• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.395-406
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• 2012

Basic problem of pile foundation is three dimensional in nature. Three dimensional finite element formulation is employed for the analysis of pile groups. Pile, pile-cap and soil are modeled using 20 node element, whereas interface between pile or pile cap and soil is modeled using 16 node surface element. A parametric study is carried out to consider the effect of pile spacing, number of piles, arrangement of pile and soil modulus on the response of pile group. Results indicate that the response of pile group is dependent on these parameters.

• Interaction and multiscale mechanics
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.157-175
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• 2008

A brief review of the research works on ground vibrations caused by trains moving in underground tunnels is first given. Then, the finite/infinite element approach for simulating the soil-tunnel interaction system with semi-infinite domain is summarized. The tunnel is assumed to be embedded in a homogeneous half-space or stratified soil medium. The train moving underground is modeled as an infinite harmonic line load. Factors considered in the parametric studies include the soil stratum depth, damping ratio and shear modulus of the soil with or without tunnel, and the thickness of the tunnel lining. As far as ground vibration is concerned, the existence of a concrete tunnel may somewhat compensate for the loss due to excavation of the tunnel. For a soil stratum resting on a bedrock, the resonance peak and frequency of the ground vibrations caused by the underground load can be rather accurately predicted by ignoring the existence of the tunnel. Other important findings drawn from the parametric studies are given in the conclusion.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.101-119
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• 2005

An efficient methodology is presented to evaluate the seismic behavior of a Fluid-Elevated Tank-Foundation/Soil system taking the embedment effects into accounts. The frequency-dependent cone model is used for considering the elevated tank-foundation/soil interaction and the equivalent spring-mass model given in the Eurocode-8 is used for fluid-elevated tank interaction. Both models are combined to obtain the seismic response of the systems considering the sloshing effects of the fluid and frequency-dependent properties of soil. The analysis is carried out in the frequency domain with a modal analysis procedure. The presented methodology with less computational efforts takes account of; the soil and fluid interactions, the material and radiation damping effects of the elastic half-space, and the embedment effects. Some conclusions may be summarized as follows; the sloshing response is not practically affected by the change of properties in stiff soil such as S1 and S2 and embedment but affected in soft soil. On the other hand, these responses are not affected by embedment in stiff soils but affected in soft soils.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.67 no.3
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• pp.267-275
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• 2018

A numerical study of soil-foundation system under monotonic and cyclic pushover loading is conducted, taking into account both material and geometric nonlinearities. A complete and refined 3D finite element (FE) model, using contact condition and allowing separation between soil and foundation, is implemented and used in order to evaluate the nonlinear relationship between applied vertical forces and induced settlements. Based on the obtained curve, a simplified model is proposed, in which the soil inelasticity is satisfactorily represented by two vertical springs with trilinear behavior law, and the foundation uplifting is insured by gap elements. Results from modeling soil-foundation system supporting a bridge pier have shown that the simplified model is able to capture irreversible settlements induced by cyclic rocking, due to soil inelasticity and vertical loading, as well as large rotations due to foundation uplifting.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.683-701
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• 2011

In this study, inelastic displacement ratios and ductility demands are investigated for SDOF systems with period range of 0.1-3.0 s. with elastoplastic behavior considering soil structure interaction. Earthquake motions recorded on different site conditions such as rock, stiff soil, soft soil and very soft soil are used in analyses. Soil structure interacting systems are modeled with effective period, effective damping and effective ductility values differing from fixed-base case. For inelastic time history analyses, Newmark method for step by step time integration was adapted in an in-house computer program. Results are compared with those calculated for fixed-base case. A new equation is proposed for inelastic displacement ratio of interacting system ($\tilde{C}_R$) as a function of structural period of interacting system ($\tilde{T}$), strength reduction factor (R) and period lengthening ratio ($\tilde{T}/T$). The proposed equation for $\tilde{C}_R$ which takes the soil-structure interaction into account should be useful in estimating the inelastic deformation of existing structures with known lateral strength.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.365-378
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• 2012

In this study, strength reduction factors are investigated for SDOF systems with period range of 0.1-3.0 s with elastoplastic behavior considering soil structure interaction for 64 different earthquake motions recorded on different site conditions such as rock, stiff soil, soft soil and very soft soil. Soil structure interacting systems are modeled and analyzed with effective period, effective damping and effective ductility values differing from fixed-base case. For inelastic time history analyses, Newmark method for step by step time integration was adapted in an in-house computer program. Results are compared with those calculated for fixed-base case. A new equation is proposed for strength reduction factor of interacting system as a function of structural period of system (T), ductility ratio (${\mu}$) and period lengthening ratio (T/T). It is concluded that soil structure interaction reduces the strength reduction factors for soft soils, therefore, using the fixed-base strength reduction factors for interacting systems lead to non-conservative design forces.

