Responses of Buildings with Different Structural Types to Excavation-Induced Ground Settlements

Abstract

This paper compares the responses of buildings with different structural types on shallow foundations subjected to excavation-induced ground settlements and provides a better understanding of the complex soil-structure interaction in building response. Investigated structures include brick-bearing structures, open-frame structures, and brick-infilled frame structures. These structures are often encountered near a construction area, and the different structures may show very different behaviors to excavation-induced ground settlements. In this research, numerical studies were carried out to evaluate the responses of single brick-bearing walls and frame structures (both open and brick infilled) subjected to an identical progressive ground settlement and to provide key features of building responses in different soil conditions, structure conditions, and structural types. Each structure, which is four stories high, was modeled numerically with two different soil conditions, and the response was compared among other types of structures and between elastic and crackable conditions for the brick-bearing and brick-infilled frame structures. Comparison of building responses was investigated by using distortions and crack damages induced to the structures by excavation-induced ground settlements. The structures were modeled by using the two-dimensional (2D) universal distinct element code (UDEC 3.1) in which each brick unit was modeled as a separate unit, with the contacts between brick units having stiffness and strength characteristics of mortar. The numerical studies indicated that the structural response to excavation-induced ground settlements is highly dependent on structural type, cracking in a structure, and soil condition; therefore, their effects should be considered to better assess building response to excavation-induced ground settlements.