Research in Soil Structure Interaction

In the field of protective structures to resist the effects of nuclear weapons, the soil-structure interaction zone is defined as the region between the 30-psi surface air overpressure range and the 1,000-psi range where structures are buried to depths to approximately 200 ft. At ranges nearer ground zero than the 1,000-psi range, the peak blast pressure increases rapidly. In addition to air blast, a surface or sub-surface burst reacts violently with the ground producing a crater and an associated ground shock of high intensity. If protection is required in such regions, it is necessary to build structures at great length and, in all probability, in rock. Two laboratory devices for simulating the air blast effects of nuclear devices are described. A fundamental study concerning the basic problem of soil arching is evaluted; a program concerning the response of buried, semicircular, fixed-end concrete arches is reviewed; a program to extend the range of knowledge of failure phenomena for circular buried cylinders is briefed; and a basic type of similitude study for buried aluminum arches is described.