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Centrifuge and numerical modelling of earthquake-induced soil liquefaction under free-field conditions and by considering soil–structure interaction

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Abstract

Modelling earthquake-induced soil liquefaction and assessing its consequences to overlying buildings are still delicate and challenging tasks in geotechnical earthquake engineering. Having been carried out within the European H2020 LIQUEFACT project, this paper focuses on the application of both physical and numerical modelling techniques. We present the complete passage starting from the preparation of the physical models to ending with the comparison of recorded (experimental) and simulated (numerical) results. We discuss in detailed manner the dynamic response of two systems with and without the presence of a structure lying at the top of a uniform, medium-dense, saturated Ticino sand, whose main properties (physical, mechanical, hydraulic, and state) are well known. Through a set of numerical analyses carried out under homogeneous conditions, we provide in this paper insights to throw light into the effect of structure on the system response. Salient conclusion of this work suggests that the presence of structure changes the kinematic response of the system through beneficial effect in terms of increased vertical effective stress and detrimental effect in terms of concentrated strain field present nearby the foundations. Unfortunate combination of those beneficial and detrimental effects results in stronger response in terms of acceleration and larger settlements with the presence of structure with respect to the free-field counterpart.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to express our most sincere gratitude to Mr. Sergio Airoldi and Ms. Jenni Moglie (ISMGEO) for the great effort spent during the preparation, testing of the physical models. We extend our gratitude to Mr. Airoldi also for the fruitful discussion made during the stage of numerical analysis. Further, we kindly acknowledge also the research group of the Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II in LIQUEFACT project, led by Prof. Alessandro Flora and Prof. Emilio Bilotta, for the insightful discussions on the results as well as providing their design of simplified structure used in testing. Furthermore, we would like to thank two anonymous reviewers for their comments which increased the clarity of the paper. This research has been carried out within the framework of the European LIQUEFACT project which has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme under Grant Agreement No. 700748. The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. European Centre for Training and Research in Earthquake Engineering, EUCENTRE, Pavia, Italy

    A. G. Özcebe & F. Bozzoni

  2. ISMGEO, Bergamo, Italy

    D. Giretti

  3. Department of Engineering, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy

    V. Fioravante

  4. Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy

    C. G. Lai

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  1. A. G. Özcebe
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  2. D. Giretti
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  3. F. Bozzoni
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  4. V. Fioravante
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  5. C. G. Lai
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Correspondence to A. G. Özcebe.

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Özcebe, A.G., Giretti, D., Bozzoni, F. et al. Centrifuge and numerical modelling of earthquake-induced soil liquefaction under free-field conditions and by considering soil–structure interaction. Bull Earthquake Eng 19, 47–75 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10518-020-00972-3

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