Experimental Investigation of Soil-Pile-Structure Seismic Interaction

The cyclic and seismic response of soil-pile-structure systems is assessed through comprehensive experimental tests performed on the 3mx3m shaking table of the Bristol Laboratory for Advanced Dynamics Engineering (BLADE), University of Bristol (UK). Such tests were carried out in the framework of the Seismic Engineering Research Infrastructures for European Synergies (SERIES). The present work discusses the preliminary results of the cyclic response of a pile group in a bi-layered soil profile. The outcomes of the test results discussed hereafter emphasize that kinematic effects are of paramount importance for the seismic analysis and design of structural systems with piled foundations. Appropriate combinations rule to account for both inertial and kinematic effects are deemed necessary. The experimental results derived with the shaking table tests will be employed to calibrate numerical models, which, in turn, will be utilized to perform comprehensive parametric analysis aimed at providing sound design rules to be implemented in next generation performance-based seismic codes of practice.