4.2.11.3. BbarQuad u-p Element

bbarQuadUP is a four-node plane-strain mixed volume/pressure element, which uses a tri-linear isoparametric formulation. This element is implemented for simulating dynamic response of solid-fluid fully coupled material, based on Biot’s theory of porous medium. Each element node has 3 degrees-of-freedom (DOF): DOF 1 and 2 for solid displacement (u) and DOF 3 for fluid pressure (p).

element('bbarQuadUP', eleTag, *eleNodes, thick, matTag, bulk, fmass, hPerm, vPerm, <b1=0, b2=0, t=0>)

eleTag (int)

unique element object tag

eleNodes (list (int))

a list of four element nodes in counter-clockwise order

thick (float)

Element thickness

matTag (int)

Tag of an NDMaterial object (previously defined) of which the element is composed

bulk (float)

Combined undrained bulk modulus Bc relating changes in pore pressure and volumetric strain, may be approximated by: \(B_c \approx B_f/n\)

where \(B_f\) is the bulk modulus of fluid phase (\(2.2\times 10^6\) kPa (or \(3.191\times 10^5\) psi) for water), and n the initial porosity.

fmass (float)

Fluid mass density

hPerm, vPerm (float)

Permeability coefficient in horizontal and vertical directions respectively.

b1, b2 (float)

Optional gravity acceleration components in horizontal and vertical directions respectively (defaults are 0.0)

t (float)

Optional uniform element normal traction, positive in tension (default is 0.0)

See also

Notes