2-D And 3-D Analysis of Stochastic, Elastic Soil Medium

The paper presents a stochastic description of a three-dimensional soil medium and its modelling under plane strain conditions. The main aim of the paper is to work out a computational model enabling incorporation of three-dimensional variability of soil properties into the plane strain state analysis. It is assumed that the soil medium is statistically homogeneous and its mechanical behaviour is governed by the linear elasticity theory. It is also assumed that elastic parameters can be modelled as the multidimensional random fields. The strip foundation on a soil layer in the 3-D and the 2-D strain states is analysed. Stochastic 2-D and 3-D finite element methods, based on the Monte Carlo technique, were used. The analysis performed enables determination of the standard deviations of components of the stress tensor and the displacement vector for the 3-D state, based on the solution for the 2-D plane strain state. Transfer functions between both states are determined.