Analysis that couples the seepage phenomenon and ground stress analysis can be classified in various ways, depending on the coupling.
The simplest way is to obtain the pore water pressure distribution by conducting seepage analysis beforehand, and reflecting it in the total stress/effective stress relationship equation of the stress analysis conducted in the following step. Such analysis is called sequential analysis. This method can be used to understand the static stress state of the given steady groundwater flow. However, since deformation due to stress analysis does not influence the seepage phenomenon inversely, there is no two-way coupling.
Fully-coupled Stress-Seepage analysis is the two-way coupled analysis between seepage analysis and stress analysis. Both analyses are used to solve the coupled equation. It can display the pore water pressure, stress or deformation changes with time.
The consolidation analysis begins with the assumption that steady state pore water pressure can be maintained, and is used to see the changes in excess pore water pressure. In other words, this analysis is used to simulate the phenomenon of how excess pore water pressure changes with the changes in load/boundary conditions.
Fully-coupled Stress-Seepage analysis does not follow assumption that steady state pore water pressure is maintained. Hence, it is suitable for simulating the transient seepage phenomenon, stress analysis and stability in abnormal condition in a fully coupled form. Unlike the consolidation analysis, it is possible to define the changes in seepage boundary conditions with time, boundary flow rate etc. In other words, for Fully-coupled tress-Seepage analysis, it is possible to use all the transient seepage boundary conditions, structural load and boundary conditions.
This analysis can be applied to the ground stability analysis for rainfall or the of large-scale dam stability analysis for water level change. The seepage boundary conditions (Head/Flux) can all be used to analyze not only the changes in excess pore water pressure, but also the consolidation analysis that considers the total change in pore water pressure.