Finite difference method

Abstract: A method is presented for obtaining the consolidation behaviour of a layered soil subjected to strip, circular, or rectangular surface loadings, or subjected to fluid withdrawal due to pumping. The solution method involves applying a Fourier or Hankel transform to the field quantities along with a Laplace transformation. The effect of the Fourier or Hankel transform is to reduce a two- or three-dimensional problem or one involving axial symmetry, to one involving only a single spatial dimension. In cases where the soil is horizontally layered, this has great advantages over conventional methods, such as finite element or finite difference methods, since very little computer storage and data preparation time is required. Solution of the time dependent problem is achieved by applying a Laplace transformation to the field variables, obtaining solutions in Laplace transform space, and then numerically inverting the transformed solutions to obtain the real time behaviour. This eliminates the need for ‘marching type’ schemes where a solution is found from one at a previous time. By direct inversion of the Laplace transform, a solution may be obtained directly at any given time.