Dr. Zhandos Orazalin - Henry L. Pierce Lab Seminar Series

Realistic Modeling of Geotechnical Problems and Soil-Structure Interaction

Abstract:

The realistic numerical modeling of geotechnical problems such as the analysis of cone penetration contributes to the development of reliable correlations between soil properties and in-situ measurements. However, the analysis of soil penetration represents a challenging class of geotechnical problems due to large deformations, high gradients of the field variables (stresses, strains, excess pore pressures, etc.) around the penetrometer, the various drainage conditions and the complex constitutive behavior of soils (non-linear, inelastic, anisotropic and rate dependent material behavior). Most prior research on cone penetration using large deformation finite element method has been limited to simplified assumptions on drainage conditions and constitutive behavior. We will discuss the piezocone penetration tests in clays and sands over a range of steady penetration velocities (considering the effects of partial drainage) and describe a methodology for performing the realistic numerical modeling of large deformation, quasi-static soil penetration using advanced effective stress soil models.
The seminar presents background information on the modern geotechnical modeling techniques relevant to the analysis of soil-structure interaction using advanced effective stress soil models. Several additional examples of complex geotechnical problems will be discussed. These examples include offshore pile-soil interaction under large lateral loads and the challenges associated with braced excavations in urban areas.

Bio:
Dr. Zhandos Orazalin received the Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from Karaganda State Technical University, Kazakhstan and the Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA. He is currently a postdoctoral associate at the Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART). Dr. Orazalin’s research is focused on geotechnical engineering problems associated with complex interaction between structures and soils under various loading conditions.