A theoretical model of the soil-water-structure interaction involved in a breakwater
structure subjected to sea wave actions is presented. The model includes i) soil skeleton-pore fluid
interaction governed by the u − pw Generalized Biot formulation [1] including dynamic effects, ii)
non-linear soil elastoplastic behaviour described by a novel Generalized Plasticity model [2] coupled
with a conservative hyperelastic formulation for the dependence of the elastic stiffness on the stress
[3], iii) coupling between the caisson and foundation through a non-linear contact with geometrical
compatible formulation incorporating frictional behaviour.
The numerical solution of the settled governing equations has been fully developed through the Finite
Element Method. Furthermore, a program called ADÍNDICA has been created in M Matlab language.
ADÍNDICA is a Spanish acronym for “Caisson Breakwater Dynamic Analysis”. Related numerical
analyses are developed with reference to precise boundary value problems of specific physical nature.
ADÍNDICA code has been able to reproduce adequately the principal characteristics of the caisson
oscillations and instantaneous pore pressure generation relation deduced experimentally. Moreover,
ADÍNDICA has been able to reproduce satisfactorily the accumulative settlement behaviour of a
vertical breakwater structure subjected to series of sea wave impacts including the correlation
between accumulated settlements and residual pore pressure
