DYNAMIC TORSIONAL BEHAVIOR OF A BUILDING SUPPORTED BY UNSYMMETRICALLY ARRAYED PILES

Abstract

In this study, centrifuge model tests have been carried out to evaluate the torsional behavior of pile-supported buildings with the eccentric distance between the center of gravity of the superstructure and the center of rigidity of the piles. Three models were considered; a 9-pile model without eccentricity, an 8-pile model which lacks a corner pile, and a 7-pile model which lacks two corner piles. It was found from the test that the maximum response of the torsional angle of a foundation increases in accordance with the eccentricity which is defined as the same method as the superstructure. The analysis was then carried out to simulate the result of the 7-pile model. In the analysis, a three-dimensional frame model was used, and soil around the piles was modeled as two directional horizontal axial elements and shear springs. A comparison between experimental and analytical results shows a possibility that this numerical model is capable of considering the dynamic torsional behavior of buildings supported by unsymmetrically arrayed piles.