Numerical Analysis and Optimization of Spring-Damper Model for Evaluating Soil-Structure Interaction in Semi-Buried Heavy Structures Under Seismic Loads

Pirmohammadi Alishah, Farhad; Emami, Kamal

doi:10.22034/cpj.2025.524306.1368

Numerical Analysis and Optimization of Spring-Damper Model for Evaluating Soil-Structure Interaction in Semi-Buried Heavy Structures Under Seismic Loads

https://doi.org/10.22034/cpj.2025.524306.1368

Volume 7, Issue 4 - Serial Number 74
July 2025

Pages 72-99

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

farhad pirmohammadi alishah ¹

Kamal Emami ²

¹ Faculty Member and Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Engineering, Islamic Azad University, Shabestar Branch, Shabestar, Iran

² Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Islamic Azad University, Shabestar Branch, Shabestar, Iran

Abstract

Soil-structure interaction (SSI) plays a crucial role in realistically predicting the behavior of structures compared to rigid base assumptions. In this study, the seismic response of semi-buried heavy structures was investigated using a mass–spring–damper model to capture SSI effects. Eleven soil samples with diverse behavioral characteristics were considered to compare the responses of structures with rigid supports and those with flexible, soil-supported bases. Numerical models were developed and analyzed using SAP2000 software. To ensure the reliability of the results, a benchmark SSI study from the literature was selected for validation, demonstrating an acceptable level of accuracy and convergence. Key soil properties for common construction soils were incorporated. Following careful selection and scaling of appropriate earthquake records according to Iranian seismic code (Standard No. 2800), nonlinear dynamic analyses were conducted. The findings clearly illustrate the significance of SSI, particularly for silty soils, where the interaction effect is pronounced. Incorporating SSI led to a considerable increase in base shear values, underscoring the necessity of accounting for these effects in the seismic design of heavy, semi-buried structures.

Keywords

Soil-structure interaction

Seismic analysis

Semi-buried structures

Spring-damper model

Nonlinear dynamic analysis

Subjects

civil engineering

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