Validation of a finite element modelling approach on soil-foundation-structure interaction of a multi-storey wall-frame structure under dynamic loadings

Qaftan, O; Toma-Sabbagh, TM; Weekes, L; Augusthus Nelson, L

Abstract

Validated numerical approaches are very important in dynamic studies of soil-structure interaction. Experimental outputs of physical models are required to validate the numerical approaches. Testing and analysis of an experimental scaled model is economical in comparison with investigating real size structures. However, a set of scale factors are required to model a full-scale structure accurately as a scaled model in a laboratory environment. In this paper, the scaling procedure and design of a scaled multi-storey concrete wall-frame structure with a scale factor of 1:50 are addressed. A dry sand with round shaped particles with a specific grain size distribution was adopted in this study. A flexible soil container was then designed and built to represent the soil boundary behaviour during time-history seismic excitations. The experimental investigations were divided into three different stages: fixed based structure without soil interaction; soil container without any structure; and, a structure with raft and pile foundations in the soil container. Then the same experimental stages were modelled numerically in 3D using finite element software. The results showed that the finite element simulations produced a good response when compared with the experimental results and these numerical models are suitable to be employed for further dynamic studies.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jan 14, 2020
• Online Publication Date: Jan 30, 2020
• Publication Date: Apr 1, 2020
• Deposit Date: Jan 23, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: Jan 30, 2021
• Journal: Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering
• Print ISSN: 0267-7261
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Volume: 131
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soildyn.2020.106041
• Publisher URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soildyn.2020.106041
• Related Public URLs: https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/soil-dynamics-and-earthquake-engineering
• Additional Information: Funders : Iraqi Ministry of Higher Education