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Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering: Current Progress and Road Ahead

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A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Civil Engineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2024) | Viewed by 15511

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Jian Song

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Guest Editor

Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Geomechanics and Embankment Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
Interests: geotechnical earthquake engineering; soil dynamics; structural dynamics; seismic slope stability; earthquake-induced landslides

Dr. Bin Ruan

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

School of Civil and Hydraulic Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
Interests: data fusion and machine learning; engineering informatics; smart construction engineering and management; BIM-FEM-AI

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue of Applied Sciences will be devoted to geotechnical earthquake engineering, and consider current progress and the road ahead. The safety of facilities and structures in seismically active areas is threatened by earthquakes, and thus has attracted widespread attention. There have been major improvements in scientific understanding and subsequent advances in geotechnical earthquake engineering due to the increase in recorded in situ data and the large number of case studies on the observed effects of recent major earthquakes. More advanced modeling methodologies and consideration of seismic soil and rock effects on the analysis and design of facilities and structures will undoubtedly result in a better understanding of the theory and practice of geotechnical earthquake engineering

Dr. Jian Song
Dr. Bin Ruan
Guest Editors

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Keywords

seismology and geology relevant to earthquake engineering;
dynamic properties and constitutive behaviour of soils and rocks;
wave propagation and scattering in soils and rocks;
ground motions and site effects;
seismic slope stability and reinforcement;
soil liquefaction;
seismic analysis and design of tunnels, dams, bridges, and buildings;
foundation and soil–structure interactions;
seismic performance and seismic damage;
ground vibrations;
pile dynamics;
probabilistic methods in earthquake engineering;
earthquake reconnaissance and database

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Published Papers (10 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 2912 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Method for Developing Seismic Hazard-Consistent Fragility Curves for Soil Liquefaction Using Monte Carlo Simulation

by Fu-Kuo Huang and Grace S. Wang

Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(20), 9482; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14209482 - 17 Oct 2024

Viewed by 580

Abstract

The objective of this study is to present a method for developing fragility curves for soil liquefaction that align with seismic hazards using Monte Carlo simulation. This approach can incorporate all uncertainties and variabilities in the input parameters. The seismic parameters, including earthquake magnitude (M) and associated peak ground acceleration (PGA), are jointly considered for the liquefaction assessment. The liquefaction potential and the resulting damages obtained by this method are more realistic. A case study is conducted using data from a sand-boil site in Yuanlin, Changhua County, where liquefaction occurred during the 1999 Chi-Chi earthquake in Taiwan. The findings indicate that the liquefaction potential index, I_L, the post-liquefaction settlement, S_t, and the liquefaction probability index, P_W, are all appropriate parameters for assessing liquefaction damages. The fragility curves for soil liquefaction developed through this method can support the performance-based earthquake engineering (PBEE) approach, provide guidance for liquefaction evaluation to the Taiwan Earthquake Loss Estimation System (TELES), and serve as a foundation for scenario simulation and an earthquake early warning system for liquefaction damages. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering: Current Progress and Road Ahead)

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11 pages, 2736 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Identification of Topographic Seismic Site Periods in Sloping Terrains

by Edgar Giovanny Diaz-Segura and Jorge Eduardo Oviedo-Veas

Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(17), 7506; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14177506 - 25 Aug 2024

Viewed by 592

Abstract

The fundamental period of a terrain is a key parameter for characterizing the maximum soil amplification. Since the 1960s, research has been conducted for sloping terrains with a focus on evaluating topographic effects. However, few studies have focused on identifying whether the site topography induces an amplification peak that is associated with a characteristic period of sloping terrain. This study conducts a parametric analysis to identify a potential amplification pattern attributable to terrain geometry, using two-dimensional finite element models subjected to the action of a dynamic signal. The periods in which amplification peaks are generated are evaluated and compared with the amplification response recorded in the free field on horizontal terrain. The results reveal that the dynamic response of sloping terrain is a combination of the response from the surrounding terrain to the sloping zone and vice versa, and a distinctive amplification peak linked to the topography is identified. A new expression is proposed to define a topographic seismic site period in terms of shear wave velocity and the total soil thickness from the bedrock to the crest of sloping terrain. This study advances the processes of characterizing the seismic response of sloping terrains by demonstrating that the topographic seismic site period is consistent regardless of the slope angle. This provides engineers with a new dimension of analysis for the practical definition of criteria to determine topographic effects in design spectra. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering: Current Progress and Road Ahead)

