Seismic response of vertical shafts in multi-layered soil using dynamic and pseudo-static analyses

In this study, numerical analyses were conducted to investigate the load transfer mechanisms and dynamic responses between the vertical shaft and the surrounding soil using a dynamic analysis method and a pseudo-static method (called response displacement method, RDM). Numerical solutions were verified against data from the literature. A series of parametric studies was performed with three different transient motions and various surrounding soils. The results showed that the soil stratigraphy and excitation motions significantly influenced the dynamic behavior of the vertical shaft. Maximum values of the shear force and bending moment occurred near an interface between the soil layers. In addition, deformations and load distributions of the vertical shaft were highly influenced by the amplified seismic waves on the vertical shaft constructed in multi-layered soils. Throughout the comparison results between the dynamic analysis method and the RDM, the results from the dynamic analyses showed good agreement with those from the RDM calculated by a double-cosine method.