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The purpose of the article is to extend the node-based smoothed point interpolation method (NS-PIM) for soil consolidation analysis based on the Biot’s theory.

The shape functions for displacements and pore pressures are constructed using the PIM separately, leading to the Kronecker delta property and easy implementation of essential boundary conditions. Then, a benchmark problem of 2D consolidation under ramp load is solved to investigate the validity of this application. Meanwhile, convergence features of different solutions are studied. Furthermore, the incompressible and impermeable condition under instant load is investigated. The results calculated by the NS-PIM solution with different orders of shape functions are compared. Finally a 2D consolidation problem in construction period is solved. An error estimation method is applied to check the mesh quality.

The results of the NS-PIM solution show good agreement with those certified results. Useful convergence features are found when comparing the results of the NS-PIM and the FEM solutions. A simple method is introduced to estimate the errors of the model with rough grids. The convergence features and error estimation method can be applied to check the mesh quality and get accurate results. More stable results can be obtained using the NS-PIM solution with lower order of pore pressure shape functions under the incompressible and impermeable condition.

It cannot be denied that the calculation of NS-PIM solution takes more time than that of the FEM solution, and more work needs to be carried out to optimize the NS-PIM solution. Also, in further study, the feasibility of more complicated and practical engineering problems can still be probed in the NS-PIM solution.

This paper introduced a method for the consolidation analysis on the situation of construction loads (“ramp load”) using the NS-PIM which is quite indispensable in many foundation problems. Also, more stable results can be obtained using the NS-PIM solution with lower order of pore pressure shape functions than that with same order of shape functions.

This study first focuses on the situation of construction loads (“ramp load”) in the NS-PIM consolidation analysis which is quite indispensable in many foundation problems. An error estimation method is introduced to evaluate the mesh quality and get accurate values based on the convergence features of the FEM and NS-PIM solutions. Then, the incompressible and impermeable condition under instant load is investigated, and the analysis show that the NS-PIM with lower order of pore pressure shape functions can get stable results in such conditions.

Multi-level intake structures are used to take the surface water of reservoirs. The changed boundary conditions will certainly make the water hammer phenomenon more complicated. This paper aims to find out the influence and law of the water hammer pressure after setting the stop log gates.

The authors use the computational fluid dynamics method with the adaptive grid technology to stimulate the water hammer phenomenon of the multi-level intake hydropower station. In the analysis, we set several different heights of stop log gates and two representative times in the starting up and shutdown processes to reflect the impact of multi-level intake structures.

The authors find that the setting of the stop log gates will reduce the pressure during the normal operation and will increase the period and amplitude of the water hammer wave, but will not necessarily increase the maximum water hammer pressure during the shutdown process. The relationship between the height of the stop log gates and the amplitude of the water hammer wave is affected by the shutdown time. After setting stop log gates, the depression depth and wave height of the water level in front of the dam increase when the load changes.

The authors study in this paper the water pressure of the multi-level intake hydropower station that has never been studied before and obtain some laws.