Effect of Soil Heterogeneity on Soil–Structure Interaction

Abstract

Soil–structure interaction due to its significant effect on the response of the structure had already gained importance and therefore been incorporated in the Indian seismic code IS 1893-Part 4:2005. Since the advent of soil–structure interaction, continuous researches have been done on this topic and hence the concepts kept on modifying for more realistic results. The existing literature has already shown some of the critical parameters that are missing in Indian seismic code. Still, there is research gap in this area as some of the other important parameters too need to be included. Due to lack of proper geotechnical reports before the start of construction, thereby the misinterpretation of soil properties by the designer increases the susceptibility of the structure to failure in spite of including the code-specified effects such as soil–structure interaction. Critical situation occurs when the soft layer is underlying a hard stratum which the designers may misinterpret as the hard layer to the full depth due to improper geotechnical reports. Also, there is not any guideline in Indian seismic code to direct the designers to deal with the heterogeneous soil condition. In this research, a parametric study is carried out on a 150 m tall RCC chimney considering the effect on structural response of it by incorporating the effect of different conditions of layered soil mass.