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Numerical methods in geomechanics, Nagoya 1985. Proceedings of the Fifth International Conference on Numerical Methods in Geomechanics, Nagoya, April 1-5, 1985. (In 4 volumes) Volumes 1, 2, 3. (English) Zbl 0584.73134

Published on behalf of the International Committee for Numerical Methods in Geomechanics and Department of Civil and Geotechnical Engineering, Nagoya University. Rotterdam/Boston: A. A. Balkema. IX, IX, VII, 1728 p. 3 vols.: DM 360.00 (1985).
Since for most geomaterials the constitutive (physical) laws are nonlinear and since the geometry of the problems to be solved is quite often irregular, it is only with various numerical methods that such problems can be tackled. There are eleven topics considered in these Proceedings: Numerical techniques and programming (16 papers), Constitutive laws of geotechnical materials and interfaces (37 papers), Flow and consolidation (13 papers), Rock hydraulics (8 papers), Soil- structure interaction (22 papers), Earth structures and slopes (16 papers), Tunnels and under ground openings (35 papers), Mining applications (8 papers), Interpretation of field measurements (8 papers) and Use of microcomputers (7 papers). The first volume contains also ten main lectures. Generally the papers are a short version of the research results obtained by the corresponding authors.
In most papers the main emphasis is generally on the use of finite element methods, or of the boundary element method, or of a combination of these two methods, or of the finite difference method, for the solving of various specific problems of geomechanics, both static and dynamic. Due to some specific symmetries involved in such problems, as for instance orthotropy, and to some peculiar domain of integration (sometimes infinite and other times with variable boundaries), the application of such numerical methods may need the overcomming of some specific details. A great deal of such specialized informations can be found in these Proceedings as for instance the coupling of finite element field with the finite layer field, or the use of three-dimensional ”infinite domain” elements, or the generation of finite element meshing (using formex algebra), etc. Some other numerical methods as the ”weighted residuals”, etc. were also used. Methods to handle by numerical techniques various kinds of discontinuities or interfaces as faults, joints, fissures etc. were also discussed (the choosing of appropriate elements, pathern of mesh division, etc.); the problem is to handle thin zones of weakness in a geomaterial, there, where a stress concentration is to be expected.
Both time independent (elastic or elasto-plastic) and time dependent (elasto-viscoplastic), isotropic or anisotropic models were considered. Failure is also handled by numerical procedures. Variational formulations in conjunction with the application of the finite element method are discussed for various constitutive equations. The use of microcomputers when it is not necessary to employ the full power of the finite element approach, has lead to the development of a variety of less general but more efficient methods for the analysis of particular classes of problems.
Most of the given applications are from the field of civil, mining or petroleum engineering, from seismology, from the problems of nuclear waste repositories, etc. In several papers the predictions of the numerical approach are compared with experimental findings. Unfortunately the powerful tools of finite element method and of the boundary element method discourages sometimes peoples to make an effort to find analytical solutions for those problems where due to some symmetries such solutions may be expected, and further to compare these solutions with those obtained by numerical procedures.
Reviewer considers the Proceedings to be a very valuable contribution to the development of numerical methods in geomechanics. Generally all those interested in the solving of various soil and rock mechanics problems may find in these Proceedings a great deal of the useful up to date informations.
Reviewer: N.Cristescu

MSC:

74L10 Soil and rock mechanics
74L05 Geophysical solid mechanics
74S99 Numerical and other methods in solid mechanics
74-06 Proceedings, conferences, collections, etc. pertaining to mechanics of deformable solids
00B25 Proceedings of conferences of miscellaneous specific interest
65-06 Proceedings, conferences, collections, etc. pertaining to numerical analysis
74-04 Software, source code, etc. for problems pertaining to mechanics of deformable solids
74S30 Other numerical methods in solid mechanics (MSC2010)