Field One dimensional moment-rotation

macro-element for performance based design

ofsnap-back testing of surface shallow
shallow ffoundations on stiff residual clay

Ravindranath Salimath
University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand

Michael J Pender
University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
Thomas B Algie
Partners in Performance, Sydney, Australia
Luke B Storie
Tonkin & Taylor, Auckland, New Zealand
Ravindranath Salimath
University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand

ABSTRACT
Recently a number of macro-element models have been formulated for the design of shallow foundations subject to
earthquake loading. These are intended as a computational tool that represents the nonlinear dynamic behavior of the
foundation in a manner much simpler than finite element modelling; consequently they are useful tools for preliminary
design. The basis of this paper is the observation that shallow foundation moment-rotation curves are bracketed by the
rotational stiffness at small deformations determined by the small strain stiffness of the soil, and the moment capacity that
is a function of the vertical load carried by the foundation. The paper argues that when the static bearing strength factor of
safety of the foundation is large, that is the vertical load carried by the foundation is a small fraction of the vertical bearing
strength, the response of the foundation is controlled by the moment-rotation behavior so the contribution to the foundation
response from the horizontal and vertical stiffnesses can be neglected, thus the structure-foundation system is reduced to
a single degree of freedom model.
The form of this moment-rotation curve has been found, from experimental and computational modelling, to be
approximately hyperbolic; the nonlinear shape is due in part to the nonlinear deformation of the soil beneath the foundation
and also loss of contact between the underside of the foundation and the soil below. The paper will demonstrate how the
hyperbolic pushover curve can be generalized to a cyclic form having the pushover curve as a backbone curve. The
hysteretic damping properties of the model as a function of the foundation rotation amplitude and the relation between
secant stiffness and foundation rotation amplitude will be demonstrated.
The paper will show how the model can be used within the ideas of the capacity spectrum approach and also with numerical Formatted: Normal
solution of earthquake time histories. Performance based design of simple structures will be demonstrated both within the
conventional force based and displacement based approaches. The significance of the maximum displacement (foundation
rotation) during the course of a time history in relation to the residual rotation at the end of the earthquake record will be
demonstrated.In past decades several researchers have carried out experimental studies to understand the rocking
behavior and earthquake response of shallow foundations. The challenge is to understand the nonlinear soil-foundation-
structure-interaction (SFSI) and incorporate this nonlinear behavior into the existing earthquake resistant design solutions.
Algie (2011) performed a series of experiments on site known as snap-back tests to study the moment-rotation response
of shallow foundations. The results shown that snap-back testing is much more effective in analyzing the earthquake
response and nonlinear behavior of shallow foundations than the conventional shake table experiments which utilize
sinusoidal excitations. Another advantage is that the static load-settlement and moment-rotation curves can be obtained
during the initial pull back phase of the test
.

This paper deals outlines the experimental configuration and the results of the field snap-back testing carried out on shallow
foundations resting on the surface of stiff residual clay soil (2016). Unlike in Algie’s (2011) testing, in this case snap-back
is carried out with two different foundation configurations, one with foundations in the direction of the applied moment and
the other with foundations perpendicular to the direction of the applied moment. The entire test assembly is designed in
such a way that it acts as a SDOF structure with mass on top and the foundations undergo free vibration during the snap-
back phase. The purpose of this testing is to study and compare the moment-rotation and load-settlement response of the
foundations with moment applied about the shorter axis and longer axis of the foundations separately. The static load-
settlement and the moment-rotation curves obtained during the initial pull-back phase were compared the results from
PLAXIS 3D finite element analysis. The moment-rotation and settlement-rotation curves at various cycles during the snap-
back can be obtained. From these results loss of bearing strength, damping and stiffness degradation of shallow
foundations can be estimated.