Nonconventional and Simple View

of the Soil-Structure Interaction Problem

J. Paul Smith-Pardo1, Mete A. Sozen2, and Julio A. Ramirez3

1 General Electric Faculty for the Future Graduate Student Fellow (GEFFF)
1284 School of Civil Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
jpsmith@purdue.edu
Tel: +1 765 494-2234
Fax: +1 765 496-1105
2 Kettelhut Distinguished Professor of Civil Engineering,
1284 School of Civil Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
sozen@ecn.purdue.edu
Tel: +1 765 494-2187
Fax: +1 765 496-2378
3 School of Civil Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
ramirez@ecn.purdue.edu
Tel: +1 765 4942716
Fax: +1 765 496-1105

Abstract. A mathematical model is proposed for the calculation of settlement and rotation
of shallow foundations under combined vertical load and bending moment. The main ad-
vantage of the suggested approach is the consideration of both: (i) the nonlinear nature of
the problem and, (ii) the interaction effect between vertical load and bending moment and
the corresponding displacement and rotation. The formulation provides physical insight and
could be generalized for the analysis of soil-shallow-foundation-structure systems under
any type of loading. Using the proposed approach, the calculated vertical force-
displacement relationships for eccentrically loaded shallow foundations on sand compare
very well with the experimental results from previous studies. An experimental program,
currently underway, to calibrate the suggested model for the analysis of foundations under
loading conditions corresponding to seismic excitation of frame buildings will also be
discussed.
Keywords: Soil-Structure Interaction, Foundation Rocking and Settlement, Nonlinear
Analysis, Soil-Foundation Modeling.

Introduction

Code provisions (Fema 273 1997) for the rehabilitation of buildings establish that
for reinforced concrete frames in medium to high seismic risk zones, the interac-
tion between the supporting soil and the structure must be taken into account.
Soil-Structure Interaction (SSI) problems should include explicit modeling of
each foundation under combined loads according to FEMA 273 (Fema 273 1997).

Robert Hack, Rafig Azzam, and Robert Charlier (Eds.): LNES 104, pp. 321–326, 2004.


c Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2004
322 J. Paul Smith-Pardo, Mete A. Sozen, and Julio A. Ramirez

Solutions for the vibrations of foundations on soil are based on the work by
Horace Lamb (Lamb 1904) on the propagation of elastic waves induced by the
application of a point load on the surface of an elastic semi-infinite media. To
date, general formulas and charts for the calculation of impedances (dynamic
stiffness and damping) of surface or embedded foundations of any shape (Gazetas
1991) are readily available and included in code design provisions (Fema 273
1997). However, these formulas/derivations are based on the assumption of a
linear response of the soil-foundation substructure. Few studies exist that consider
the nonlinear nature of the response of the soil-foundation subsystem and such
studies are based on complex finite element (F.E) analyses used to represent the
stress-strain relationship for the soil (Noorzaei et al. 1994). A mathematical model
is proposed in this paper for the calculation of settlement and rotation of shallow
foundations under combined vertical load and overturning moment. The formula-
tion provides a clear physical insight of the phenomenon and includes the nonlin-
ear response of the soil.

Modeling of the Soil-Foundation Subsystem

The response of foundations under combined vertical load and overturning mo-
ment is proposed to be determined completely on the basis of the results from a
simple plate load test on the bearing soil. It is assumed that the relationship be-
tween the vertical displacement at the center of the plate normalized with respect
to the plate diameter (or plate side, if square) and the average vertical stress is a
material property of a given soil. The slope of that curve is considered a soil mate-
rial property and is equal to the subgrade modulus multiplied by the width of the
plate (assumed square). The experimental results of footings on medium density
sand (Briaud et al. 1994) and on low plasticity clay (Consoli et al. 1998) shown in
Figure 1 support this basic assumption. Consider a rigid rectangular foundation of
dimensions BxL (B in the direction of bending) under combined axial load and
overturning moment. Given the midpoint displacement, δ, and the rotation, θ,
(foundation slippage is neglected), the subgrade modulus Ks(x) at any abscise x
along the width, B, of the plate can be calculated based on the result of a plate
load test (see Figure 2) as:
( K s B) plate
K s ( x) = (1)
B
The corresponding stiffness matrix K relating the applied vertical load, P, and
the overturning moment, M, with δ and θ is given by:

K K δθ 
K = δ
K θ 
(2)
 K θδ
 Nonconventional and Simple View of the Soil-Structure Interaction Problem 323

1.4

B = 3.0 m
1.2 B = 1.0 m
B = 2.5 m
1.0 B = 1.5m
B = 3.0m
P/A (MPa)

0.8 P

0.6

0.4
δ

0.2
B

0.0
0 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05 0.06 0.07 0.08 0.09 0.1
δ /B
Briaud and Gibbens (1994)

0.40
40cm-Square
0.35 70cm-Square
100cm-Square
30cm-Circular
0.30 45cm-Circular
60cm-Circular
0.25
P/A (MPa)

0.20

0.15

0.10 δ

B
0.05

0.00
0.00 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05 0.06 0.07 0.08 0.09 0.10
δ/B
Consoli et al. (1998)

