Using PLAXIS, it is possible to simulate soil-structure interaction. Here the influence of a vibrating source on its surrounding soil is studied. Due to the three dimensional nature of the problem, an axisymmetric model is used. The physical damping due to the viscous effects is taken into consideration via the Rayleigh damping. Also, due to axisymmetry 'geometric damping' can be significant in attenuating the vibration. The modelling of the boundaries is one of the key points. In order to avoid spurious wave reflections at the model boundaries (which do not exist in reality), special conditions have to be applied in order to absorb waves reaching the boundaries.
This exercise requires a PLAXIS 2D Ultimate license to access the Dynamics features.
The attached *.p2dxlog file contains all the commands to generate the model. With a Bentley Geotechnical SELECT Entitlement [GSE] licence, you can use the commands runner to open the *.p2dxlog file and to execute all commands in one go, see also this instruction.
PLAXIS 2D Tutorial 13: Stability of a dam under rapid drawdown [Tutorials]
PLAXIS 2D Tutorial 15: Pile driving [Tutorials]
PLAXIS 2D Tutorial 16: Free vibration and earthquake analysis of a building [Tutorials]
PLAXIS 3D Tutorial 08: Dynamic analysis of a generator on an elastic foundation [Tutorials]