Abstract: | A plasticity based constitutive model for anisotropic behaviour of soils is implemented in a finite element procedure based on the generalized Biot theory for the dynamic non-linear response of porous materials. The model represents a version in the hierarchical approach of constitutive modelling and allows for inelastic response during loading, unloading and reloading. The procedure has been verified previously with respect to closed-form solutions for wave propagation in porous media. In this paper, it is used to predict the behaviour of a realistic structure-saturated porous soil system subjected to earthquake loading. Both linear and non-linear analyses have been performed. It has been found that the predicted responses from the two analyses are significantly different; for example, in comparison with the linear analysis the non-linear response shows increased magnitudes and zones of concentration of pore water pressures, increased magnitudes of horizontal displacements, decreased magnitudes of vertical displacements and increased magnitudes of shear stresses. |