Publications

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2007
Vicente da Silva, M., and A. N. Antão. "A non-linear programming method approach for upper bound limit analysis." International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering. 72 (2007): 1192-1218. AbstractWebsite

This paper presents a finite element model based on mathematical non-linear programming in order to determine upper bounds of colapse loads of a mechanical structure.The proposed formulation is derived within a kinematical approach framework, employing two simultaneous and independent field approximations for the velocity and strain rate fields. The augmented Lagrangian is used to establish the compatibility between these two fields. In this model, only continuous velocity fields are used.Uzawa's minimization algorithm is applied to determine the optimal kinematical field that minimizes the difference between external and dissipated work rate. The use of this technique allows to bypass the complexity of the non-linear aspects of the problem, since non-linearity is addressed as a set of small local subproblems of optimization for each finite element.The obtained model is quite versatile and suitable for solving a wide range of collapse problems. This paper studies 3D strut-and-tie structures, 2D plane strain/stress and 3D solid problems.

2008
Vicente da Silva, M., and A. N. Antão. "Upper bound limit analysis with a parallel mixed finite element formulation." International Journal of Solids and Structures. 45 (2008): 5788-5804. AbstractWebsite

This paper addresses an implementation of the upper bound limit analysis theorem using a parallel mixed finite element formulation. The intrinsic characteristics of the adopted upper bound formulation proved to be suitable to adapt it to an efficient parallelization scheme. In order to illustrate the computational power provided by the new parallel processing method, accurate upper bound collapse load estimates, for 3D problems, are produced using a cluster of common PC machines.

2010
Antão, A. N., M. Vicente da Silva, and N. M. C. Guerra. "Determination of depth factors for the bearing capacity of shallow foundations in sand." Soils and Rocks. 33 (2010): 47-52. Abstract
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Vicente da Silva, M., and A. N. Antão. "A novel Augmented Lagrangian Approach for Limit Analysis Computations." IOP Conf. Ser.: Mater. Sci. Eng. 10. 10 (2010). AbstractWebsite

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2011
Antão, Armando N., T. Santana, M. Vicente da Silva, and N. M. C. Guerra. "Passive earth-pressure coefficients by upper-bound numerical limit analysis." Canadian Geotechnical Journal. 48 (2011): 767-780. Abstract

A three-dimensional (3D) numerical implementation of the limit analysis upper-bound theorem is used to determine passive horizontal earth-pressure coefficients. An extension technique allowing determination of the 3D passive earth pressures for any width-to-height ratios greater than 7 is presented. The horizontal passive earth-pressure coefficients are presented and compared with solutions published previously. Results of the ratio between the 3D and two-dimensional horizontal passive earth-pressure coefficients are shown and found to be almost independent of the soil-to-wall friction ratio. A simple equation is proposed for calculating this passive earth-pressure ratio.

2012
Antão, A. N., Nuno M. Vicente da Silva, da Costa Guerra, and R. Delgado. "An upper bound-based solution for the shape factors of bearing capacity of footings under drained conditions using a parallelized mixed f.e. formulation with quadratic velocity fields." Computers and Geotechnics. 41 (2012): 23-35. Abstract

A strict upper-bound limit analysis finite element formulation is used to estimate shape factors s_gamma and s_q for determining the bearing capacity of shallow foundations using the classic bearing capacity formula. The finite element formulation uses a quadratic approximation for the velocity field, an extension of a previously published Augmented Lagrangian formulation with a linear velocity field, and was implemented for a parallel processing environment. Results from determining the limit loads under three-dimensional conditions are presented and compared with previously published data. The results obtained allow a strict upper-bound determination of the shape factors. Furthermore, a practical proposal for these factors is made and compared with other proposals made by other authors.

Vicente da Silva, M., and A. N. Antão. "A novel augmented Lagrangian based formulation for upper bound limit analysis." International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering. vol. 89.nº 12 (2012): pp. 1471-1496. Abstract

This paper describes a novel upper-bound formulation of limit analysis. This formulation is an innovative variant of an existing two-field mixed formulation based on the augmented Lagrangian method also developed by the authors. A natural approach is used to describe the deformation of each finite element. Furthermore, and in contrast to the previous formulation, two independent field approximations are now both used to define the velocity field, defined globally and at element level. It is shown that this feature allows a governing system of uncoupled linear equations to be obtained. Some numerical examples in plane strain conditions are presented in order to illustrate the current model performance. In conclusion, the potential and advantages of this new approach are discussed.

