Flexural response of beams on viscoelastic foundations with predictions beyond the loading area.

The present study presents a generalized analysis and solution procedure for finding the flexural response of beams on viscoelastic foundations. The foundation soil is modelled as a tension membrane interconnecting a series of Burger model representing the time-dependent behaviour of saturated clayey soils and maintaining continuity of stresses and displacement beyond the loaded area as well. The governing differential equations are developed and solved using finite difference scheme. Studies were made to find the optimal mesh size for getting convergent solution matching excellently with those reported in the literature. The relative importance of the different parameters controlling the flexural response of the foundation was assessed and reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]