Advances in Soil-Structure Interaction for Building Structures

A special issue of Buildings (ISSN 2075-5309). This special issue belongs to the section "Building Structures".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 August 2025 | Viewed by 7514

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Institute of Geotechnical and Underground Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
Interests: failure criterion and constitutive theory for soils; multiscale numerical simulation of granular materials; physical model test on tunnel excavation

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Guest Editor
State Key Laboratory of Intelligent Geotechnics and Tunnelling, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu 611756, China
Interests: physical and mechanical properties of special soils; mechanism of soil-structure interaction

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Guest Editor
School of Civil Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519082, China
Interests: structure disaster in underground engineering; computational soil mechanics; soil dynamics and geotechnical seismic engineering
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The soil-structure interaction (SSI) is one of the most important and complex issues in civil engineering, and it has drawn many scholars’ attention in recent decades. The soil and structure, which have different physical and mechanical properties, are analyzed as a whole with their deformation satisfying the compatibility conditions. SSI changes the stress/strain state of the soil and structure to some degree, and thus affects the safety and stability of the building’s engineering. The study of SSI requires the use of interdisciplinary knowledge including soil mechanics, structural mechanics, foundation engineering, mathematics and computer technology. Overall, further understanding SSI can provide both a theoretical basis and practical methods for the design, construction, operation and maintenance of civil engineering structures.

The main aim of this Special Issue is to introduce new cutting-edge theory and approaches to the study of SSI. Topics include but are not limited to:

  • Laboratory and in situ tests on SSI;
  • Contact surface constitutive theory;
  • Multiscale numerical simulation of SSI;
  • Advanced computational method of SSI;
  • Application of new theory and approach to practical engineering.

Dr. Yu Tian
Dr. Ran Yuan
Dr. Wei Sun
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • soil-structure interaction
  • deformation compatibility condition
  • contact surface
  • soil constitutive theory
  • substructure method
  • multiscale numerical simulation
  • computational method

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Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

