The Effect of Overburden Depth on the Damage of Underground Structure during Earthquake

Abstract

Nowadays underground structures are essential components in urban areas and their number are increasing continuously. Generally, underground structures show a better performance during seismic actions than structures above ground. During recent strong earthquakes, some urban underground structures suffered severe damages and collapses. Many researchers have worked in this field. Most of them have a common view of shallow underground structures are more vulnerable. Damages in deep underground structures are negligible compared to the surface structures and shallow underground structure. But there are some case histories, where there is severe damage in deep underground structure too. So we cannot neglect the seismic damage of deep underground structure. Nowadays there are many deep underground structures being constructed and in operation. We need to take into account the safety of the deep underground structure. The influencing factors for causing damages in deep underground structures should be studied carefully. In this paper, various case studies are taken into consideration and their results are observed. And the damages in different underground structures at different locations due to corresponding earthquakes are studied and compared, and the pattern of damage occurrence is reviewed.