Effect Of Numerical Modeling Protocols On The Seismic Response Of A Liquefiable Slope

The effects of constitutive model calibration and system-level modeling procedures on the dynamic response of a submerged medium-dense sand slope are examined. The numerical simulations for this study are independently performed by two different teams using the same numerical tools and the same input data. The modeling choices made by the different teams during the various stages of the analysis are documented and compared. Comparisons of simulation results are performed at both the element and system level to illustrate the effects of different protocols and practices on the results. The magnitude of uncertainty in the simulation results due to these factors is compared to experimental results from centrifuge tests on a similar submerged slope. Discussions of the importance of thorough documentation, which allows for comparisons such as this one to be made, is included.