Hi again,
I’d like to ask another question about damping coefficients. At the moment, all the models I build are 2D. I set dashpots at the base. When I calculate the coefficient, I use rho · Vs · element thickness. DistributedLK2D will automatically calculate the distributed length of the dashpot, and the product of these two is the final damping coefficient. The input applied to the soil is a force time-history curve, which also involves a numerical factor. In this case, should that factor be equal to the damping coefficient, or twice the damping coefficient?
I mention the “twice” issue because I previously built an elastic material model where the target result was that the surface acceleration is twice the base acceleration. I used EqualDOF on the two sides and DistributedLK2D at the base. I found that I had to multiply the applied load factor by 2 × ( rho · Vs · element thickness) to obtain the desired result.
So far I’ve posted three separate messages here, but I think I should reorganize my questions more clearly. Here are the issues I’d like to consult about:
1. I want to simplify the SSI webinar model into a 2D model for analysis, but I have not been able to reproduce the theoretical solution, i.e., surface acceleration = 2 × base acceleration.
2. Is the step “Force from reaction” related to the viscous boundary? If so, why does this step not exist in the 1D soil column example in the link I provided?
https://opensees.berkeley.edu/wiki/inde ... _Analysis)
3. Following the 1D soil column modeling approach: dashpots at the bottom, EqualDOF constraints on both sides. Different from the soil column, I did not set EqualDOF between the base nodes. However, during the analysis I observed an overall downward displacement of the model.
4. The damping coefficient is computed as ρ · Vs · element thickness. This value is assigned to DistributedLK2D, which automatically computes the effective distributed length and yields the final damping coefficient. Then for the load factor applied to the force time history: should it be multiplied by 2 (i.e., use 2 · rho · Vs · element thickness) or not? In the link I provided, the load factor is not multiplied by 2. However, in my elastic-material model I had to scale it by 2, so I’m a bit confused now. I will attach my elastic-material model here as well.
https://opensees.berkeley.edu/wiki/inde ... _Analysis)
These are the confusions I’ve encountered recently. They seem to be connected, so I put them together here and hope to get your help. For the models related to Questions 1 , 3 and 4, I have re-attached them under this post.
I apologize for raising multiple questions at once. Because I have not been able to resolve the initial problem yet, and additional related issues have emerged during my attempts, I am currently in a difficult situation and would really appreciate your guidance.
Thank you again for your time and support. I look forward to your reply.