Stresses Due to Wave‐Induced Bottom Pressures

Some characteristics of wave-seabed interaction are described, and stresses and displacements from an elastic, static analysis for a sinusoidal stress wave acting on a homogeneous half space are compared with results from a dynamic, nonlinear, layered continuum analysis. The elastic approach provides a good estimate of the soil shear stresses induced by bottom pressures if the strength profile can be represented by a near straight line with a constant value or positive slope. This simple approach does not usually provide a good estimate of either the magnitude or pattern of the shear stresses if the strength profile has a crustal zone. This elastic method often provides a good preliminary estimate of the lateral soil motion.