Seismic Performance of Underground Reservoir Structures: Insight from Centrifuge Modeling on the Influence of Backfill Soil Type and Geometry

Abstract

AbstractThe seismic response of underground reservoir structures is a complex soil–structure interaction problem that depends on the properties of the earthquake motion, surrounding soil, and structure. More experimental and field data of the response of these structures under different boundary conditions are needed to validate analytical and numerical tools. This paper presents the results of four centrifuge experiments that investigate the seismic performance of reservoir structures, restrained from rotational movement at their roof and floor, buried in dry, medium-dense sand and compacted, partially saturated, silty sand. This study focuses on the influence of backfill soil properties, cover, and slope on accelerations, strains, lateral distortions, and lateral earth pressures experienced by the buried structure. The structure to far-field acceleration spectral ratios were observed to approach unity with added soil confinement, density, and stiffness. Both dynamic thrust and accelerations on the struc...