Nonlinear Soil–Foundation–Structure and Structure–Soil–Structure Interaction: Centrifuge Test Observations
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 140, Issue 5
Abstract
Utilizing a pair of building–foundation models placed in strategic configurations, two centrifuge tests were designed to evaluate nonlinear soil–foundation–structure interaction (SFSI) and structure–soil–structure interaction (SSSI) effects. The models were designed to represent a low-rise inelastic frame building founded on individual spread footings and a midrise elastic shear-wall building founded on a mat foundation designed to rock during seismic excitation. Four experimental cases are considered: (1) the baseline response of the low-rise frame structure; (2) the response of two structures placed adjacent to each other along the direction of earthquake shaking; (3) the response of two structures placed adjacent to each other perpendicular to the direction of earthquake shaking; and (4) the response of the frame structure when two wall structures are placed adjacent to it, such that both effects are promoted. Using spectral-analysis methods, it is demonstrated that the baseline frame structure responds independently from the influence of other structures being tested simultaneously and that wave-based SSSI effects have little practical influence on the SFSI response of an inelastic frame structure with highly nonlinear foundation responses. Measurements indicate that footing-force coupling contributes significantly to the seismic response of a frame structure with individual footings, as the nature of the oscillating vertical footing loads from frame action results in dynamic footing overturning moment and base shear capacities that vary significantly from their static values. The proximity of the dynamic footing-force combinations to the theoretical footing-force bounding surface is observed to significantly influence hysteretic footing response.
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Acknowledgments
This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF) under Grant No. CMMI-0830331. Opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the NSF. Experiments were conducted at the Center for Geotechnical Modeling at University of California, Davis (UCD), which is supported by the Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulation program under Award No. CMMI-0402490. The authors gratefully acknowledge the assistance of the UCD staff. We also acknowledge the assistance of the principal investigators and other researchers involved with this research grant, but not listed in the authorship: C. Bolisetti, Z. Chen, G. Fiegel, A. Whittaker, K. Jones, S. Gille, J. Lund, P. Bassal, J. Tran, and R. Reitherman. Finally, we acknowledge the contributions of our professional practice committee: M. Lew, M. Moore, F. Naeim, F. Ostadan, P. Somerville, and M. Willford.
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Published In
Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 140 • Issue 5 • May 2014
Copyright
© 2013 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Mar 28, 2013
Accepted: Nov 18, 2013
Published online: Dec 31, 2013
Published in print: May 1, 2014
Discussion open until: May 31, 2014
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