ABSTRACT
Of course, there will be mixed types where an initial localized mechanism evolves into a diffuse mode as masses of soil liquefy.
2 MATHEMATICAL MODEL
The first mathematical model describing the coupling between solid and fluid phases was proposed by Biot (1941 & 1955) for linear elastic materials. This work was followed by further development at Swansea University, where Zienkiewicz and coworkers (1984, 1990a, 1990b & 2000) extended the theory to nonlinear materials and large deformation problems. It is
also worth mentioning the work of Lewis and Schrefler (1998), Coussy (1995) and de Boer (2000). It can be concluded that the geotechnical community has incorporated coupled formulations to describe the behavior of foundations and geostructures. Indeed, analyses of earth dams, slope failures and landslide triggering mechanisms have been carried out using such techniques during last decades.
