• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.11-23
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• 2022

The response of pile foundations under lateral loads are usually analyzed using beam-on-nonlinear-Winkler-foundation (BNWF) model framework employing various forms of empirically derived p-y curves and p-multipliers. In practice, the p-y curve presented by the American Petroleum Institute (API) is most often utilized for piles in granular soils, although its shortcomings are recognized. The objective of this study is to evaluate the performance of the BNWF model and to quantify the error in the estimated pile response compared to a rigorous numerical model. BNWF analyses are performed using three sets of p-y curves to evaluate reliability of the procedure. The BNWF model outputs are compared with results of 3D nonlinear finite element (FE) analysis, which are validated via field load test measurements. The BNWF model using API p-y curve produces higher load-displacement curve and peak bending moment compared with the results of the FE model, because empirical p-y curve overestimates the stiffness and underestimates ultimate resistance up to a depth equivalent to four times the pile diameter. The BNWF model overestimates the peak bending moment by approximately 20-30% using both the API and Reese curves. The p-multipliers are revealed to be sensitive on the p-y curve used as input. These results highlight a need to develop updated p-y curves and p-multipliers for improved prediction of the pile response under lateral loading.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.73-84
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• 2020

In the seismic design of bridges, formation of plastic hinges plays an important role in the dissipation of seismic energy. In the case of conventional fixed-base bridges, the plastic hinges are allowed to form in the superstructure alone. During seismic event, such bridges may be safe from collapse but the superstructure undergoes significant plastic deformations. As an alternative design approach, the plastic hinges are guided to form in the soil thereby utilizing the inevitable yielding of the soil. Rocking foundations work on this concept. The formation of plastic hinges in the soil reduces the load and displacement demands on the superstructure. This study aims at evaluating the seismic response of bridge pier supported on rocking shallow foundation. For this purpose, a BNWF model is implemented in OpenSees platform. The capability of the BNWF model to capture the SSI effects, nonlinear behavior and dynamic loading response are validated using the centrifuge and shake table test results. A comparative study is performed between the seismic response of the bridge pier supported on the rocking shallow foundation and conventional fixed-base foundation. Results of the study have established the beneficial effects of using the rocking shallow foundation for the seismic response analysis of the bridge piers.

• Land and Housing Review
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.271-277
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• 2013

The BNWF (Beam on Nonlinear Winkler Foundation) model is one of the simplest idealizations for a pile embedded in soil as it ignores the continuity of the soil. This method is difficult to model the behavior of pile group foundation subjected to lateral loading. The limitation can be overcome with the utilization of the finite element method (FEM) or finite different method (FDM) to represent a pile element embedded in a soil medium. Both the ground and piles are modeled with soild elements. The solid elements, which do not have rotational degree of freedom, is not appropriate for modeling piles. It can be overcome by substantially increasing the number of elements, which can be prohibitive for 3D modeling. This paper used the beam element and rigid link incorporated in the OpenSees to model the pile. The accuracy of the model is validated through comparison with lateral load test and BNWF analysis. It is shown that the method can capture the measured behavior accurately. It is therefore recommended to be used in group pile analyses.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.165-170
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• 2024

This study investigated the impact of soil-structure interaction on multi-degree-of-freedom structures using the shallow-foundation Winkler model, known as the BNWF model. The model's period was determined through eigenvalue analysis and compared to results obtained from FEMA's formula. Results indicated that considering the soil, the structure's period increased by up to 8.7% compared to the fixed-base model, aligning with FEMA's calculations. Furthermore, with adequate ground acceleration, roof displacement increased by 3.4% to 3.8%, while base shear decreased by 4% to 10%. However, roof displacement and base shear increased in some earthquake scenarios due to spectral shape effects in regions with extended structural periods. Foundation damping effects, determined through the foundation's moment-rotation history, grew with higher ground acceleration. This suggests that accounting for period elongation and foundation damping can enhance the seismic design of multi-degree-of-freedom structures.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.28 no.1C
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• pp.31-40
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• 2008

