Elastic Analysis of an Annular Slab-Soil Interaction Problem Using a Hybrid Method

An elastic interaction analysis of annular slab with soil has been made in which the soil has been modelled as either (i) homogeneous and isotropic half-space or (ii) multilayered half-space. The interaction problem has been solved by using a combined approach (hybrid method) in which the finite element method (FEM) has been used to obtain the stiffness matrix for the annular slab while for the elastic half-space soil models, the stiffness matrix has been obtained using an analytical solution. In the analysis, the interface between the annular slab and the elastic half-space has been assumed to be frictionless. Later the combined stiffness matrix of the annular slab-elastic half-space has been obtained using the displacement continuity condition at the interface. Results of the contact pressure distribution, displacement (settlement) profile and bending moment variation in an annular slab have been presented for different half-space soil models. It is shown that the hybrid method presented here is easy to apply and computationally efficient.