2019
Viana, L. A., Nunes A. Antão, Vicente M. da Silva, and N. M. C. Guerra The application of limit analysis to the study of the basal failure of deep excavations in clay considering the spatial distribution of soil strength. Proceedings of the 17 European Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering. Reykjavik, Islândia, 2019.
2020
Vicente da Silva, M., N. Deusdado, and A. N. Antão. "Lower and upper bound limit analysis via the alternating direction method of multipliers." Computers and Geotechnics. 124 (2020): 103571. AbstractWebsite

Computational limit analysis methods invariably lead to the need to solve a mathematical programming problem. The alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM) is one versatile and robust technique to solve non-linear convex optimization problems that has recently found applications in a wide range of fields. Its solution scheme, based on an operator splitting algorithm, is not only easy to implement but also suitable to efficiently solve large-scale variational problems. Starting from the ADMM framework, we derive a strict upper bound finite element formulation using a two-(primal)-field approximation, one for the velocity field and the other for the plastic strain rate field. Next, following a similar approach, we develop a novel strict lower bound formulation. Here, the two-(primal)-field model is based on a redundant approximation of the stress field. Duality principles are then explored in order to unify these two formulations.The effectiveness of this approach is demonstrated on test problems and, to conclude, some considerations are made about the performance results.

2021
Antão, A. N., M. Vicente da Silva, N. Monteiro, and N. Deusdado. "Upper and lower bounds for three-dimensional undrained stability of shallow tunnels." Transportation Geotechnics. 27 (2021): 100491. AbstractWebsite

This paper deals with the determination of upper and lower bounds for the three-dimensional undrained stability of shallow tunnels. The tunnel is circular and a distance between its face and its lining is considered. The soil shear strength is modeled using the Tresca criterion. Results of the upper and lower bounds of the stability number are presented, for several geometrical and resistance configurations and their comparison with previous results is made, showing the clear improvement obtained. Finally, equations approaching the stability number are proposed.

2022
Antão, A. N., and M. Vicente da Silva. "Three-dimensional Limit Analysis with Lade-Duncan criterion." Géotechnique Letters. 12 (2022): 1-21. AbstractWebsite

The paper describes the three-dimensional numerical implementation of the Lade-Duncan criterion in a finite element limit analysis (FELA) code. Validation is done using examples with a known solution. To conclude the proposed numerical tool is applied to the calculation of the ultimate bearing capacity of square footing.

2023
Vicente da Silva, M., and A. N. Antão. "A new Hoek-Brown-Matsuoka-Nakai failure criterion for rocks." International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences. 172 (2023): 105602. AbstractWebsite

In the current paper, we propose a new three-dimensional strength criterion for rocks expressed in terms of the first principal stress invariant, I1, and the second and third invariants of the deviatoric stress tensor, J2 and J3. The design of this constitutive model conjugates the characteristics of two of the most well-known and widely used criteria in geotechnical engineering: Hoek-Brown and Matsuoka-Nakai. Its material parameters can be calibrated based on conventional axisymmetric compression and extension tests. Experimental polyaxial test data from a dozen different rock types were used to validate the current criterion.

Vicente da Silva, M., and A. N. Antão. "Three-dimensional Limit Analysis using the Extended-Matsuoka–Nakai yield criterion." Computers and Geotechnics. 161 (2023): 105526. AbstractWebsite

This paper investigates the implementation of the Extended-Matsuoka–Nakai yield criterion on a strict Limit Analysis finite element formulation. The current approach is based on a three-field mixed finite element model and the Alternating Direction Method of Multipliers optimization algorithm. With the support of duality principles two variants are derived, the lower bound and the upper bound element. The main novelty of this work is the development of an efficient iterative predictor–corrector scheme, customized for the Extended-Matsuoka–Nakai. This scheme is an indispensable requirement for this formulation. To conclude four numerical examples are presented to assess the effectiveness and efficiency of the numerical tool.

Santana, T., A. Antão, N. Guerra, and M. Vicente da Silva. "Upper bounds for the three-dimensional seismic active earth pressure coefficients." Géotechnique Letters. 13 (2023): 65-74. AbstractWebsite

A numerical implementation of the upper-bound theorem of limit analysis is applied to determine two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) active horizontal earth pressure coefficients considering seismic actions through a horizontal seismic coefficient. Results are obtained for vertical wall, horizontal soil, different friction angles of the soil, soil-to-wall friction ratios, horizontal seismic coefficients and wall width-to-height ratios. The few cases for which 3D active earth pressure coefficients are available in the literature using upper-bound methods were used for comparison with the corresponding earth pressure coefficients obtained in this study. This showed a general improvement of these results, which allows expecting a good accuracy for the set of cases studied. The ratios between the 3D and 2D horizontal active earth pressure coefficients are found to be practically independent of the soil-to-wall friction ratio. An equation is proposed for calculating these ratios. This equation can be easily used in the design of geotechnical structures requiring the determination of 3D active earth pressure coefficients.