Beam‐Column‐Analogy Model for Soil‐Structure Interaction Analysis

Abstract

A mathematical model for a combined soil subgrade plus structurallement in contact with the subgrade (e.g., a mat foundation) is presented. The structural portion of the model is a conventional flexural element. The subgrade portion of the model is Pasternak's hypothesis, which is fundamentally more accurate than the commonly used Winkler hypothesis. The novel element developed in this note is not the individual model components, but the fact that the combined model can be visualized as a spring‐supported beam‐column under constant axial tension. The column tension and springs represent the subgrade effects. This beam‐column analogy is useful in practice because it allows more accurate modeling of soil‐structure interaction within the capabilities of existing structural analysis computer software.