A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Engineering, School of Engineering and Technology

Thesis (M.Eng.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 1979

An efficient finite element scheme for the analysis of diffusion process in linear elastic porous media is presented. A variational principle based on Biot's Theory serves in establishing a discretized system of the equilibrium and flow equations in terms of nodal displacements and pore pressures. The time dependency of the system is removed by the Laplace transform technique. The final form of the system appears as a standard eigenvalue problem after the displacement variables are eliminated by condensation. The Laplace inversion can be achieved analytically for the case of step loadings. Three finite elements are tested for their capability to solve a con solidation problem by the proposed scheme . . The quadrilateral element with eight displacement and four pore pressure nodes (Q 84 element) shows the best overall performance. Numerical examples indicate that the present scheme with Q 84 element is extremely effective and capable of giving very accurate results. The scheme is also efficient because for any specified time, the solution can be obtained directly without intermediate solutions.