state approaches towards the yield. The total memory usage as well as the computational time needed to solve the problem with the proposed technique becomes significantly smaller. In order to check the validity of the method, the bearing capacity factor Nγ was computed for smooth as well as rough strip footing and the obtained computational results were found to be quite encouraging. © 2011 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.