×
INTELLIGENT WORK FORUMS
FOR ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALS

Log In

Come Join Us!

Are you an
Engineering professional?
Join Eng-Tips Forums!
  • Talk With Other Members
  • Be Notified Of Responses
    To Your Posts
  • Keyword Search
  • One-Click Access To Your
    Favorite Forums
  • Automated Signatures
    On Your Posts
  • Best Of All, It's Free!
  • Students Click Here

*Eng-Tips's functionality depends on members receiving e-mail. By joining you are opting in to receive e-mail.

Posting Guidelines

Promoting, selling, recruiting, coursework and thesis posting is forbidden.

Students Click Here

Jobs

What boundary conditions for column buried in ground?

What boundary conditions for column buried in ground?

What boundary conditions for column buried in ground?

(OP)
I have to model the effects of an impact on a structure. The structure is basically a frame of vertical columns with horizontal bracing. The vertical columns are set in conrete block foundations approx 1m cubed, such that the top level of the concrete block is level with the ground surface. My question is how to define the boundary conditions for the concrete blocks, assuming I don't want to mess about modeling the ground and set up a load of contact interactions. Our civils guys were able to give me an equivalent spring stiffness of the ground which they use for calculating ground pressure from a simple side load on a single column. I know I can apply a spring to each of the concrete blocks but I am not sure whether it is right to apply this to all sides of the block, as there would only be resistance from the ground in the direction of movement. To my mind I need to apply a spring condition which only acts in one direction, and apply independant springs like this to all sides of the block such that only the springs being compressed act of the block. Has anyone on here had an experience of setting anything like this up?

RE: What boundary conditions for column buried in ground?

You can use connector instead of the spring, then define a non-linear spring (so it can be be direction only).

Red Flag This Post

Please let us know here why this post is inappropriate. Reasons such as off-topic, duplicates, flames, illegal, vulgar, or students posting their homework.

Red Flag Submitted

Thank you for helping keep Eng-Tips Forums free from inappropriate posts.
The Eng-Tips staff will check this out and take appropriate action.

Reply To This Thread

Posting in the Eng-Tips forums is a member-only feature.

Click Here to join Eng-Tips and talk with other members!


Resources