Effect of soil structure interaction on the response of R.C building to seismic loads, a case study

Abstract

The evaluation of the response of reinforced concrete buildings subjected to seismic attacks, wind excitation or other dynamic loading types is essentially affected by the behaviour of the soil surrounding the foundation of the building. Many researchers have been studying the effect of soil structure interaction (SSI) over the last century, but there is still a controversy about the role of soil structure interaction (SSI) and its effect on changing the behaviour of structures. Commonly, designers assume that the base of the structure is fixed, but this approach is certainly not appropriate, for the reason that the stiffness and the damping of the soil are essential for a better designing of a structure. In this paper, the authors will discuss some proposed methods on taking account of soil-structure interaction that must be considered from the very beginning of the design process. In addition, an investigation about the dynamic response of a reinforced concrete structure subjected to seismic loads and designed by assuming the base coupled with discrete spring and dashpot elements, will be carried out.