Paper Review Project

Seismic Soil-Structure Interaction:

Beneficial or Detrimental
Authors: Mylonakis, George; Gazetas, George

Presenters:
José Gualavisi
Jorge Hernández
César Saavedra
 Outline
•Objectives

•Introduction

•Soil-Structure Interaction (SSI) and Seismic Code Spectra

•Ductility of Flexibly-Supported Structures

•Inelastic SSI Analyses

•Conclusions

•Evaluation and Critique

•SSI 1999 vs 2019

Objectives
• Evaluate the approach that seismic regulations propose for
assessing SSI effects.

• Evaluate the model for assessing SSI effects in elastoplastic

bridge piers proposed by Priestly and Park (1987).
Introduction
• Seismic design is not a exact science. Codified approaches incorporate
substantial approximations to provide simple frameworks for design.

• SSI is not free of misconceptions.

• SSI has traditionally been considered to be beneficial for seismic response.

Therefore, neglecting SSI effects is suggested as a conservative
simplification.

• Recent (80’s - 90’s) studies have shown that for soft soils in certain
frequency ranges this effect may reverse, and forces and ductility
demands may increase with increasing period due to SSI effects.
SSI and Seismic Code Spectra
• Presence of deformable soil affects structure’s
seismic response.

• Flexibly-supported structures have longer

periods than fixed-base structures.

• Energy dissipation by wave radiation and

hysteretic action, results in in a higher
damping ratio for flexibly-supported structure.
SSI and Seismic Code Spectra
• Codes use an idealized smooth design
spectra.

• As a consequence, SSI consideration leads

to invariably smaller accelerations and
forces.

• “Beneficial” role of SSI turned into a dogma.

SSI and Seismic Code Spectra
• In practice, dynamic analysis is done avoiding the complication of accounting for SSI.

• “The seismic forces can therefore be evaluated conservatively without the adjustments
recommended in Sec. 5.5 (i.e. for SSI effects)” – NERHP

• This is usually true for a large class of structures and seismic environments, but
sometimes…
SSI and Seismic Code Spectra
• Design spectrum for soft deep soil against
four response spectra from real earthquakes

• Mexico City earthquake was a result of

resonance of the soil deposit with incoming
seismic waves.

• Fukiai and Takatori, product of near fault

motions and “forward fault-rupture
directivity”.
SSI and Seismic Code Spectra
• Fukiai and Takatori, product of near fault
motions and “forward fault-rupture
directivity”.

• Sites that are in the direction of

propagation feel a “pulse”.

• This increases spectral values of the

horizontal component normal to the fault
at periods longer than 0.5s.
Ductility in Flexibly-
Supported Structures
• Idealization of a bridge pier subjected to a
transverse seismic excitation.

• No moment at the top.

• Elastoplastic bilinear behavior.

• Foundation:
• Translational spring.
• Rotational spring.
Ductility in Flexibly-
Supported Structures
• Flexibility Coefficient: expressing the foundation
to structure displacement

• For c > 0 is always smaller than

• Kinematic eqn. DOES NOT distinguish between

capacity and demand. Therefore:

• If we talk about capacity, SSI has a “detrimental” effect.

• If we talk about demand, SSI has a “beneficial” effect.

Inelastic SSI Analyses

• Nonlinear inelastic analyses (1977) M7.2

were carried out using the same
model using actual motions
recorded on soft soils.

• Take into account the dynamic

effects

• R=2
Inelastic SSI
Analyses
(1985) M8
Inelastic SSI
Analyses
• KOBE (1995) M6.9
Conclusions
• The prevailing view in structural engineering of the always-beneficial role of SSI is
an oversimplification which may lead to unsafe design.

• Averaging response spectra of motions recorded on soft soils without proper

normalization of periods may lead to errors.

• A larger number of ground motions should be studied to conclude that SSI effects
can be detrimental.

• Soil-structure interaction in inelastic bridge piers supported on deformable soil

may cause significant increases in ductility demand in the piers, depending on the
characteristics of the motion and the structure.
Evaluation and Critique
• Paper only highlights some issues with the current approach to SSI without
proposing something to resolve these issues.

• There is no information of what is the limit to consider a soil soft enough to

produce negative effects by considering SSI effects.

• A larger number of ground motions should be studied to conclude that SSI

effects can be detrimental.
 1999 vs 2019

Nokia 3210
Nokia 9 Pureview
1999 vs 2019