Fig. 1. Pressure-Normalized Settlement for Concentrically Loaded Foundations: top: Foot-

ings on Medium Density Sand (Briaud and Gibbens 1994), bottom: Footings on Low Plas-
ticity Clay (Consoli et al. 1998).

where:
B
K δ = ∫ K S ( x) Ldx ,
0
B
K θ = ∫ K S ( x) L( x − B / 2) 2 dx , (3)
0
B
and K δθ = K θδ = ∫ K S ( x) L( x − B / 2)dx
0
324 J. Paul Smith-Pardo, Mete A. Sozen, and Julio A. Ramirez

P M
B
σ(x) = (P/Β2) plate

δ(x ) ∆
1
(K sB) = (K (x) B )
plate s

θ P
plate

x
(δ/Β)plate
= (δ/B) δ plate

B plate
Ks (x)
Plot Obtained from Plate Load Test

Fig. 2. Proposed Mathematical Model.

The nonlinear nature of the problem is evident: (i) the terms of the stiffness
matrix K (Eq. 3) depend on δ and θ, and (ii) P and M are coupled. Notice also that
the case Ks(x) = constant correspond to the classical Winkler formulation (thus,
linear behavior of the bearing soil and not interaction of P and M, i.e., Kσδ = 0).
Solution of this problem requires considering the equilibrium equation in differen-
tial form:
 dP   dδ 
  = K  (4)
dM  dθ 
Georgiadis and Butterfield (Georgiadis and Butterfield 1988), and Montrasio
and Nova (Montrasio and Nova 1997) reported results for the vertical displace-
ment at the center of eccentrically loaded foundations on sand. The footings used
by Georgiadis and Butterfield were steel plates 50mm wide (direction of bending)
by 400mm long.
Footings tested by Montrasio and Nova were 100mm-side square steel plates.
Calculated vertical force-displacement (at the center of the plate) for the footings
tested by these researchers are shown in Figure 3 with dashed lines. Experimental
values are indicated in the same figures with continuous lines. The similarity in
the results encourages the use of the proposed methodology for the calculation of
the response of foundations under combined vertical force and overturning mo-
ment.

Extension of the Model and Experimental Program

A study is being undertaken that considers the application of the proposed
mathematical model in the calculation of the response under lateral loads of low-
 Nonconventional and Simple View of the Soil-Structure Interaction Problem 325

3.0
P

e
2.5

δ
2.0
B

Calculated
P (kN)

1.5
Measured
e/B = 1/24
1.0 e/B = 1/12
e/B = 1/6
e/B = 1/4
0.5
Note: Broken lines correspond to calculated values

0.0
0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0

δ (m m)
G eorgiadis & Butterfield (1988)

5.0
P

4.5 e
L/B = 1
L/B = 2
4.0
δ L/B = 3
3.5 B Calculated

3.0
P(kN)

2.5
Measured
2.0

1.5

1.0

0.5

0.0
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5
δ(mm)
Montrasio and Nova (1997)

Fig. 3. Experimental/Calculated Response of Eccentrically Loaded Foundations: top: Test

Results by Georgiadis and Butterfield (1988), bottom: Test Results by Montrasio and Nova
(1997).

to-medium rise (residential) R/C structures. The loading conditions for the foun-
dations of laterally loaded buildings consist of an approximately constant vertical
load (corresponding to gravity load) and an increasing overturning moment (as the
applied lateral load, simulating earthquake excitation, increases). The condition of
approximately constant axial load is approached as the number of bays in the
structure becomes larger. An experimental program is being conducted at Purdue
326 J. Paul Smith-Pardo, Mete A. Sozen, and Julio A. Ramirez

University to calibrate the proposed model for foundations subjected to constant

axial load and varying overturning moment. Previous tests consisted of varying
both the axial load and the overturning moment (constant eccentricity).

Summary and Conclusions

A simple formulation for the calculation of settlement and rotation of foundations

under combined vertical load and overturning moment has been presented. Using
the proposed approach, the calculated vertical force versus center displacement
relationships for eccentrically loaded shallow foundations on sand compare very
well with the experimental results from previous studies. Extension of the sug-
gested mathematical model to foundations subjected to constant axial load and
varying overturning moment is currently underway, to better represent the loading
of foundations of buildings under lateral forces.

References

Briaud JL, and Guibbens RM (1994), Predicted and Measured Behavior of Five Spread
Footings on Sand, Settlement ’94 ASCE conference at Texas A&M University, June
16-18, 1994 ; Jean-Louis Briaud and Robert M. Gibbens eds.
Consoli NC, Schnaid F, and Milititsky J (1998), Interpretation of Plate Load Tests on Re-
sidual Soil Site, ASCE Journal of Geotechnical and Environmental Engineering, Vol.
124, No.9, pp. 857-867.
FEMA 273 (1997), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Seismic Rehabilita-
tion Guidelines, Chapter 3: Modeling and Analysis (Systematic Rehabilitation) Section
3.2.6: Soil Structure Interaction.
Gazetas G (1991), Formulas and Charts for Impedances of Surface and Embedded Founda-
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Effects, Geotechnique, Vol. 47, No. 1, pp. 46-60.
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