Soil-Structure Interaction under Environmentally Induced Cyclic Loading

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The majority of geotechnical structures will be subjected to environmentally induced cyclic loads during their life-spans. These cyclic loads can be from a variety of sources, e.g. traffic, machines, wind and waves, construction or earthquakes. Repeated loading can range from a large number of high-probability cycles with relatively small amplitude, to a small number of low-probability cycles with relatively large amplitude. The cyclic loading will commonly be multi-axial and have a loading-time history that is irregular, with amplitude and frequency changes from cycle to cycle. This loading can lead to the accumulation of residual strains and stress changes that affect the performance or stability of the structure. Models for predicting the effects of random cyclic loading on geotechnical structures are relatively crude and are generally based on limited field and scaled model studies. Hence, more research is needed to address different aspects of random cyclic loads induced from environmental sources (e.g. wind, sea-waves and earthquakes) and provide understanding for better predictive design tools for geotechnical structures.***The aim of this project will be the investigation of the soil-structure behavior of two types of geotechnical structure: namely, foundations and pipelines, when subjected to complex combinations of vertical, horizontal and moment loads under random variable amplitude cyclic conditions. Cyclic predictive models will be validated and calibrated for predicting the behavior of these geotechnical structures, supported by data from field testing, scaled physical model testing and computer analysis. Appropriate loading and response time-histories for typical random environmental processes will be used in the development of these predictive methods. Understanding of the behavior of these geotechnical systems under cyclic environmental loading and optimization of analytical methods will provide improvements in design and prediction of their behavior. Over the funding period, data and knowledge accrued from the research will be utilized by engineers working in construction, geosciences, energy and the offshore industry. The proposed infrastructure will enable the creation of: (i) knowledge of structures and geotechnical processes, (ii) databases of field-scale behavior, (iii) design and construction information and (iv) data for numerical and analytical method validation. The primary sectors of application impacted by this work will be the wind energy, and oil and gas industries. **