Time harmonic point load and dynamic contact problem of contacting fluid and poroelastic half-spaces

The dynamic response of contacting fluid and fluid-saturated poroelastic half- spaces to a time-harmonic vertical point force or a point pore pressure is investigated. The solutions are formulated using the boundary conditions at the fluid-porous medium interface. The point load solutions are then used to solve the dynamic problem of the vertical vibration of a rigid disc (both permeable and impermeable discs are included) on the surface of the poroelastic half-space. The contact problems are solved by integrating the point force and point pore pressure solutions over the contact area with unknown discontinuous force and pore pressure distributions, which are determined from the boundary conditions. The solutions are expressed in terms of dual integral equations, which are converted to Fredholm integral equations of the second kind and solved numerically. Selected numerical results for the vertical dynamic compliance coefficient for the cases with or without fluid overlying the poroelastic half-space are presented to show the effects of the fluid. The influence of the permeability condition of the disc on the compliance of the poroelastic half-space is investigated. The displacement, vertical stress, pore pressure in the poroelastic half-space and water pressure in the fluid half-space are also examined for different poroelastic materials and frequencies of excitation. The present results are helpful in the study of the dynamic response of foundations on the seabed under seawater.

► Point load solutions for contacting fluid and poroelastic half-spaces are derived. ► The vibration of a disc on the seabed problem is considered as an application. ► Both permeable and impermeable discs are considered. ► The effect of seawater on the vertical compliance Cv is considerable. ► The effect of the permeability of the disc is also discussed.