• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.43-50
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• 2002

This paper describes a simplified numerical procedure for analyzing the response of bridge pier foundations due to riverbed scouring. A computationally efficient algorithm to analyze the behavior of a pile group is proposed by considering soil-pile, pile-cap, and pile-fluid interactions. The complex phenomenon of the pile-soil interaction is modeled by discrete nonlinear soil springs (p-y, t-z and q-z curves). The pile-cap interaction is considered by geometric configuration of the piles in a group and connectivity conditions between piles and the cap. The pile-fluid interaction is incorporated into the procedure by reducing the stiffness of the soil-pile reactions as a result of nonlinearity and degradation of the soil stiffness with river bridge scouring. Through the numerical study, it is shown that the maximum bending moment increases with increasing scour depth. Thus it is desirable to check the stability elf pile groups based on soil-pile and pile-cap interactions by considering scouring depth in the riverbed.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.37-43
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• 2015

This paper presents a detailed procedure for a nonlinear soil-structure interaction of a seismically isolated NPP(Nuclear Power Plant) structure using the boundary reaction method (BRM). The BRM offers a two-step method as follows: (1) the calculation of boundary reaction forces in the frequency domain on an interface of linear and nonlinear regions, (2) solving the wave radiation problem subjected to the boundary reaction forces in the time domain. For the purpose of calculating the boundary reaction forces at the base of the isolator, the KIESSI-3D program is employed in this study to solve soil-foundation interaction problem subjected to vertically incident seismic waves. Wave radiation analysis is also employed, in which the nonlinear structure and the linear soil region are modeled by finite elements and energy absorbing elements on the outer model boundary using a general purpose nonlinear FE program. In this study, the MIDAS/Civil program is employed for modeling the wave radiation problem. In order to absorb the outgoing elastic waves to the unbounded soil region, spring and viscous-damper elements are used at the outer FE boundary. The BRM technique utilizing KIESSI-3D and MIDAS/Civil programs is verified using a linear soil-structure analysis problem. Finally the method is applied to nonlinear seismic analysis of a base-isolated NPP structure. The results show that BRM can effectively be applied to nonlinear soil-structure interaction problems.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
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• 2008.04a
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• pp.65-70
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• 2008

The capacity spectrum method (CSM) is a deterministic seismic analysis approach wherein the expected seismic response of a structure is established as the intersection of the demand and capacity curves. Recently, there are a few studies about a probabilistic CSM where uncertainties in design factors such as material properties, loads, and ground motion are being considered. However, researches show that soil-structure interaction also affects the seismic responses of structures. Thus, their uncertainties should also be taken into account. Therefore, this paper presents a probabilistic approach of using the CSM for seismic analysis considering uncertainties in soil properties. For application, a reinforced concrete bridge column structure is employed as a test model. Considering the randomness of the various design parameters, the structure's probability of failure is obtained. Monte Carlo importance sampling is used as the tool to assess the structure's reliability when subjected to earthquakes. In this study, probabilistic CSM with and without consideration of soil uncertainties are compared and analyzed. Results show that the analysis considering soil structure interaction yields to a greater probability of failure, and thus can lead to a more conservative structural design.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.85-112
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• 2011

Wind turbine structures are long slender columns with a rotor and blade assembly placed on the top. These slender structures vibrate due to dynamic environmental forces and its own dynamics. Analysis of the dynamic behavior of wind turbines is fundamental to the stability, performance, operation and safety of these systems. In this paper a simplied approach is outlined for free vibration analysis of these long, slender structures taking the soil-structure interaction into account. The analytical method is based on an Euler-Bernoulli beam-column with elastic end supports. The elastic end-supports are considered to model the flexible nature of the interaction of these systems with soil. A closed-form approximate expression has been derived for the first natural frequency of the system. This new expression is a function of geometric and elastic properties of wind turbine tower and properties of the foundation including soil. The proposed simple expression has been independently validated using an exact numerical method, laboratory based experimental measurement and field measurement of a real wind turbine structure. The results obtained in the paper shows that the proposed expression can be used for a quick assessment of the fundamental frequency of a wind turbine taking the soil-structure interaction into account.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.95-110
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• 2014

