Plates on saturated porous elastic foundations

Abstract The problem of plates on consolidating soil is considered. Biot's three‐dimensional consolidation theory, the generalization of Terzaghi's model, is employed to account for the consolidation process. A mathematical model is developed and the differential equations governing the system together with the proper boundary conditions are derived. A variational formulation of the problem and a convenient approximate method of solution are also presented. For numerical analysis, the problem of a rectangular plate on consolidating soil under various loading conditions is numerically solved and the effects of various physical factors on the settlements and the pore pressures are studied.