Abstract
The consequences to structures caused by permanent fault displacement have been investigated for dip-slip faulting, but not for the effect of the embedment depth on the interaction between a normal fault rupture and shallow embedded foundation. This study investigated the effect of the embedment depth on the interaction of normal fault rupture and shallow foundation using a numerical model validated with centrifuge experiments. It was found that a gapping interaction mechanism and foundation distress occurred at different foundation positions relative to the fault rupture outcrop for an embedded foundation in comparison with a surface foundation. The extent of this area depended on the combined influences of the foundation position, foundation surcharge, embedment depth, and fault dip angle. The sidewalls of the shallow embedded foundation were observed to act as kinematic constraints and had considerable influence on the rotation, displacement and stressing of the foundations. With regard to the level of rotation and displacement of the embedded foundation, the lateral earth pressure distribution on the footwall sidewall was similar to that of Rankine active earth pressure in a triangular distribution and on the hangingwall sidewall as a parabolic distribution of passive earth pressure. Foundations laid on loose soil exhibited less rotation than those on dense soil because the fault ruptures were absorbed or bifurcated around both sides of the foundation.
Highlights
The propagation of a fault rupture through the soil layer is a hazard associated with fault-induced dislocation
This study investigated the effect of the embedment depth on the interaction of normal fault rupture and shallow foundation using a numerical model validated with centrifuge experiments
In the normal fault rupture-shallow embedded foundation interaction, the location of the foundation, its embedment depth and surcharge, as well as the fault dip angle could have affected the behavior of the foundation
Summary
The propagation of a fault rupture through the soil layer is a hazard associated with fault-induced dislocation. This has been observed in studies on fault rupture-structure interaction that have specified the influence of important parameters on the interaction (e.g. Bransby et al 2008a, 2008b; Gazetas et al 2008; Anastasopoulos et al 2009; Ashtiani et al 2015; Oettle and Bray 2016; Naiej and Soroush 2020) These parameters include the type of fault, fault dip angle, type and stiffness of the soil, alluvium depth on bedrock, building weight, type and rigidity of the foundation, position of the foundation relative to fault rupture emergence at the ground surface, and the condition of the superstructure. Ashtiani and Ghalandarzadeh (2020) and Naeij et al (2019) carried out complementary studies on the interaction of embedded shallow foundations and reverse faulting They concluded that the combined effect of the foundation embedment depth, surcharge, and position will cause a change in the interaction behavior. The foundation rotation, profile of the ground surface, and the earth pressure distribution on the foundation sidewalls have been examined
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