A simple boundary element formulation and its application to wavefield excited soil-structure interaction

A simple boundary element formulation which is based directly on the point load solutions for an elastic full-space is presented. It is integrated in a finite element program to calculate dynamic soil-structure interaction problems. The combined boundary and finite element method is applied to structures which are excited by horizontally propagating waves in the soil. For three different types of flexible structure-elastic beams, low and high (square) shear walls-and the corresponding rigid structures the vibration modes and the soil-structure transfer functions have been investigated. The flexible foundations display the same wave pattern as the exciting free-field of the soil, but the amplitudes are reduced with increasing frequency, depending on the stiffness or wave resistance of the structure. Rigid structures show, in part, quite different behaviour, giving free-field reductions caused by kinematic and inertial soil-structure interaction.     

Three-dimensional hybrid modelling of soil-structure interaction

A three-dimensional hybrid model for the analysis of soil-structure interaction under dynamic conditions is developed which takes advantage of the desirable features of the finite element and substructure methods and which minimizes their undesirable features. The modelling is achieved by partitioning the total soil-structure system into a near-field and a far-field with a hemispherical interface. The near-field, which consists of the structure to be analysed and a finite region of soil around it, is modelled by finite elements. The semi-infinite far-field is modelled by distributed impedance functions at the interface which are determined by system identification methods. Numerical results indicate that the proposed model makes possible realistic and economical assessment of three-dimensional soil-structure interaction for both surface and embedded structures.     

考虑土-结构相互作用双层柱面网壳在多点输入下的地震反应分析

目前对于网壳结构的地震反应研究大部分仍然采用一致输入,特别是没有考虑土-结构相互作用对网壳结构的影响。本文通过对大型有限元分析软件MSC.Nastran的二次开发,用等效线性化方法考虑土体的非线性,对土体采用三维实体单元建模,并对土体在基岩面上采用地震动的多点输入,计算分析了大跨度双层柱面网壳的动力反应,并且与一致地震动输入下网壳结构的地震反应进行了对比,考察了两者之间的差异,深入分析了考虑土-结构相互作用下,双层柱面网壳结构在多点输入和一致输入下的地震反应规律,并得出了一些重要结论。     

Centrifugal modelling of dynamic soil-structure interaction

This paper presents a centrifuge model that is capable of realistically representing soil-structure systems subjected to earthquake-like excitation. The model is validated by performing (i) free field soil tests, (ii) dynamic soil-structure interaction tests and (iii) a numerical analysis of the experimental results. The free field experiments show that the simulated earthquake, which is generated by the hammer-exciter plate method, is similar in amplitude and frequency content to a real earthquake. The experiments also demonstrate that a confined soil sample can satisfactorily model a horizontal soil stratum of infinite lateral extent when the containment walls are lined with an absorptive material to attenuate wave reflections that would otherwise occur. Measurements of the acceleration at different locations on the free soil surface indicate that the surface motion is fairly uniform over a relatively large area. This is further confirmed by a comparison made between the measured free and scattered field motions for a surface foundation. Next, a series of soil-structure interaction tests are performed which examine the dependence of radiation damping on the natural frequencies of the structure relative to the fundamental frequency of the soil stratum. The experimental results are shown to be consistent with established theories. Finally, the experimental results are used to compute the stiffness and damping parameters of a two degree of freedom numerical model of the soil-structure system. The experimental parameters are shown to be in good agreement with calssical text book formulae. This study demonstrates that the centrifuge model consistently behaves as expected for simple, but realistic, dynamic soil and soil-structure systems, and can, therefore, be used with confidence to examine more complicated systems that are not yet fully understood.     