22 pages, 6101 KiB  
Article
Three-Dimensional Simulation of Seismic Structure–Soil–Structure Interaction for Mid-Rise Buildings near Dense Shallow Sloping Soils Under the Impact of 6 February 2023 Kahramanmaraş-Pazarcık Earthquake
by Hamza Güllü and Ozan Natur
Buildings 2025, 15(7), 1013; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15071013 - 21 Mar 2025
Viewed by 293
Abstract
During a seismic movement, each wave field incoming to a foundation by reflecting from the surroundings causes amplification. Therefore, the seismic response of any building is affected by both the topography and the adjacent building. In this study, the effect of the adjacent [...] Read more.
During a seismic movement, each wave field incoming to a foundation by reflecting from the surroundings causes amplification. Therefore, the seismic response of any building is affected by both the topography and the adjacent building. In this study, the effect of the adjacent building on the seismic performance of a building located near a shallow slope is numerically assessed. In the adopted three-dimensional finite element simulation, nonlinear variation of soil stiffness and hysteretic damping, elastoplastic behaviour of the superstructure frame system showing significant deviations from linear behaviour beyond the limits of elastic behaviour and varying distances between the foundation edge and the adjacent building were employed. Two identical 10-storey moment-resisting buildings, 40 m thick dense clayey sand, and a 5 m high shallow slope were considered as a reference model and simulated using the direct method in the time domain. The seismic performance of the building was studied at a distance equal to the height of the slope from the crest. The results of the analyses represent an interaction in which both shallow slope and adjacent building effects are observed together. Incremental structure–soil–structure interaction effect, on the one hand, created additional shear stresses on the shallow slope and enhanced the foundation rocking of the building. On the other hand, as a natural result of dynamic cross-interaction, it resulted in a reduction in the maximum acceleration value captured at the foundation, a drop in the base shear demand, and a large change in the maximum storey displacements at the lower floors. As a result of these cases, storey drifts increased. The results highlighted that the structure–soil–structure interaction cannot be neglected in the presence of a slope. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Soil-Structure Interaction for Building Structures)
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22 pages, 5895 KiB  
Article
Hydro-Mechanical Numerical Analysis of a Double-Wall Deep Excavation in a Multi-Aquifer Strata Considering Soil–Structure Interaction
by Yinhang Zhu, Weidong Wang, Zhonghua Xu, Jinjian Chen and Ji Zhang
Buildings 2025, 15(6), 989; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15060989 - 20 Mar 2025
Viewed by 185
Abstract
In order to exploit the deep underground space, the construction of ultra-deep excavation in Shanghai is growing rapidly. In multi-aquifer strata, deep excavations typically require dewatering of confined aquifers to ensure engineering safety. However, existing studies have seldom conducted in-depth analysis on the [...] Read more.
In order to exploit the deep underground space, the construction of ultra-deep excavation in Shanghai is growing rapidly. In multi-aquifer strata, deep excavations typically require dewatering of confined aquifers to ensure engineering safety. However, existing studies have seldom conducted in-depth analysis on the influence of the soil parameters and construction measures on the deformation of retaining structures. In this study, a three-dimensional hydro-mechanical numerical model was developed to evaluate the performances of excavation and dewatering of the foundation pit. The model was validated by comparing the calculated and measured wall deflections and groundwater drawdowns of a 45 m ultra-deep double-wall excavation in Shanghai. According to the characteristics of soil stratification and construction activities, three parameters were selected for subsequent analysis, including the hydraulic conductivity of aquitard below the bottom of the pit, the pumping rate in the second confined aquifer and the construction of TRD wall. The stress distributions on both sides of the diaphragm wall were examined to elucidate the deformation mechanism. The results indicate that the aquitard hydraulic conductivity directly affects the effective stress of the overlying aquifer, which plays a crucial role in resisting wall deflection. An increase in the hydraulic conductivity leads to smaller effective stress, greater wall deflection and larger ground settlement. While an appropriately increased pumping rate enhances effective stress, over-pumping may induce excessive wall deflection at depth and disproportionate ground settlement. The TRD wall is quite useful in terms of waterproofing but the effect on deformation control is limited. The findings of this study provide valuable insights for engineering practices and the optimization of deep excavation construction measures in multi-aquifer strata. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Soil-Structure Interaction for Building Structures)
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19 pages, 6401 KiB  
Article
