Abstract: The finite element method(FEM) is a powerful numerical analysis technique, which is applied widely in the simulation of geotechnical engineering structures. As the limitation of element shape in traditional FEM and the geometrical complexity of structures, such as layered construction and complicated material partition etc, a versatile and high-quality meshing discrete algorithm is comparatively difficult to implement, resulting in the majority time is consumed in element generation, which hinder the rapid process of automated analysis. In this paper, a swift analysis method combining the quadtree discretization and nonlinear polygon scaled boundary finite element method(PSBFEM) is developed to conduct the elastoplastic simulation of geotechnical structures. The static and seismic response of a typical core wall dam is modelled, and the validity of presented method is verified by comparing with the FEM. Simple operation, flexibility of the meshing, rapid generation and high-quality can be revealed in the proposed method, where the cumbersome human intervention can be decreased significantly, so as to provide a powerful technique for the rapid automatic analysis of complicated structures. There will be more meaningful research value and engineering significance to explore three-dimensional application of the method.

Key words: quadtree mesh, rapid analysis, polygon scaled boundary finite element method(PSBFEM), nonlinearity, core wall rockfill dam