Three-Dimensional Meshfree Analysis of Interlocking Concrete Blocks for Step Seawall Structure

This study adapts the flexible characteristic of meshfree method in analyzing three-dimensional (3D) complex geometry structures, which are the interlocking concrete blocks of step seawall. The elastostatic behavior of the block isanalysed by solving the Galerkin weak form formulation over local supportdomain. The 3D moving least square (MLS) approximation is applied to buildthe interpolation functions of unknowns. The pre-defined number of nodes inan integration domain ranging from 10 to 60 nodes is also investigated for theireffect on the studied results. The accuracy and efficiency of the studied method on3D elastostatic responses are validated through the comparison with the solutionsof standard finite element method (FEM) using linear shape functions on tetrahedral elements and the well-known commercial software, ANSYS. The resultsshow that elastostatic responses of studied concrete block obtained by meshfreemethod converge faster and are more accurate than those of standard FEM.The studied meshfree method is effective in the analysis of static responses ofcomplex geometry structures. The amount of discretised nodes within the integration domain used in building MLS shape functions should be in the range from30 to 60 nodes and should not be less than 20 nodes.