Nonlinear analysis of soil–structure interaction using perfectly matched discrete layers

• Nonlinear problems of soil–structure interaction are solved.
• Perfectly matched discrete layers (PMDLs) are employed for the solution.
• It is proposed to represent a layered half-space effectively with PMDLs.
• Nonlinear dynamics in a layered half-space are solved accurately with PMDLs.

When nonlinear behaviors of soil are important in a soil–structure interaction system, radiation of energy into the infinity of the soil as well as the nonlinearity must be considered rigorously. In this study, perfectly matched discrete layers (PMDLs) are employed to represent the radiation of energy rigorously. A time-domain formulation for a soil–structure interaction is given using the layers. To represent a layered half-space effectively and accurately, a method to determine PMDL parameters for the half-space is proposed. It is demonstrated that the proposed PMDL system can be applied successfully to problems of nonlinear soil–structure interaction.