Rheological Properties and Permeation Grouting Reinforcement Effect of Cement-Bentonite Slurry
by Yuan Wang, Tian Qi, Chenxi Xu and Jiakun Gong
Buildings 2025, 15(5), 744; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15050744 - 25 Feb 2025
Viewed by 456
Abstract
Permeation grouting is one important method for preventing and controlling leakage in levees, with cement-bentonite slurry as a commonly used grouting material. In this study, the effect of water–cement ratio and bentonite content on the rheological properties of cement-bentonite slurry was investigated. The [...] Read more.
Permeation grouting is one important method for preventing and controlling leakage in levees, with cement-bentonite slurry as a commonly used grouting material. In this study, the effect of water–cement ratio and bentonite content on the rheological properties of cement-bentonite slurry was investigated. The reinforcement effect of cement-bentonite slurry under various conditions was explored by conducting a series of experiments via a self-designed apparatus. The grouting pressure, water–cement ratio, and bentonite content were taken as the grouting variables, and the compressive strength, deformation modulus, and permeability coefficient were adopted as indicators to evaluate the reinforcement effect. The experimental results indicate that the plastic viscosity and the yield stress of the cement-bentonite slurry rose as the water–cement ratio increased. The water–cement ratio served as the main controlling factor of the grouting reinforcement effect. The compressive strength, deformation modulus, and permeability of the grouted body decreased as the water–cement ratio increased. The bentonite content significantly impacted the grouting reinforcement effect. As the bentonite content of slurry increased, the permeability of the grouted body increased, while the compressive strength and deformation modulus first increased then decreased. An optimal bentonite content of cement-bentonite slurry can be decided. Moreover, the failure mode of the grouted body was also significantly impacted by the water–cement ratio. As the water–cement ratio increased, the heterogeneity of the grouted body became greater, and the failure mode changed from overall failure to local failure. The heterogeneity of the grouted body can be improved by enhancing the grouting pressure and the bentonite content of cement-bentonite slurry. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Soil-Structure Interaction for Building Structures)
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18 pages, 12870 KiB  
Article
Numerical Simulation on an Ultra-Large Seven-Ring Internal Support System Considering the Effects of Soil–Structure Interaction and Temperature
by Hexiang Hu, Yu Tian, Neimeng Zheng, Xiuli Du, Haishan Guo and Zhonghua Xu
Buildings 2025, 15(3), 463; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15030463 - 2 Feb 2025
Viewed by 482
Abstract
The foundation pit area of Kunming International Comprehensive Transportation Hub is 56,800 m2, and the excavation depth ranges from 18 m to 25 m. Because the surrounding environment is very complex, the foundation pit is supported by an underground continuous wall [...] Read more.
The foundation pit area of Kunming International Comprehensive Transportation Hub is 56,800 m2, and the excavation depth ranges from 18 m to 25 m. Because the surrounding environment is very complex, the foundation pit is supported by an underground continuous wall and three layers of internal support system with seven rings. The force of this internal support system is coupled integrally, and the number of rings is the highest in the world at present. In this work, a finite element model considering the interaction between soil and the retaining structure is established. The Hardening Soil model with small strain stiffness is used to simulate and analyze the whole excavation process of the foundation pit. Considering the ultra-large plane size of the foundation pit, we cannot ignore the temperature effect, so the deformation of the underground continuous wall and the force of the internal support system under seasonal temperature variation are investigated. By comparing numerical simulation results with field measurements, the deformation of the ultra-large seven-ring internal support system, the deformation of the surrounding soil, and the axial force of the supports are analyzed. The results show that the finite element simulation agrees well with the measured data. This work provides a reliable method for analyzing ultra-large deep foundation pits. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Soil-Structure Interaction for Building Structures)
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31 pages, 11839 KiB  
Article
Fracture Mode and Thermal Damage Evolution of Sandstone Under the Coupling Effect of Thermal Treatment and Impact Load
by Yan Xi, Yanglin Wang, Jianwei Yin, Hailong Jiang and Wei Wang
Buildings 2024, 14(11), 3528; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14113528 - 5 Nov 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 915
Abstract
The dynamic properties of high-temperature sandstone quickly deteriorate with different cooling methods, which leads to the instability of underground engineering rock structures. Therefore, it is of great significance to quantify the changes in the dynamic characteristics of high-temperature cooled sandstone under impact loads. [...] Read more.