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26 pages, 5316 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Simplified Tunnel–Soil Model Based on Thin-Layer Method–Volume Method–Perfectly Matched Layer Method

by Yu Wang, Mengfan Zhou, Yanmei Cao, Xiaoxi Wang, Zhe Li and Meng Ma

Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(13), 5692; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14135692 - 29 Jun 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 601

Abstract

In order to analyze the ground vibration responses induced by the dynamic loads in a tunnel, this paper proposes a new simplified tunnel–soil model. Specifically, based on the basic theory of the thin-layer method (TLM), the basic solution of three-dimensional layered foundation soil displacement was derived in the cylindrical coordinate system. The perfectly matched layer (PML) boundary condition was applied to the TLM. Subsequently, a tunnel–soil dynamic interaction analysis model was established using the volume method (VM) in conjunction with the TLM-PML method. The displacement frequency response function of the foundation soil around the tunnel foundation was derived. Finally, a ground vibration test under an impact load in a tunnel was carried out. The test and calculated results were compared. The comparison results show that the ground vibration acceleration response values within 25 m from the load are similar. Compared with the test results, the theoretical calculation results exhibit a decreasing trend in the range of 40–80 Hz between 25 and 60 m, with the maximum reduction being approximately one order of magnitude. In addition, the experimental comparison demonstrates that the model can be used to analyze the ground vibrations caused by underground loads. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering: Current Progress and Road Ahead)

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54 pages, 3565 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effective Equations for the Optimum Seismic Gap Preventing Earthquake-Induced Pounding between Adjacent Buildings Founded on Different Soil Types

by Mahmoud Miari and Robert Jankowski

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(17), 9741; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13179741 - 28 Aug 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1934

Abstract

The best approach to avoid collisions between adjacent structures during earthquakes is to provide sufficient spacing between them. However, the existing formulas for calculating the optimum seismic gap preventing pounding were found to provide inaccurate results upon the consideration of different soil types. The aim of this paper is to propose new equations for the evaluation of the sufficient in-between separation gap for buildings founded on different soil conditions. The double-difference formula has been taken into account in this study. The seismic gap depends on the correlation factor and on the top displacements of adjacent buildings. The correlation factor depends on the ratio of the periods of adjacent buildings (smaller period to larger period). The modification of the correlation factor has been introduced for buildings founded on five different soil types. Five soil types were taken into account in this study, as defined in the ASCE 7-10 code, i.e., hard rock, rock, very dense soil and soft rock, stiff soil, and soft clay soil. The normalized root mean square errors have been calculated for the proposed equations. The results of the study indicate that the error ranges between 2% and 14%, confirming the accuracy of the approach. Therefore, the proposed equations can be effectively used for the determination of the optimum seismic gap preventing earthquake-induced pounding between buildings founded on different soil types. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering: Current Progress and Road Ahead)

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22 pages, 4489 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Seismic Risk Analysis of Offshore Bridges Considering Seismic Correlation between Vulnerable Components

by Wenjing Ren, Aijun Liu and Dapeng Qiu

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(11), 6485; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13116485 - 25 May 2023

Viewed by 1426

Abstract

To comprehensively evaluate the seismic performance of offshore bridges, a seismic risk analysis of an example bridge was developed based on improved two-dimensional (2D) seismic fragility analysis. Taking a simply-supported beam bridge in an offshore tidal environment as an example, the adverse effects of chloride ion erosion are considered and the seismic response process of the example bridge is simulated using the Incremental Dynamic Analysis (IDA) method. The appropriate damage indexes are chosen for the plate rubber bearing and the pier, and the one-dimensional (1D) seismic fragility curves of single components and the entire bridge are obtained. The correlation coefficients of vulnerable components are quantitatively proposed based on the correlation analysis method, and the 2D seismic fragility curves of the entire bridge are achieved while accounting for seismic correlation between vulnerable components. The seismic risk probability of the entire bridge is finally determined after combining hazard analysis at the bridge site and seismic loss analysis. The results show that there is a significant correlation between vulnerable components and that 2D seismic fragility analysis based on the reliable correlation coefficients of vulnerable components can more comprehensively evaluate the seismic performance of the entire bridge. In the context of seismic disaster reduction research focused on slight and moderate damage caused by moderate-to-small ground motions, this research can provide scientific and technical support for seismic design and seismic risk assessment of offshore bridges. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering: Current Progress and Road Ahead)

