Rocking of Non-symmetric Rigid Blocks in Buildings Considering Effects Associated with Dynamic Soil-Structure Interaction

Abstract

ABSTRACTA dynamic model for the estimation of the rocking and/or overturning response of a free-standing non-symmetric rigid block considering rotational and horizontal excitation is proposed. The block is situated at different levels of a building with flexible base subjected to earthquakes. Base flexibility introduces the rotational component of the excitation due to dynamic soil-structure interaction (DSSI). The model is used to assess the influence of the dynamic soil-structure interaction on the behavior of the block. An illustrative example of the proposed model for non-symmetric rigid blocks in 5-, 10-, and 15-story buildings located in soft soils considering earthquakes from different seismic sources is presented. Results show that it is important to consider kinematic effects as well as inertial effects of DSSI in the dynamic response of contents. The influence of base flexibility depends on the change of spectral intensities associated to the increase of the building structural period and is larger for higher building levels.