Centrifuge Tests of Adjacent Mat-Supported Buildings Affected by Liquefaction

Abstract

Geotechnical centrifuge tests can provide valuable insights into the mechanisms governing the performance of buildings affected by liquefaction. An area particularly lacking knowledge is the effect of liquefaction on adjacent structures, which is a common possibility in urban areas. Two well-instrumented centrifuge tests were performed to investigate the response of isolated and adjacent structures founded on ground that underwent varying degrees of liquefaction. Three types of single-degree-of-freedom model structures were used in the experiments. Acceleration, pore water pressure, and settlement measurements illustrated that liquefaction-induced settlement of structures depends on a complex interaction of ground motion, soil, and structural characteristics. For the cases examined in this study, adjacent structures experienced moderately lower foundation accelerations than isolated structures of the same type. Adjacent structures tended to tilt away from one another and settled less than isolated structures. The physical restraint imposed by an adjacent foundation limited lateral soil movement and reduced the total settlement of the neighboring structure.