The paper describes an analytical method for predicting the stresses, displacements, and pore pressures beneath a gravity structure. The analysis is an application of the mechano-lattice technique, which considers linearized loading-unloading stress-strain relationships. It is noted, however, that those equivalent finite-element analyses using the elastic-plastic model or some other appropriate model, such as the model used in the mechano-lattice technique, would be equally applicable.

The basic parameters of the analysis are the loading modulus E_L and Poisson's ratio v_L, and the unloading modulus E_uL and Poisson's ratio v_uL. The residual stresses after the passage of a single wave depend on the ratio of E_uL to E_L, termed the stiffness modulus K_R.

In the necessarily simplified procedure the dissipation of pore pressure over the period of the storm was neglected. A superposition procedure was adopted to predict the effects of N waves. An average value of residual strain per cycle obtained from repeated loading triaxial data was used to determine an appropriate value of E_uL. The value of E_L was considered to be constant.

A comparison was made of the predicted values with corresponding experimental values of displacement and residual pore pressure that were obtained in a model test. Pore pressures developed under cyclic loading were 30% overestimated by the analysis, but the incremental displacements were closely predicted.