Non-linear seismic response analysis of soil-structure interaction systems

This paper presents an effective analysis procedure for the dynamic soil-structure interaction problem considering not only the sliding and separation phenomena but also the non-linear behaviour of soil by the finite element method. Soil is assumed to be an elasto-plastic material and the contact surface between the soil and structure is modelled by the joint element. The load transfer method is adopted to carry out dynamic non-linear response analysis. The method is applied to the response analysis of a nuclear reactor building resting on the ground surface. The effects of non-linear behaviour of soil on the safety against sliding of the structure are examined. The numerical computations reveal the following results: that the non-linear behaviour of soil reduces the response of the system and the magnitude of sliding of the structure, and that the safety against sliding obtained by the proposed method is higher than the safety obtained by classical methods. This implies the possibility of a more rational and economical design of large structures; it can be said that the proposed method provides useful information for the stability analysis of important and large structures.