Jordan Journal of Civil Engineering

Probabilistic Analysis of Soil-Structure Interaction Effects on Seismic Performance per ASCE/SEI 7-10 Guidelines

Authors:

youcef MEROUANE; Zamila HARICHANE; Azeddine CHEHAT;

Abstract:

This study investigates the impact of uncertainties in soil properties, particularly the stochastic variations in shear modulus (G) and Poisson's ratio (ν), on the period lengthening ratio and base shear reduction of structures, considering soil-structure interaction (SSI) according to ASCE/SEI 7-10 guidelines. The motivation behind this research is to enhance the understanding and prediction of how uncertainties in soil properties affect the seismic response of structures, thereby improving building design and safety. This research was conducted using a Monte Carlo simulation approach, generating 500,000 random values for G and ν to evaluate the variations (mean ± standard deviation) in the period lengthening ratio of the soil-foundation-structure system and the base shear reduction. The obtained results indicate that incorporating stochastic variations in the soil properties more accurately reflects the complexity and inherent uncertainty of the soil properties. Specifically, uncertainties in the shear modulus (G) significantly affect the fundamental period, base shear reduction, and foundation damping. Conversely, the Poisson's ratio (ν) appears to be an inert factor. These findings have implications for seismic design practices, suggesting that a deterministic approach might not capture critical aspects of material variability, thus contributing to uncertainties in structural response. This study provides critical insights into the role of soil properties in the dynamic response of structures, contributing to the development of more resilient designs and improves seismic risk management strategies.

Keywords:

Period lengthening ratio; Monte Carlo simulations; Soil-structure interaction; Shear modulus; Poisson ratio; stochastic analysis; seismic design.