Seismic analysis of frame-strap footing-nonlinear soil system to study column forces

Abstract

The differential settlements and rotations among footings cannot be avoided when the frame-footing-soil system is subjected to seismic/dynamic loading. Also, there may be a situation where column(s) of a building are located near adjoining property line causes eccentric loading on foundation system. The strap beams may be provided to control the rotation of the footings within permissible limits caused due to such eccentric loading. In the present work, the seismic interaction analysis of a three-bay three-storey, space frame-footing-strap beam-soil system is carried out to investigate the interaction behavior using finite element software (ANSYS). The RCC structure and their foundation are assumed to behave in linear manner while the supporting soil mass is treated as nonlinear elastic material. The seismic interaction analyses of space frame-isolated footing-soil and space frame-strap footing-soil systems are carried out to evaluate the forces in the columns. The results indicate that the bending moments of very high magnitude are induced at column bases resting on eccentric footing of frame-isolated footing-soil interaction system. However, use of strap beams controls these moments quite effectively. The soil-structure interaction effect causes significant redistribution of column forces compared to non-interaction analysis. The axial forces in the columns are distributed more uniformly when the interaction effects are considered in the analysis.