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23 pages, 9393 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Dynamic Response of Tunnels with a Rubber-Sand Isolation Layer under Normal Fault Creep-Slip and Subsequent Seismic Shaking: Shaking Table Testing and Numerical Simulation

by Shuquan Peng, Yongzhang Liu, Ling Fan, Yuankai Zeng, Guobo Wang, Zhize Xun and Guoliang Chen

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(11), 6440; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13116440 - 25 May 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1638

Abstract

Tunnels may suffer severe damage when passing through an active fault in high-intensity earthquake zones. The present study aims to investigate the performance of an isolation layer composed of a rubber-sand mixture, an emerging trend in low-cost seismic mitigation studies. Based on the Ngong tunnel in the Nairobi-Malaba Railroad in Kenya, Africa, the effect of the rubber-sand isolation layer on the acceleration and strain of the tunnel lining was investigated through a shaking table test under small normal fault creep-slip and subsequent seismic shaking. The influences of the length of the isolation layer and the rubber content in the mixture were analyzed by numerical simulation. The results indicate that the isolation layer slightly reduces the acceleration response of the tunnel lining within the fault and obviously reduces the permanent strain of the invert and crown within the fault under small normal fault creep-slip and subsequent seismic excitation. The mitigation effect of the isolation layer is related to the length of the isolation layer and the rubber content in the mixture. In the case of this study, the length of the isolation layer is triple the fault width (influence range of the fault) and the appropriate enhancement of the rubber content of the isolation layer offers favorable conditions for mitigation effect, respectively. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering: Current Progress and Road Ahead)

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19 pages, 22652 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Adaptive Fusion Sampling Strategy Combining Geotechnical and Geophysical Data for Evaluating Two-Dimensional Soil Liquefaction Potential and Reconsolidation Settlement

by Huajian Yang, Zhikui Liu, Yan Yan, Yuantao Li and Guozheng Tao

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(10), 5931; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13105931 - 11 May 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1655

Abstract

In engineering practice, properly characterizing the spatial distribution of soil liquefaction potential and induced surface settlement is essential for seismic hazard assessment and mitigation. However, geotechnical site investigations (e.g., cone penetration test (CPT)) usually provide limited and sparse data with high accuracy. Geophysical surveys provide abundant two-dimensional (2D) data, yet their accuracy is lower than that of geotechnical investigations. Moreover, correlating geotechnical and geophysical data can effectively reduce site investigation costs. This study proposes a data-driven adaptive fusion sampling strategy that automatically develops an assessment model of the spatial distribution of soil liquefaction potential from spatially sparse geotechnical data, performs monitoring of liquefaction-induced settlement, and integrates spatiotemporally unconstrained geophysical data to update the model systematically and quantitatively. The proposed strategy is illustrated using real data, and the results indicate that the proposed strategy overcomes the difficulty of generating high-resolution spatial distributions of liquefaction potential from sparse geotechnical data, enables more accurate judgment of settlement variations in local areas, and is an effective tool for site liquefaction hazard analysis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering: Current Progress and Road Ahead)

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27 pages, 9463 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A 2.5D Finite Element Method Combined with Zigzag-Paraxial Boundary for Long Tunnel under Obliquely Incident Seismic Wave

by Qi Zhang, Mi Zhao, Jingqi Huang, Xiuli Du and Guoliang Zhang

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(9), 5743; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13095743 - 6 May 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1777

