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To start with, an analytical layer-element (i.e., a symmetric stiffness matrix), which describes the relationship between the generalized displacements and the stress levels of a layer subjected to non-axisymmetric loading, is exactly derived in the transformed domain by the application of a Laplace-Hankel transform with respect to variables t and r, a Fourier expansion with respect to variable θ, and a Laplace transform and its inversion with respect to variable z, based on the governing equations of Biot's consolidation of multi-layered saturated poroelastic materials with anisotropic permeability. The analytical layer-element experiences considerable improvement in computation efficiency and stability, since it only contains negative exponential functions in its elements. In addition, a global stiffness matrix for multi-layered saturated poroelastic media is obtained by assembling the interrelated layer-elements based on the continuity conditions between adjacent layers. By introducing the boundary conditions and solving the global stiffness matrix, the solutions in the Laplace-Hankel transformed domain are obtained, and the final solutions can be recovered by a numerical inversion of the Laplace-Hankel transform. Finally, numerical examples are presented to verify the theory and to study the effect of the property of anisotropic permeability on vertical displacements and excess pore pressure. The calculation results show that the property of anisotropic permeability has a great influence on the process of consolidation.

SUMMARY This paper presents the analytical layer element solutions for deformations of transversely isotropic elastic media subjected to nonaxisymmetric loading at an arbitrary depth. The state vectors for the nonaxisymmetric problem are deduced through the substitution of the Hu Hai‐chang solutions into the basic equations for the transversely isotropic elastic media. From the state vectors, the analytical layer element of a single layer is obtained in the Hankel transformed domain. The analytical layer element is an exact and symmetric stiffness matrix whose elements are without positive exponential functions, which can not only simplify the calculation but also improve the stability of computation. On the basis of the continuity conditions between adjacent layers, the global stiffness matrix is obtained by assembling the interrelated layer elements. The solutions for the multilayered elastic media in the transformed domain are obtained by solving the algebraic equation of the global stiffness matrix, which satisfies the boundary conditions. The actual solutions in the physical domain are further obtained by inverting the Hankel transform. Finally, some cases are analyzed to verify the solutions and evaluate the influences of the transversely isotropic character and stratified character of the media on the load–displacement responses. The numerical results show that the variations of the elastic properties between layers have a great effect on the displacements of the multilayered media. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.