A simplified empirical method for assessing seismic soil-structure interaction effects on ordinary shear-type buildings

摘要

The beneficial or detrimental effect of seismic soil-structure interaction (SSI) is still a controversial issue. A parametric analysis of the seismic SSI effects of a large number of idealised ordinary shear-type buildings was carried out with some simplifying assumptions. Results were compared to the corresponding classical fixed-base solutions. Structures were modelled as generalised single degree of freedom systems using the principle of virtual displacements and shallow squared foundations resting on different soil types were assumed. The outcomes of the numerical analyses were used as a statistical base in order to obtain simple analytical and non-dimensional relationships for estimating seismic SSI effects in terms of modified period and damping. The proposed approximated method can be used by consultants in an immediate and simplified manner in order to obtain a preliminary evaluation of SSI effects and seismic demand without devoting resources to complex analyses.