The study deals with physical modeling of space frame-pile foundation and soil system using finite element models. The superstructure frame is analyzed using complete three-dimensional finite element method where the component of the frame such as slab, beam and columns are descretized using 20 node isoparametric continuum elements. Initially, the frame is analyzed assuming the fixed column bases. Later the pile foundation is worked out separately wherein the simplified models of finite elements such as beam and plate element are used for pile and pile cap, respectively. The non-linear behaviour of soil mass is incorporated by idealizing the soil as non-linear springs using p-y curve along the lines similar to that by Georgiadis et al. (1992). For analysis of pile foundation, the non-linearity of soil via p-y curve approach is incorporated using the incremental approach. The interaction analysis is conducted for the parametric study. The non-linearity of soil is further incorporated using iterative approach, i.e., secant modulus approach, in the interaction analysis. The effect the various parameters of the pile foundation such as spacing in a group and configuration of the pile group is evaluated on the response of superstructure owing to non-linearity of the soil. The response included the displacement at the top of the frame and bending moment in columns. The non-linearity of soil increases the top displacement in the range of 7.8%-16.7%. However, its effect is found very marginal on the absolute maximum moment in columns. The hogging moment decreases by 0.005% while sagging moment increases by 0.02%.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.219-230
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• 2022

Knowing that the variability of soil properties is an important source of uncertainty in geotechnical analyses, we will study in this paper the effect of this variability on the seismic response of a structure within the framework of Soil Structure Interaction (SSI). We use the proposed and developed model (N2-ISS, Mekki et al., 2014). This approach is based on an extension of the N2 method by determining the capacity curve of the fixed base system oscillating mainly in the first mode, then modified to obtain the capacity curve of the system on a flexible basis using the concept of the equivalent nonlinear oscillator. The properties of the soil that we are interested in this paper will be the shear wave velocity and the soil damping. These parameters will be modeled at first, as independent random fields, then, the two parameters will be correlated. The results obtained showed the importance of the use of random field in the study of SSI systems. The variability of soil damping and shear wave velocity introduces significant uncertainty not only in the evaluation of the damping of the soil-structure system but also in the estimation of the displacement of the structure and the base-shear force.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.187-200
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• 2021

The main factor for the amplification of ground motions near the crest or the toe of a slope is the reflection of the incident waves. The effects of the slope topography on the surrounding lands over the crest or at the toe can amplify the seismic responses of buildings. This study investigates the seismic performance of the slope topography and three mid-rise buildings (five, ten, and fifteen-storey) located near the crest and toe of the slope by 3D numerical analysis. The nonlinear model was used to represent the real behavior of building and ground elements. The average results of seven records were used in the investigations. Based on the analysis, the amplification factor of acceleration near the crest and toe of the slope was the most effective at distances of 2.5 and 1.3 times the slope height, respectively. Accordingly, the seismic performance of buildings was studied at a distance equal to the height of the slope from the crest and toe. The seismic response results of buildings showed that the slope topography to have little impact on up to five-storey buildings located near the crest. Taking into account a topography-soil-structure interaction system increases the storey displacement and base shear in the building. Accordingly, in topography-soil-structure interaction analyses, the maximum lateral displacement was increased by 71% and 29% in ten and fifteen-storey buildings, respectively, compare to the soil-structure interaction system. Further, the base shear force was increased by 109% and 78% in these buildings relative to soil-structure interaction analyses.

• Proceedings of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea Conference
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• 2003.03a
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• pp.165-173
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• 2003

In this study, the applicability of currently used pipeline.soil interaction force and previously proposed analytical relationship for the response analysis of buried pipeline subjected to transverse permanent ground deformation (PGD) due to liquefaction is evaluated. Based on meaningful contemplation, the improvement of interaction force and proposition of analytical relationship is made. Improved interaction force includes various patterns of PGD or spatial distributions of interaction force caused by the decrease of soil stiffness, and proposed relationship based on improved formula is applicable without regard to the width of PGD. Through the comparison of numerical results by use of commercial FEM program, the rational applicability of proposed relationship is objectively confirmed.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.145-152
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• 2017

The analytical method is used to develop new models for an elevated tank to estimate its natural period. The equivalent mass- spring method is used to configure the developed analytical models. Also direct method is used for numerical verification. The current study shows that developed models can have a good estimation of natural period compared with concluded results of finite elements. Additional results show that, the dependency of impulsive period to soil stiffness condition is higher than convective period. Furthermore results show that considering the fluid- structure- soil interaction has remarkable effects on natural impulsive and convective periods in case of hard to very soft soil.

• Proceedings of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea Conference
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• 2001.04a
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• pp.120-127
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• 2001

Long term earthquake observations at different tunnel sites within a variety of alluvial soil deposits have demonstrated that a circular tunnel is liable to deform in such a way that its two diagonal diameters crossing each other expand and contract alternately. Based on this knowledge, the soil-tunnel interaction and isolation effect for this particular vibration mode is investigated. Interaction effect is considered with the condition of fixed tangential strain between the tunnel and the soil. Isolation effect embodied by covering up the tunnel with isolation materials is discussed as a possible measure for mitigating seismic damage to it. When Poisson`s ratio of isolation material decreases or the shear modulus ratios of the soil to isolation material become large, the isolation effect becomes bigger.