Time-domain identification of dynamic properties of layered soil by using extended Kalman filter and recorded seismic data

A novel time-domain identification technique is developed for the seismic response analysis of soil-structure interaction. A two-degree-of-freedom (2DOF) model with eight lumped parameters is adopted to model the frequency-dependent behavior of soils. For layered soil, the equivalent eight parameters of the 2DOF model arc identified by the extended Kalman filter (EKF) method using recorded seismic data. The polynomial approximations for derivation of state estimators are applied in the EKF procedure. A realistic identification example is given for the layered-soil of a building site in Anchorage, Alaska in the United States. Results of the example demonstrate the feasibility and practicality of the proposed identification technique. The 2DOF soil model and the identification technique can be used for nonlinear response analysis of soil-structure interaction in the time-domain for layered of complex soil conditions. The identified parameters can be stored in a database for use in other similar soil conditions. If a universal database that covers information related to most soil conditions is developed in the future, engineers could conveniently perform time history analyses of soil-structural interaction.     

考虑土-结构相互作用和岩土参数不确定性的核电厂结构地震响应分析

针对核电厂结构,在考虑土-结构相互作用(SSI)的情况下进行随机地震反应分析,探讨地基岩土参数的不确定性对反应堆厂房楼层反应谱(FRS)的影响。运用ANSYS软件模块建立核电厂(NPP)结构有限元模型,通过设置边界弹簧单元和阻尼装置来考虑SSI效应;并且通过设置具有概率意义的弹簧刚度和阻尼系数,来模拟土特性参数的不确定性。随机响应分析与确定性分析的结果对比,揭示了岩性地基条件下SSI效应对核电厂FRS的影响以及地基岩土参数不确定性对FRS的影响程度。研究表明,在岩性地基条件下,亦不应忽略SSI效应;考虑SSI效应的随机分析模型同确定性模型相比,二者的分析结果较为接近,两方法都可用于NPP的FRS敏感性分析评估之中,并可进行相互比照。     

Discrete modelling of vertical track–soil coupling for vehicle–track dynamics

This paper presents a coupled lumped mass model (CLM model) for the vertical dynamic coupling of railway track through the soil. The well-known Winkler model and its extensions are analysed and fitted on the result obtained numerically with a finite–infinite element model in order to validate the approach in a preliminary step. A mass–spring–damper system with frequency independent parameters is then proposed for the interaction between the foundations, representing the contact area of the track with the soil. The frequency range of track–soil coupling is typically under 100 Hz. Analytical expressions are derived for calibrating the system model with homogeneous and layered half-spaces. Numerical examples are derived, with emphasis on soil stiffness and layering. The dynamic analysis of a track on various foundation models is compared with a complete track–soil model, showing that the proposed CLM model captures the dynamic interaction of the track with the soil and is reliable to predict the vertical track deflection and the reaction forces acting on the soil surface.     

Seismic response of underground utility tunnels: shaking table testing and FEM analysis

Underground utility tunnels are widely used in urban areas throughout the world for lifeline networks due to their easy maintenance and environmental protection capabilities. However, knowledge about their seismic performance is still quite limited and seismic design procedures are not included in current design codes. This paper describes a series of shaking table tests the authors performed on a scaled utility tunnel model to explore its performance under earthquake excitation. Details of the experimental setup are first presented focusing on aspects such as the design of the soil container, scaled structural model, sensor array arrangement and test procedure. The main observations from the test program, including structural response, soil response, soil-structure interaction and earth pressure, are summarized and discussed. Further, a finite element model (FEM) of the test utility tunnel is established where the nonlinear soil properties are modeled by the Drucker-Prager constitutive model; the master-slave surface mechanism is employed to simulate the soil-structure dynamic interaction; and the confining effect of the laminar shear box to soil is considered by proper boundary modeling. The results from the numerical model are compared with experiment measurements in terms of displacement, acceleration and amplification factor of the structural model and the soil. The comparison shows that the numerical results match the experimental measurements quite well. The validated numerical model can be adopted for further analysis.     

