Analysis of jointed rock and blocky structures based on the Distinct Element Method (DEM).
The software can be extended with four options (dynamic, thermal, Finite Element (FE) liners and blocks, and C++ User-Defined Constitutive Models) that are offered separately from the base program (see Options for more information).ģDEC offers a fully integrated development environment that includes: project management facilities, built-in text editor, automatic movie-frame generation, extensive plotting capabilities, and results monitoring. Work with either discrete blocks, zoned continuum, or both.ģDEC provides 13 built-in zone material models, three built-in joint models, groundwater flow (solid matrix and joints), coupled mechanical-flow calculation, ground support structural elements, and a built-in scripting language ( FISH) that can customize or automate virtually all aspects of program operation, including user-defined properties and other variables.
The numerical results also indicate that both monopile and caissons in liquefiable soil deposits experience considerable rotations under the combined action of wind loads and earthquake shaking when liquefaction occurs.3DEC is ideally suited to analyze potential modes of failure directly related to the presence of discontinuous features. The analyses reveal that SANISAND model is capable of simulating the pore pressure generation in the free-field as observed in a recent centrifuge test. Excess pore water pressure during earthquake shaking and earthquake-induced displacements are computed at various points in the soil medium around the considered monopile and caisson foundations. The software FLAC3D and the SANISAND constitutive model are used to conduct the nonlinear dynamic analyses for OWTs. This paper investigates the use of advanced liquefaction modeling in assessment of the response of monopiles and caissons for offshore wind turbines. Several studies have reported the consequences of soil liquefaction for buildings and onshore structures However, the effects of liquefaction on offshore foundations have not been sufficiently studied. While the main concern in design of offshore foundations has been the environmental loads, the recent growth in construction of OWTs in seismic regions with the possibility of soil liquefaction has necessitated evaluation of the impact of earthquake and liquefaction from strong shakings on these structures. Caisson (skirted) foundations have also been evaluated in some projects as an economical alternative. Monopile has been the most widespread foundation type for Offshore Wind Turbines (OWTs) in shallow waters.