Abstract

Seismic waves propagation with an oblique angle to the tunnel axis will cause asynchronous tunnel motions and have a significant effect on the axial response. A high-precision 2.5D finite element method is established in the frequency domain to simulate the 3D seismic response of the tunnel. This method avoids the disturbance caused by the truncation of the tunnel in the longitudinal direction. Meanwhile, a 2.5D zigzag-paraxial boundary is derived to further improve the calculation efficiency of the 2.5D finite element model. Moreover, by combining the 2.5D finite element method, 2.5D zigzag boundary condition and seismic motion input methods, an obliquely incident substructure method for plane seismic waves is built by converting the plane seismic wave into equivalent nodal forces. The proposed 2.5D finite element method is verified by comparing with a reference solution. Finally, the 2.5D finite element method is applied to study the seismic response of the long lined tunnel. Parameter analyses illustrate that the wave propagation effect to the tunnel axis has a non-negligible influence on the axil deformation of long tunnels. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering: Current Progress and Road Ahead)

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22 pages, 5130 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Explainable Machine-Learning Predictions for Peak Ground Acceleration

by Rui Sun, Wanwan Qi, Tong Zheng and Jinlei Qi

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(7), 4530; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13074530 - 3 Apr 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2428

Abstract

Peak ground acceleration (PGA) prediction is of great significance in the seismic design of engineering structures. Machine learning is a new method to predict PGA and does have some advantages. To establish explainable prediction models of PGA, 3104 sets of uphole and downhole seismic records collected by the KiK-net in Japan were used. The feature combinations that make the models perform best were selected through feature selection. The peak bedrock acceleration (PBA), the predominant frequency (FP), the depth of the soil when the shear wave velocity reaches 800 m/s (D800), and the bedrock shear wave velocity (Bedrock V_s) were used as inputs to predict the PGA. The XGBoost (eXtreme Gradient Boosting), random forest, and decision tree models were established, and the prediction results were compared with the numerical simulation results The influence between the input features and the model prediction results were analyzed with the SHAP (SHapley Additive exPlanations) value. The results show that the R² of the training dataset and testing dataset reach up to 0.945 and 0.915, respectively. On different site classifications and different PGA intervals, the prediction results of the XGBoost model are better than the random forest model and the decision tree model. Even if a non-integrated algorithm (decision tree model) is used, its prediction effect is better than the numerical simulation methods. The SHAP values of the three machine learning models have the same distribution and densities, and the influence of each feature on the prediction results is consistent with the existing empirical data, which shows the rationality of the machine learning models and provides reliable support for the prediction results. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering: Current Progress and Road Ahead)

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12 pages, 4906 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Seismic Response Analysis of Rock-Socketed Piles in Karst Areas under Vertical Loads

by Peisen Wang, Puyang Zhang, Wenjun Hu and Dapeng Qiu

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(2), 784; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13020784 - 5 Jan 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1693

Abstract

Karst landforms constitute one of the most harmful geological conditions, which have an adverse effect on the deep foundation structures of bridges. During earthquakes, the existence of karst caves can cause serious seismic damage to the bridge pile foundation. In order to investigate the seismic response of rock-socketed piles under vertical loads in complex karst cave conditions, finite element numerical simulation analyses were carried out, referring to the practical major bridge structure rock-socketed pile project in China. The peak strain distributions of rock-socketed pile foundation influenced by single-karst cave factors under the combined action of vertical loads and ground motions were investigated, and the influences of complex multi-caves were further explored. The results showed that the restraint effect of the bedrock near the pile would gradually decrease with the increase of the height of the karst cave and the decrease of the height of the karst cave roof; under the condition of a beaded karst cave, the constraint of bedrock between the karst caves makes the pile present the distribution characteristics of “multi-segment and multi-broken line”; under the condition of an underlying karst cave, the existence of the underlying karst cave would decrease the restraint of the bedrock at the bottom pile and increase the peak strain of the pile to a certain extent. This paper revealed the seismic response law of the rock-socketed pile under vertical loads within various complex karst cave conditions and developed reasonable reinforcement measures aiming at dangerous locations, providing important engineering guidance and a reference for the seismic design of rock-socketed pile foundation in complex karst areas. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering: Current Progress and Road Ahead)

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