Discrete modelling of vertical track–soil coupling for vehicle–track dynamics

This paper presents a coupled lumped mass model (CLM model) for the vertical dynamic coupling of railway track through the soil. The well-known Winkler model and its extensions are analysed and fitted on the result obtained numerically with a finite–infinite element model in order to validate the approach in a preliminary step. A mass–spring–damper system with frequency independent parameters is then proposed for the interaction between the foundations, representing the contact area of the track with the soil. The frequency range of track–soil coupling is typically under 100 Hz. Analytical expressions are derived for calibrating the system model with homogeneous and layered half-spaces. Numerical examples are derived, with emphasis on soil stiffness and layering. The dynamic analysis of a track on various foundation models is compared with a complete track–soil model, showing that the proposed CLM model captures the dynamic interaction of the track with the soil and is reliable to predict the vertical track deflection and the reaction forces acting on the soil surface.     

Antiplane response of a dike with flexible soil-structure interface to incident SH waves

Studies of the effects of differential ground motions on structural response generally do not consider the effects of the soil-structure interaction. On the other end, studies of soil-structure interaction commonly assume that the foundation of the structure (surface or embedded) is rigid. The former ignore the scattering of waves from the foundation and radiation of energy from the structure back to the soil, while the latter ignore quasi-static forces in the foundations and lower part of the structure deforming due to the wave passage. This paper studies a simple model of a dike but considers both the soil-structure interaction and the flexibility of the foundation. The structure is represented by a wedge resting on a half-space and excited by incident plane SH-waves. The structural ‘foundation’ is a flexible surface that can deform during the passage of seismic waves. The wave function expansion method is used to solve for the motions in the half-pace and in the structure. The displacements and stresses in the structure are compared with those for a fixed-base model shaken by the free-field motion. The results show large displacements near the base of the structure due to the differential motion of the base caused by the wave passage.     

Direct differentiation method for response sensitivity analysis of a bounding surface plasticity soil model

Finite element (FE) response sensitivity analysis is an important component in gradient-based structural optimization, reliability analysis, system identification, and FE model updating. In this paper, the FE response sensitivity analysis methodology based on the direct differentiation method (DDM) is applied to a bounding surface plasticity material model that has been widely used to simulate nonlinear soil behavior under static and dynamic loading conditions. The DDM-based algorithm is derived and implemented in the general-purpose nonlinear finite element analysis program OpenSees. The algorithm is validated through simulation of the nonlinear cyclic response of a soil element and a liquefiable soil site at Port Island, Japan, under earthquake loading. The response sensitivity results are compared and validated with those obtained from Forward Finite Difference (FFD) analysis. Furthermore, the results are used to determine the relative importance of various soil constitutive parameters to the dynamic response of the system. The DDM-based algorithm is demonstrated to be accurate and efficient in computing the FE response sensitivities, and has great potential in the sensitivity analysis of nonlinear dynamic soil-structure systems.     

Dynamic responses of structure–soil–structure systems with an extension of the equivalent linear soil modeling

A three-dimensional problem of cross interaction of adjacent structures through the underlying soil under seismic ground motion is investigated. The story shears and lateral relative displacements (drifts) are the targets of the computations. These are calculated using a detailed modeling of soil, the foundations and the two adjacent structures. An equivalent linear behavior is assumed for the soil by introducing reduced mechanical properties consistent with the level of ground shaking for the free-field soil. Then a distinctive soil zone (the near-field soil) is recognized in the vicinity of the foundations where the peak shear strain under the combined effect of a severe earthquake and the presence of structures is much larger than the strain threshold up to which the soil can be modeled as an equivalent linear medium. It is shown that it is still possible to use an equivalent linear behavior for the near-field soil if its shear modulus is further reduced with a factor depending on the dynamic properties of the adjacent structures, the near-field soil, and the design earthquake. Variations of the dynamic responses of different adjacent structures with their clear distances are also discussed.     