The dynamic properties of high-temperature sandstone quickly deteriorate with different cooling methods, which leads to the instability of underground engineering rock structures. Therefore, it is of great significance to quantify the changes in the dynamic characteristics of high-temperature cooled sandstone under impact loads. Therefore, the sandstone is heated to different temperatures and cooled using three methods. A dynamic tensile test is performed using the Splitting Hopkinson Pressure Bar (SHPB) test set for high-temperature cooled sandstone. At the same time, the transient process of rock failure was examined using high-speed cameras. The influence of different temperatures and cooling methods on the thermal damage value of sandstone was analyzed, and the prediction equation was formed. The change in rock energy during rock failure under impact load was calculated. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Soil-Structure Interaction for Building Structures)
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21 pages, 4943 KiB  
Article
Three-Dimensional Numerical Analysis of Seismic Response of Steel Frame–Core Wall Structure with Basement Considering Soil–Structure Interaction Effects
by Fujian Yang, Haonan Zhao, Tianchang Ma, Yi Bao, Kai Cao and Xiaoshuang Li
Buildings 2024, 14(11), 3522; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14113522 - 4 Nov 2024
Viewed by 1323
Abstract
In recent years, numerous studies highlighted the crucial role of the soil–structure interaction (SSI) in the seismic performance of basement structures. However, there remains a limited understanding of how this interaction affects buildings with basement structures under varying site conditions. Based on the [...] Read more.
In recent years, numerous studies highlighted the crucial role of the soil–structure interaction (SSI) in the seismic performance of basement structures. However, there remains a limited understanding of how this interaction affects buildings with basement structures under varying site conditions. Based on the three-dimensional (3D) numerical analysis method, the influence of the SSI on the seismic response of high-rise steel frame–core wall (SFCW) structures situated on shallow-box foundations were investigated in this study. To further investigate the effects of the SSI and site conditions, three types of soil profiles—soft, medium, and hard—were considered, along with a fixed-foundation model. The results were compared in terms of the maximum lateral displacement, inter-story drift ratio (IDR), acceleration amplification coefficient, and tensile damage for the SFCW structure under different site conditions, with both fixed-base and shallow-box foundation configurations. The findings highlight that the site conditions significantly affected the seismic performance of the SFCW structure, particularly in the soft soil, which increased the lateral deflection and inter-story drift. Moreover, compared with non-pulse-like ground motion, pulse-like ground motion resulted in a higher acceleration amplification coefficient and greater structural response in the SFCW structure. The RC core wall–basement slab junction was a critical region of stress concentration that exhibited a high sensitivity to the site conditions. Additionally, the maximum IDRs showed a more significant variation at incidence angles between 20 and 30 degrees, with a more pronounced effect at a seismic input intensity of 0.3 g than at 0.2 g. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Soil-Structure Interaction for Building Structures)
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25 pages, 29734 KiB  
Article
Study of Flow Characteristics and Anti-Scour Protection Around Tandem Piers Under Ice Cover
by Pengcheng Gao, Lei Chang, Xianyou Mou, Feng Gao, Haitao Su, Bo Zhang, Zhiqiang Shang, Lina Gao, Haode Qin and Hui Ma
Buildings 2024, 14(11), 3478; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14113478 - 31 Oct 2024
Viewed by 743
Abstract
The impact of an ice-covered environment on the local flow characteristics of a bridge pier was studied through a series of flume tests, and the dominant factors affecting the scour pattern were found to grasp the change laws of the local hydrodynamic characteristics [...] Read more.
The impact of an ice-covered environment on the local flow characteristics of a bridge pier was studied through a series of flume tests, and the dominant factors affecting the scour pattern were found to grasp the change laws of the local hydrodynamic characteristics of the bridge pier under the ice cover. At the same time, because the scour problem of the pier foundation is a technical problem throughout the life-cycle of the bridge, to determine the optimal anti-scour protection effect on the foundation of the bridge pier, active protection scour plate was used to carry out scour protection tests, and its structural shape was optimized to obtain better anti-scour performance. The test results show that the jumping movements of sediment particles in the scour hole around the pier are mainly caused by events Q2 and Q4, which are accompanied by events Q1 and Q3 and cause the particle rolling phenomenon, where Q1 and Q3 events are outward and inward interacting flow regimes, and Q2 and Q4 events are jet and sweeping flow regimes, respectively. The power spectral attenuation rate in front of the upstream pier is high without masking effects, while strong circulation at the remaining locations results in strong vorticity and high spectral density, in particular, when the sampling time series is 60 s (i.e., f = 1/60), the variance loss rates under ice-covered conditions at the front of the upstream pier, between the two piers, and at the tail end of the downstream pier are 0.5%, 4.6%, and 9.8%, respectively, suggesting a smaller contribution of ice cover to the variance loss. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Soil-Structure Interaction for Building Structures)
