Calculating section settlement of highway embankment with ERPIM

Abstract

Meshless method, which needs no elements message but only nodal message, is more suitable to analyze geotechnical engineering problem. After the basic theory of radial point interpolation method with equal polynomial basis (ERPIM) is introduced and the main solution equations for Biot's consolidation by using meshless method are developed, the settlement of highway on soft ground is calculated with this new meshless method. The results of ERPIM are more accurate. Moreover, ERPIM is more convenient in handling the moving boundary problem such as embankment constructed by steps. Finally, the problem for further study is pointed out.