Effect of foundation embedment on seismic behavior of elevated tanks considering fluid–structure-soil interaction

This paper investigates the effects of foundation embedment on the seismic behavior of fluid-elevated tank-foundation–soil system with a structural frame supporting the fluid containing tank. Six different soil types defined in the well-known seismic codes were considered. Both the sloshing effects of the fluid and soil-structure interaction of the elevated tanks located on these six different soils were included in the analyses. Fluid-elevated tank-foundation–soil systems were modeled with the finite element (FE) technique. The fluid-structure interaction was taken into account using Lagrangian fluid FE approximation implemented in the general purpose structural analysis computer program, ANSYS. FE model with viscous boundary was used to include elevated tank-foundation–soil interaction effects. The models were analyzed for the foundations with and without embedment. It was found that the tank roof displacements were affected significantly by the embedment in soft soil, however, this effect was smaller for stiff soil types. Except for soft soil types, embedment did not affect the other response parameters, such as sloshing displacement, of the systems considered in this study.     

Dynamic plate-soil interaction - finite and infinite, flexible and rigid plates on homogeneous, layered or Winkler soil

An integral method to calculate the solution of a homogeneous or layered soil due to a harmonic point load is described. An infinite plate at the surface of the soil can be introduced in this integration in wavenumber domain, too. Finite structures on the soil are calculated by a combined finite element and boundary element method, which makes use of the point load solution of the soil. The compliance functions for a vertical point load and some vibration modes are calculated for realistic parameters of the plate and the soil and for a wide range of frequencies. The influence of the stiffness of the soil and the foundation is investigated, showing that the soil mainly affects the low-frequent response whereas the structural properties are more important at higher frequencies. A rigid approximation of flexible plates is only found at low frequencies, if the elastic length is used as the radius of a rigid disk. At higher frequencies, a characteristic behaviour of the flexible plate of approximately is observed, what is in clear contrast to the compliance of rigid foundations. A plate on a visco-elastic support (Winkler soil) shows similar displacements as a plate on a homogeneous half-space, but the maximal stresses between the plate and the soil are considerably smaller which is found to be more realistic for a plate on a layered soil. For practical applications, a normalized diagram and some explicit formulas of the exact and the approximate solutions of an infinite plate on a homogeneous half-space are given, which is a useful model to represent the soil-structure interaction of flexible foundations.     

Soil-structure interaction analysis of the Hualien containment model

This paper presents results from forced vibration tests, microtremor observations and earthquake response analysis of a nuclear reactor containment model constructed on stiff soil in Hualien, Taiwan. The dynamic behavior of the soil-structure system is simulated successfully with two numerical models: a sway-rocking model, whose soil parameters are evaluated on the basis of the continuum formulation method, and a finite element model, using the program SASSI with the flexible volume substructuring approach. The dependences of the soil parameters of both models on the amplitudes of the different dynamic excitations are investigated in detail. An original numerical simulation of microtremor is performed. Comparison with results of a previous study involving a rigid tower on a soft soil site in Chiba, Japan is offered.     

Displacement solutions for dynamic loads in transversely-isotropic stratified media

Solutions for the displacements caused by dynamic loads in a viscoelastic transversely-isotropic medium are derived. The medium extends horizontally to infinity, but is bounded below by a rigid base. Stratification of the medium presents no difficulties. The medium is discretized in the vertical direction only; discretization in the horizontal direction is obviated by use of analytical solutions to the equations of motion. Application of the displacement solutions to soil-structure interaction is illustrated. A soil flexibility matrix (and hence, a stiffness matrix) for a surface foundation follows directly from the displacement solutions. A simple modification to obtain the soil stiffness for an embedded foundation of arbitrary geometry is described. Stiffnesses of rigid surface and embedded foundations are computed and compared with previously published results. In addition, the dynamic stiffness of a rigid surface foundation on a soil layer with linearly increasing shear modulus is compared to that for a homogeneous soil layer. A reduction in radiation damping is found to result from the inhomogeneity.     

