Dynamic Soil - Structure Interaction Issues in the Seismic Design of Retaining Walls and Bridge Abutments

Abstract eng:
Despite the structural simplicity of retaining walls and bridge abutments, their seismic behavior is rather complicated as they comprise structural systems that include soil and structures that interact with each other [1,2]. Nevertheless, seismic norms worldwide treat most of the retaining structures in a very simplistic way, making thus their seismic design rather uncertain and in many cases overconservative. Utilizing two-dimensional dynamic finite element analyses, the current study tries to shed some light on certain unresolved issues related to the dynamic interaction of retaining systems (e.g., walls and abutments) with the retained soil, while the dynamic interaction with adjacent structures cited on the retained soil layer is also examined. The first part of the study is focused on the dynamic interaction of retaining systems with the retained soil, a phenomenon that becomes even more complicated when soil non-linearities are present [3]. Non-linearity is taken into account utilizing suitable soil constitutive models which are based on the popular iterative equivalent-linear approach. The results verify the important effects of the soil nonlinearity, the wall flexibility and the amplitude of the imposed acceleration on the magnitude of the soil pressures developed on the wall. The existence of a supported structure is included and examined in the models examined in the second part of the study [2]. It is shown that the dynamic wall–soil– structure interaction (DWSSI) may have substantial effects on the foundation impedance of the supported structure and the additional distress of the retaining wall depending on the flexibility of the wall and the type of the wall-retained soil interface. In addition, the response of the structure is affected depending on its relevant distance, its geometrical and inertial properties as well as the frequency characteristics of the excitation. References [1] A.S. Veletsos, A.H. Younan, Dynamic response of cantilever retaining walls, ASCE Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, 123(2), 161–172, 1997. [2] P.N. Psarropoulos, G. Klonaris, G. Gazetas, Seismic earth pressures on rigid and flexible retaining walls, Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, 25(7-10), 795-809, 2005. [3] P.N. Psarropoulos, Y. Tsompanakis, G. Papazafeiropoulos, Effects of soil non-linearities on the seismic response of restrained retaining walls, Journal of Structures and Infrastructures Engineering, 2010 (available on-line). [4] G. Papazafeiropoulos, P.N. Psarropoulos, Y. Tsompanakis, Retaining wall-soil-structure interaction effects due to seismic excitation, Proc. of the TC4_Earthquake Geotechnical Engineering Satellite Conference, Alexandria, Egypt, October, 2009.

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