Nonlinear analysis of earthquake fault rupture interaction with historic masonry buildings

Marianna Loli, Ioannis Anastasopoulos (Lead / Corresponding author), George Gazetas

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    10 Citations (Scopus)
    307 Downloads (Pure)

    Abstract

    The response of historic masonry buildings to tectonic ground displacements is studied through analysis of a simple yet representative soil-foundation-masonry wall system. A nonlinear 3D finite element method is developed and employed to reproduce the strong nonlinear response of the rupturing soil, as well as the masonry structure. Following a sensitivity analysis of the effect of the exact location of the structure with respect to the emerging fault, the paper discusses several characteristic mechanisms of soil-structure interaction and evaluates the associated structural distress. The observed failure pattern and the consequent structural damage are shown to depend strongly, varying from minimal to dramatic, on the exact position of the structure relative to the fault. Alleviation of tectonic risk through foundation enhancement/improvement is investigated by considering alternative foundation systems. Results highlight the advantageous performance of rigid embedded and continuous foundations as opposed to more flexible and isolated supports indicating that foundation strengthening may provide important shielding against settlement and structural drift.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)83-95
    Number of pages13
    JournalBulletin of Earthquake Engineering
    Volume13
    Issue number1
    Early online date25 Mar 2014
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Jan 2015

    Keywords

    • Masonry structure
    • Mitigation measures
    • Monument
    • Nonlinear analysis
    • Tectonic faults

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Geotechnical Engineering and Engineering Geology
    • Geophysics
    • Civil and Structural Engineering
    • Building and Construction

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