Overview of Backwards Analysis in Geotechnical Engineering

Abstract

The authors initial thought on the backwards problem in geotechnical earthquake engineering is presented through an example of damage to caisson quaywall during earthquakes. Both a simplified and detailed dynamic analyses are presented. It is essential to confirm, at the outset, that the backwards problem.is well defined. There should be sufficient geotechnical data and earthquake data to match the analysis procedure used for solving the backwards problem. Ill-defined backwards problem, either due to lack of required geotechnical or earthquake motion data, should be corrected before the trial solution of the backwards problem.