Response of Buried Structures to Traveling Waves

The response of buried long structures to waves traveling in the longitudinal direction of the structures was studied. The structures and the surrounding soils were represented by three-dimensional finite elements. The three-dimensional models, however, were reduced to two-dimensional models by using a special type of wave-transmitting element which faithfully accounts for the effects of wave propagation. The results obtained for a linear system indicate that, for large structures, soil-structure interaction effects on the computed stresses and strains are indeed significant; therefore, it will be overly conservative to use free field strains in the design. Also, the assumption of vertically propagating waves is not adequate in predicting response; therefore, appropriate considerations should be given to traveling waves.