No CrossRef data available.
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 07 May 2020
When the Symmetric Galerkin boundary element method (SGBEM) based on full-space elastostatic fundamental solutions is used to solve Neumann problems, the displacement solution cannot be uniquely determined because of the inevitable rigid-body-motion terms involved. Several methods that have been used to remove the non-uniqueness, including additional point support, eigen decomposition, regularization of a singular system and modified boundary integral equations, were introduced to amend SGBEM, and were verified to eliminate the rigid body motions in the solutions of full-space exterior Neumann problems. Because half-space problems are common in geotechnical engineering practice and they are usually Neumann problems, typical half-space problems were also analyzed using the amended SGBEM with a truncated free surface mesh. However, various levels of errors showed for all the methods of removing non-uniqueness investigated. Among them, the modified boundary integral equations based on the Fredholm’s theory is relatively preferable for its accurate results inside and near the loaded area, especially where the deformation varies significantly.