• Interaction and multiscale mechanics
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.397-411
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• 2009

The effect of soil-structure interaction on a simple single storeyed and two bay space frame resting on a pile group embedded in the cohesive soil (clay) with flexible cap is examined in this paper. For this purpose, a more rational approach is resorted to using the three dimensional finite element analysis with realistic assumptions. The members of the superstructure and substructure are descretized using 20 node isoparametric continuum elements while the interface between the soil and pile is modeled using 16 node isoparametric interface elements. Owing to viability in terms of computational resources and memory requirement, the approach of uncoupled analysis is generally preferred to coupled analysis of the system. However, an interactive analysis of the system is presented in this paper where the building frame and pile foundation are considered as a single compatible unit. This study is focused on the interaction between the pile cap and underlying soil. In the parametric study conducted using the coupled analysis, the effect of pile spacing in a pile group and configuration of the pile group is evaluated on the response of superstructure. The responses of the superstructure considered include the displacement at top of the frame and moments in the superstructure columns. The effect of soil-structure interaction is found to be quite significant for the type of foundation used in the study. The percentage variation in the values of displacement obtained using the coupled and uncoupled analysis is found in the range of 4-17 and that for the moment in the range of 3-10. A reasonable agreement is observed in the results obtained using either approach.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.317-328
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• 2023

The soil behaviour can be represented by numerical modelling of element testing using diverse constitutive models. However, not all constitutive models allow the simulation of the stress-strain response at the critical state in granular soils with both contractive and dilative behaviour. Moreover, the accuracy of these models depends highly on the quality of the experimental data used for their calibration. This study addresses the modelling of the critical state behaviour of an alluvial natural soil from the Lower Tagus Valley (south of Portugal), known as TP-Lisbon sand, using the NorSand constitutive law. For this purpose, a series of numerical simulations of element testing was carried out using two algorithms performed in Visual Basic (VB) and Fast Lagrangian Analysis of Continua (FLAC). Moreover, this study presents the characterisation of of NorSand parameters from an accurate experimental programme based on triaxial and bender element testing. This experimental program allowed defining: (i) the critical state locus, (ii) the stress-dilatancy, and (iii) the soil elasticity of TP-Lisbon sand -all fundamental to calibrate the contractive and dilative behaviour of such alluvial soil. The results revealed a good agreement between experimental data and NorSand simulations using VB and FLAC. Therefore, this study showed that the quality of laboratory testing procedures and its good interpretation enables NorSand constitutive law to capture representatively the non-associated plastic strains, often expressed by the state parameter, allowing a representation of soil behaviour of alluvial soils within the critical state soil mechanics framework for different state parameters.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.299-312
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• 2000

The response of an embedded body to dynamic loads is greatly influenced by the reactions of the soil to the motion of the body. The properties of the soil surrounding embedded bodies (e.g., piles) may be different than those of the far-field for a variety of reasons. It may be weakened or strengthened according to the method of installation of piles, or altered due to applying one of the soil strengthening technique (e.g., electrokinetic treatment of soil, El Naggar et al. 1998). In all these cases, the shear strength of the soils and its shear modulus vary gradually in the radial direction, resulting in a radially inhomogeneous soil layer. This paper describes an analysis to compute vertical and torsional dynamic soil reactions of a radially inhomogeneous soil layer with a circular hole. These soil reactions could then be used to model the soil resistance in the analysis of the pile vibration under dynamic loads. The soil layer is considered to have a piecewise, radial variation for the complex shear modulus. The model is developed for soil layers improved using the electrokinetic technique but can be used for other situations where the soil properties vary gradually in the radial direction (strengthened or weakened). The soil reactions (impedance functions) are evaluated over a wide range of parameters and compared with those obtained from other solutions. A parametric study was performed to examine the effect of different soil improvement parameters on vertical and torsional impedance functions of the soil. The effect of the increase in the shear modulus and the width of the improved zone is investigated.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.481-495
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• 2015

Many hydropower stations in southwest China are located in regions of brittle rock mass with high geo-stresses. Under these conditions deep fractured zones often occur in the sidewalls of the underground caverns of a power station. The theory and methods of fracture and damage mechanics are therefore adopted to study the phenomena. First a flexibility matrix is developed to describe initial geometric imperfections of a jointed rock mass. This model takes into account the area and orientation of the fractured surfaces of multiple joint sets, as well as spacing and density of joints. Using the assumption of the equivalent strain principle, a damage constitutive model is established based on the brittle fracture criterion. In addition the theory of fracture mechanics is applied to analyze the occurrence of secondary cracks during a cavern excavation. The failure criterion, for rock bridge coalescence and the damage evolution equation, has been derived and a new sub-program integrated into the FLAC-3D software. The model has then been applied to the stability analysis of an underground cavern group of a hydropower station in Sichuan province, China. The results of this method are compared with those obtained by using a conventional elasto-plastic model and splitting depth calculated by the splitting failure criterion proposed in a previous study. The results are also compared with the depth of the relaxation and fracture zone in the surrounding rock measured by field monitoring. The distribution of the splitting zone obtained both by the proposed model and by the field monitoring measurements are consistent to the validity of the theory developed herein.