结构-地基相互作用体系的动力相似关系研究

模型试验的动力相似理论是结构试验技术中的一个重要的基础性研究课题。本文设计实现了缩比为1／20和1／10的结构－地基相互作用体系的振动台模型试验，通过对两个模型的试验结果的对比研究。对结构－地基相互作用体系的动力相似关系进行了初步探讨。按照本文的动力模型的设计施工及试验原则进行的模型体系的振动台试验，在结构－地基动力相互作用体系的主要特征和规律方面有较好的相似性。在激励较小阶段和激励较大阶段，两个缩尺模型在动力特性、加速度反应时程以及上部结构的应变反应等方面具有较好的相似关系；但在试验的中间阶段，两者存在明显的差异，影响两个缩尺模型在试验中间阶段的相似性的主要原因是土体在模拟地震激励下的非线性发展程度的差异。     

Centrifuge modelling of structures with oil dampers under seismic loading

Experimental research into the seismic performance of buildings with passive oil dampers has so far been restricted to large-scale testing of frames erected on laboratory shaking tables that ignore the foundation soil below. This simplification of the problem falls short of replicating dynamic soil-structure interaction that would occur in the field. This paper presents the first experimental attempt at utilising high gravity dynamic centrifuge testing to replicate the response of a damped building at a reduced model scale. The paper compares the dynamic response of two similar two-degree-of-freedom model sway frames, one control (bare) frame and one frame equipped with miniature oil dampers, both structures founded on shallow raft foundations in dry dense sand. The miniature oil dampers successfully mitigate floor accelerations, drifts, and storey shear forces in the damped frame with minor modification to the frame stiffness. For strong, near resonance motions, global rocking of the undamped frame associated with physical uplifting of the foundation from the soil surface and subsequent yielding of sand beneath has led to floor acceleration levels, which are comparable to those obtained in the damped building fitted with miniature oil dampers. Assessment of the instrumentation installed on the miniature oil dampers reveals a viscoelastic damper behaviour with a dependency on stroke magnitude and on velocity.     

考虑各向异性的层土-盾构隧道地震反应数值模拟

在层状各向异性土体-盾构隧道地震反应分析中,引入了横观各向同性弹塑性模型理论,建立了适合于横观各向同性介质的双渐近-多向透射边界条件。针对地铁区间盾构隧道抗震设计的特点,基于横观各向同性弹塑性模型,研制了考虑层状土体各向异性和施工开挖效应,适合于盾构隧道动力计算的各向异性弹塑性动力有限元程序。在程序中对于不同的材料采用了不同的本构关系和不同的单元形式,并采用了关联流动法则和多种屈服准则,可同时进行各向异性土体与地下结构的二维平面应力、平面应变和轴对称问题的静力和动力数值分析。最后利用所研制的程序进行了上海地铁二号线石门一路站附近区间隧道在不同超越概率地震动输入下的隧道反应计算。结果表明,在层状土体-地铁区间隧道的抗震分析中考虑土体各向异性的影响是必要的,所提出的计算模型是可行的。     

Site-dependent strength reduction factors for soil-structure systems

The effect of soil conditions on strength reduction factors (SRFs) is investigated. Both site effect and soil-structure interaction (SSI) effect are considered in the study with special emphasis on the latter effect. The structure is modeled as an elasto-plastic single degree of freedom (SDOF) system, whereas the underlying soil is considered as a homogeneous half-space. The half-space is also replaced by a simplified 3DOF system, based on the concept of Cone Models. The whole 4DOF model is then analyzed under a total of 54 strong motions recorded on different soil types. A parametric study is done for a wide range of non-dimensional parameters, which completely define the problem. It is concluded that SSI reduces the SRF values, especially for the case of buildings located on soft soil. Consequently, using the fixed-base SRFs for soil-structure systems lead to non-conservative design forces. Simplified expressions are proposed to estimate SRF for soil-structure systems.