Structural failure of two-density-layer cohesionless biaxial ellipsoids

Abstract

This paper quantitatively evaluates structural failure of biaxial cohesionless ellipsoids that have a two-density-layer distribution. The internal density layer is modeled as a sphere, while the external density layer is the rest of the part. The density is supposed to be constant in each layer. The present study derives averaged stresses over the whole volume of these bodies and uses limit analysis to determine their global failure. The upper bound condition of global failure is considered in terms of the size of the internal layer and the aspect ratio of the shape. The result shows that the two-density-layer causes the body to have different strength against structural failure.