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22 pages, 12751 KiB  
Article
Refined Simulation Study of Hydrodynamic Properties and Flow Field Characteristics around Tandem Bridge Piers under Ice-Cover Conditions
by Pengcheng Gao, Xianyou Mou, Honglan Ji, Feng Gao, Haitao Su, Lina Gao, Zhiqiang Shang, Lei Chang and Mingnan Che
Buildings 2024, 14(9), 2853; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14092853 - 10 Sep 2024
Viewed by 763
Abstract
Ice cover is a common phenomenon in rivers in cold regions during the winter freeze-up period, leading to the formation of unsteady bypass structures around underwater piers. To reveal the variation law of the flow field around a pier under ice, a numerical [...] Read more.
Ice cover is a common phenomenon in rivers in cold regions during the winter freeze-up period, leading to the formation of unsteady bypass structures around underwater piers. To reveal the variation law of the flow field around a pier under ice, a numerical calculation method is proposed to obtain the spatial and temporal characteristics of the fluid flow environment around the pier. The verification of flow conditions and convergence showed that the numerical model constructed in this study is reliable and can meet research requirements. The simulation results showed that the ice-cover condition considerably impacted the extent of a scour hole, and in the horizontal plane Z of −0.02 m, the lateral influence of the scour hole was approximately 2.6 times the diameter of the pier, which was approximately 42% wider than that of a scour hole under open-flow conditions; in the area on the side of the pier, there was a peak in longitudinal section y/D of −0.6, and the relative turbulence intensity was 0.4 and 0.51 under open-flow and ice-cover conditions, respectively, indicating that ice cover made the peak more significant in the area. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Soil-Structure Interaction for Building Structures)
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17 pages, 10426 KiB  
Article
Study of the Pore Water Pressure Development Characteristics of PHC Pipe Piles in Soft Soil Foundations
by Zhaolin Jia, Han Wu, Shuaiqi He, Qixiang Zhao and Xiaoxu Zhang
Buildings 2024, 14(7), 1976; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14071976 - 30 Jun 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1367
Abstract
When constructing hollow prestressed high-strength concrete (PHC) pipe piles in soft soil foundations, the generation and dissipation of pore water pressure can induce negative friction on the pile. This phenomenon increases the settlement of the pile foundation and, in severe cases, can lead [...] Read more.
When constructing hollow prestressed high-strength concrete (PHC) pipe piles in soft soil foundations, the generation and dissipation of pore water pressure can induce negative friction on the pile. This phenomenon increases the settlement of the pile foundation and, in severe cases, can lead to pile deflection and flotation. To further investigate the development characteristics of pore water pressure during PHC hollow pipe pile driving in soft soil, this study combined existing theories and numerical models to analyze the generation and influence areas of pore water pressure. Field tests were conducted at three different sites: an untreated site, a surcharge preloading site, and a site treated with cement mixing piles and well dewatering. These tests monitored and analyzed the horizontal and vertical development and behavior of pore water pressure during pile driving at each site. The results indicate that during the pile driving process, when the horizontal distance from the pile center is 3d and 9d, the peak values of the excess pore water pressure in the site treated with cement mixing piles and well dewatering are 117 kPa and 100 kPa. After pile driving is completed, they decrease to 50 kPa and 48 kPa, respectively. The peak values of excess pore water pressure in the surcharge preloading site are 122 kPa and 97 kPa, and after pile driving, they decreased to 80 kPa and 21 kPa, respectively. The peak values of excess pore water pressure in untreated sites are 140 kPa and 121 kPa; after pile driving, they decreased to 82 kPa and 60 kPa, respectively. Pore water pressure increases with the depth of pile driving and decreases with distance from the pile driving location. The peak pore water pressure and dissipation rate during construction were found to be higher at the untreated site compared to the other two sites. Therefore, during pile sinking in soft soil foundations, dewatering and driving drainage boards are effective methods for reducing pore water pressure and accelerating its dissipation. These findings provide a theoretical basis and technical support for ensuring the safety of engineering constructions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Soil-Structure Interaction for Building Structures)
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