Dynamic response and liquefaction potential of porous seabed induced by partial standing ocean waves

The analysis of ocean wave-induced dynamic response of a porous seabed is particularly important for coastal and geotechnical engineers when designing and constructing maritime structures. In this study, an analytical solution is presented to analyze the dynamic response and liquefaction potential of a poro-elastic seabed induced by partial standing waves with arbitrary reflectivity. The porous seabed is modeled using Biot’s theory describing the propagation of elastic waves, and coupled deformation and water flow of porous media, whereas the ocean waves are described using linear ocean wave theory. Based on the mixed boundary-value conditions, explicit expressions of displacements, effective stresses and excess pore water pressure of seabed are derived with consideration of the effects of inertial forces, compressibility of solid and fluid, and arbitrary reflectivity of standing waves. The results of degenerated analytical solutions are compared with the existing ones to verify the correctness of the proposed method. The effects of several pertinent parameters of ocean wave-seabed system, including reflection coefficient, phase lag and period of standing waves, depth of water, permeability, degree of saturation, and shear modulus of seabed deposits, etc., on the dynamic response of seabed and liquefaction potential, are examined and discussed. It is found that the reflection of standing wave has a significant effect on the dynamic response and liquefaction potential of porous elastic seabed. Compared with that of no wave reflection, the liquefaction depth of seabed induced by fully-reflected standing waves increases 82.49% under certain conditions of wave-seabed system. In addition, phase lag, wave period, water depth and mechanical and physical properties of seabed soil such as saturation, permeability and shear modulus have different effects on the dynamic response and liquefaction potential of porous elastic seabed. The investigation of the dynamic response and liquefaction of the porous elastic seabed under partial standing ocean waves will help to better predict the influence of standing waves on breakwaters and seabed soil, and can provide some guidance for the design of offshore structures.