This study presents the assessment of pseudostatic approach for obtaining the internal response of Single Column/Shaft subjected to earthquake loading. In numerical procedure, various lateral load transfer characteristics (p-y curve and Bi-linear curve) were used to model the nonlinear behavior of soil reactions including soil-pile interaction. The analysis using nonlinear soil model could estimate the seismic performance of soil-pile system, despite its relative simplicity. It was found that lateral behavior of single column/shaft obtained from the response displacement method was larger than those by seismic intensity method. To investigate the effects of soil-pile rigidity and pile head condition on the internal pile response, parametric studies were carried out for various soil models. The results from numerical analysis showed that lateral deflection was decreased with fixed condition of pile head and decreasing the soil-pile rigidity. The seismic analysis using Bi-linear model of JRA could reasonably predict the lateral behavior of Single Column/Shaft.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.165-175
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• 2017

This paper studies soil properties uncertainty and its implementation in the seismic response evaluation of structures. For this, response sensitivity of two 4- and 12-story RC shear walls to the soil properties uncertainty by considering soil structure interaction (SSI) effects is investigated. Beam on Nonlinear Winkler Foundation (BNWF) model is used for shallow foundation modeling and the uncertainty of soil properties is expanded to the foundation stiffness and strength parameters variability. Monte Carlo (MC) simulation technique is employed for probabilistic evaluations. By investigating the probabilistic evaluation results it's observed that as the soil and foundation become stiffer, the soil uncertainty is found to be less important in influencing the response variability. On the other hand, the soil uncertainty becomes more important as the foundation-structure system is expected to experience nonlinear behavior to more sever degree. Since full This paper studies soil properties uncertainty and its implementation in the seismic response evaluation of structures. For this, response sensitivity of two 4- and 12-story RC shear walls to the soil properties uncertainty by considering soil structure interaction (SSI) effects is investigated. Beam on Nonlinear Winkler Foundation (BNWF) model is used for shallow foundation modeling and the uncertainty of soil properties is expanded to the foundation stiffness and strength parameters variability. Monte Carlo (MC) simulation technique is employed for probabilistic evaluations. By investigating the probabilistic evaluation results it's observed that as the soil and foundation become stiffer, the soil uncertainty is found to be less important in influencing the response variability. On the other hand, the soil uncertainty becomes more important as the foundation-structure system is expected to experience nonlinear behavior to more sever degree. Since full probabilistic analysis methods like MC commonly are very time consuming, the feasibility of simple approximate methods' application including First Order Second Moment (FOSM) method and ASCE41 proposed approach for the soil uncertainty considerations is investigated. By comparing the results of the approximate methods with the results obtained from MC, it's observed that the results of both FOSM and ASCE41 methods are in good agreement with the results of MC simulation technique and they show acceptable accuracy in predicting the response variability.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.13-22
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• 2012

Even with its significant influence on the dynamic analysis and foundation design of structures, sometimes the soil-structure interaction has been ignored during the design process. One of the reasons is due to the fact that the modeling procedures are too complicated to meet the requirements in practice. In this study, using the Cali(IT)2 building in California with high and frequent seismic activities, the analysis differences for different boundary conditions are reviewed. The Beam on Nonlinear Winkler Foundation Model, one of the foundation modeling methods, is modified for easy use by the Linear Matrix Inequalities Model Reduction Technique. The product of the proposed process is applied to create the Finite Element Model. The results show fairly good agreement with the real data acquired from the Cal(IT)2 building.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.339-353
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• 2023

The primary objective of the current study is to optimize and evaluate the seismic performance of steel momentresisting frame (MRF) structures considering soil-structure interaction (SSI) effects. The structural optimization is implemented in the context of performance-based design in accordance with FEMA-350 at different confidence levels from 50% to 90% by taking into account fixed- and flexible-base conditions using an efficient metaheuristic algorithm. Nonlinear response-history analysis (NRHA) is conducted to evaluate the seismic response of structures, and the beam-on-nonlinear Winkler foundation (BNWF) model is used to simulate the soil-foundation interaction under the MRFs. The seismic performance of optimally designed fixed- and flexible-base steel MRFs are compared in terms of overall damage index, seismic collapse safety, and interstory drift ratios at different performance levels. Two illustrative examples of 6- and 12-story steel MRFs are presented. The results show that the consideration of SSI in the optimization process of 6- and 12-story steel MRFs results in an increase of 1.0 to 9.0 % and 0.5 to 5.0 % in structural weight and a slight decrease in structural seismic safety at different confidence levels.