1st Croatian Conference on Earthquake Engineering 1CroCEE 2021

Since numerical modelling of soil properties in seismic design of buildings is usually a complex and demanding task, practicing engineers and researchers aim to keep numerical models as simple as possible. Therefore, the goal of this research is to verify soil-structure interaction (SSI) modelling parameters for buildings founded on compliant soils. For this purpose, the results of a large-scale SSI experiment were considered. The TRISEE experiment was chosen as a reference since it is well known in the scientific community and commonly used by researchers. In the scope of this experiment, the SSI effects were determined on a simplified model of the superstructure, consisting of a rigid column and foundation slab placed on the sand bed subjected to dynamic loading. Based on these results a refined non-linear numerical model for SSI was developed, in which the soil behaviour was modelled through its stiffness, hysteresis model and p-y curve. The model was implemented in the SAP2000 numerical modelling software which is based on the finite-element method. It has been shown that numerical models represent experimental behaviour with a sufficient degree of accuracy. Since structural models exhibit different dynamic properties when placed on compliant soils, the authors recommend the implementation of SSI effects into the design of buildings in seismically active regions.