Robustness of simplified methods for rocking structures on soil

Rocking isolation has been shown to be beneficial. By allowing full mobilization of foundation bearing capacity, the plastic “hinge” is invited into the soil, protecting the superstructure. Although such novel concept has been applied in some pioneering structures, rocking isolation has not yet found its way to engineering practice. A potential challenge is the need for nonlinear dynamic analyses, accounting for foundation uplifting and strongly nonlinear soil response. To facilitate application in practice, we have been developing simplified analysis methods, replacing the soil-foundation system with an assembly of nonlinear springs and dashpots.


Details of three such methods and a more rigorous assessment of their performance can be found in the following publications:
👉 external page https://doi.org/10.1002/eqe.3294
👉 external page https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soildyn.2013.10.001
👉 external page https://doi.org/10.1007/s10518-013-9554-0