Elastic solutions for a transversely isotropic half-space subjected to buried asymmetric-loads

Elastic closed-form solutions for the displacements and stresses in a trans versely isotropic half-space subjected to various buried loading types are presented. The loading types include finite line loads and asymmetric loads (such as uniform and linearly varying rectangular loads, or trapezoidal lo ads). The planes of transverse isotropy are assumed to be parallel to its h orizontal surface. These solutions are directly obtained from integrating t he point load solutions in a transversely isotropic half-space, which were derived using the principle of superposition, Fourier and Hankel transforma tion techniques. The solutions for the displacements and stresses in transv ersely isotropic half-spaces subjected to linearly variable loads on a rect angular region are never mentioned in literature. These exact solutions ind icate that the displacements and stresses are influenced by several factors , such as the buried depth, the loading types, and the degree and type of r ock anisotropy. Two illustrative examples, a vertical uniform and a vertica l linearly varying rectangular load acting on the surface of transversely i sotropic rock masses, are presented to show the effect of various parameter s on the Vertical surface displacement and vertical stress. The results ind icate that the displacement and stress distributions accounted for rock ani sotropy are quite different for those calculated from isotropic solutions. Copyright (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.