A study of ground-structure interaction in dynamic plate load testing

• Published in: International journal for numerical and analytical methods in geomechanics Vol. 26; no. 12; pp. 1147 - 1166
• Main Authors: Guzina, Bojan B., Fata, Sylvain Nintcheu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chichester, UK John Wiley & Sons, Ltd 01.10.2002; Wiley
• Subjects: annular foundation; Applied sciences; Buildings. Public works; Computation methods. Tables. Charts; dynamic soil-structure interaction; Exact sciences and technology; falling weight deflectometer; Geotechnics; layered half-space; pavement testing; Structural analysis. Stresses; Structure-soil interaction; Subgrade; Stress distribution; Deflection; Footing; Mathematical analysis; Forced vibration; Ring foundations; Structure soil interaction; Half space; Loading test(mechanics); Dynamic load; Fredholm equation
• ISSN: 0363-9061; 1096-9853
• DOI: 10.1002/nag.239

A mathematical treatment is presented for the forced vertical vibration of a padded annular footing on a layered viscoelastic half‐space. On assuming a depth‐independent stress distribution for the interfacial buffer, the set of triple integral equations stemming from the problem is reduced to a Fredholm integral equation of the second kind. The solution method, which is tailored to capture the stress concentrations beneath footing edges, is highlighted. To cater to small‐scale geophysical applications, the model is used to investigate the near‐field effects of ground‐loading system interaction in dynamic geotechnical and pavement testing. Numerical results indicate that the uniform‐pressure assumption for the contact load between the composite disc and the ground which is customary in dynamic plate load testing may lead to significant errors in the diagnosis of subsurface soil and pavement conditions. Beyond its direct application to non‐intrusive site characterization, the proposed solution can be used in the seismic analysis of a variety of structures involving annular foundation geometries. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.