Non Linear Response of Fixed Offshore Platforms to Seismic Excitation Including Soil-Pile-Structure Interaction

Author(s):  
Ehssan Zargar ◽  
Ali Akbar Aghakouchak ◽  
Amin Aghakouchak

A nonlinear seismic soil-pile-structure interaction (SSPSI) analysis of fixed offshore platforms constructed on pile foundations including both vertical and battered piles is presented. The analysis is carried out in time domain and the effects of soil nonlinearity, discontinuity at pile soil interfaces, energy dissipation through soil radiation damping, formation of soil layers on bed rock, structural material nonlinearity and geometrical nonlinearity are considered. A combination of FEM approach and BNWF approach is used in modeling pile (substructure), platform structure (superstructure) and soil media. Gapping in clay is modeled by a special connector configuration. To find out the ground motion of soil layers caused by earthquake excitations at bed rock, a nonlinear site response analysis is performed. The effects of soil-pile-structure interaction on nonlinear seismic analysis of offshore platforms are discussed. It is generally concluded that considering soil-pile-structure interaction causes higher deflections and lower stresses in the platform elements due to soil flexibility, nonlinearity and radiation damping and leads to a more feasible and realistic platform design. The sequence of generation of plastic zones in the structure and their distribution are also investigated. Sensitivity of results to soil layers configuration and soil material damping ratio are discussed.

Author(s):  
Ehssan Zargar ◽  
Ali Akbar Aghakouchak ◽  
Maziar Gholami

A nonlinear seismic soil-pile-structure interaction (SSPSI) analysis of fixed offshore platforms constructed on pile foundations including both vertical and battered piles is presented. The analysis is carried out in time domain and the effects of soil nonlinearity, discontinuity at pile soil interfaces, energy dissipation through soil radiation damping, formation of soil layers on bed rock, structural material nonlinearity and geometrical nonlinearity are considered. A combination of FEM approach and BNWF approach is used in modeling pile (substructure), platform structure (superstructure) and soil media. Gapping in clay is modeled by a special connector configuration. To find out the ground motion of soil layers caused by earthquake excitations at bed rock, a nonlinear site response analysis is performed. The effects of soil-pile-structure interaction on nonlinear seismic analysis of offshore platforms are discussed. A comparison of SSPSI model and pile stub modeling is investigated and it is generally concluded that considering soil-pile-structure interaction causes higher deflections and lower stresses in the platform elements due to soil flexibility, nonlinearity and radiation damping and leads to a more feasible and realistic platform design. The sequence of generation of plastic zones in the structure and their distribution are also investigated. Results show that this nonlinear behavior is started at brace elements and then propagated to leg elements as earthquake last.


2008 ◽  
Vol 45 (4) ◽  
pp. 470-483 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad H.T. Rayhani ◽  
M. Hesham El Naggar

Seismic site response of sandy soils and seismic soil–structure interaction are investigated using an electrohydraulic earthquake simulator mounted on a centrifuge container at an 80g field. The results of testing uniform and layered loose to medium-dense sand models subjected to 13 simulated earthquakes on the centrifuge are presented. The variation of shear modulus and damping ratio with shear strain amplitude and confining pressure was evaluated and their effects on site response were assessed. The evaluated shear modulus and damping ratio agreed reasonably with laboratory tests and empirical relationships. Site response analysis using the measured shear wave velocity and estimated modulus reduction and damping ratio as input parameters produced good agreement with the measured site response. The effect of soil–structure interaction for structures situated on dry sand is also investigated. These tests have revealed many important insights with regard to the characteristics of seismic site response and seismic soil–structure behaviour. The tests showed that the seismic response of soil deposits, input motions, and overall behaviour of the structure are affected by soil stratification. The results showed that the seismic kinematic soil–structure interaction is not very significant for structures situated on loose sand.


Author(s):  
Mehrdad Kimiaei ◽  
Mohsen Ali Shayanfar ◽  
M. Hesham El Naggar ◽  
Ali Akbar Aghakouchak

Pile supported offshore platforms in seismically active areas should be designed to survive severe earthquake excitations with no global structural failure. It is often required to perform nonlinear seismic analysis of offshore platforms that accounts for soil nonlinearity, discontinuity condition at pile soil interfaces, energy dissipation through soil radiation damping and structural nonlinear behaviours of the piles. In this study a BNWF (Beam on Nonlinear Winkler Foundation) model is incorporated into a finite element program (ANSYS) and it is used to compute the lateral response of piles subjected to seismic loading. The soil stiffness is established using the P-Y curve. The results of equivalent linear earthquake free field ground motion analyses are used as the input excitations at support nodes of the model. The components and advantages of this practical ANSYS model in seismic pile soil structure interaction analyses are discussed and addressed in detail. Computed responses compared well with the experimental test results. Sensitivity of the results to model parameters and site response calculations are evaluated.


2014 ◽  
Vol 580-583 ◽  
pp. 264-267
Author(s):  
Sheng Jie Di ◽  
Zhi Gang Shan ◽  
Xue Yong Xu

Characterization of the shear wave velocity of soils is an integral component of various seismic analysis, including site classification, hazard analysis, site response analysis, and soil-structure interaction. Shear wave velocity at offshore sites of the coastal regions can be measured by the suspension logging method according to the economic applicability. The study presents some methods for estimating the shear wave velocity profiles in the absence of site-specific shear wave velocity data. By applying generalized regression neural network (GRNN) for the estimation of in-situ shear wave velocity, it shows good performances. Therefore, this estimation method is worthy of being recommended in the later engineering practice.


2011 ◽  
Vol 255-260 ◽  
pp. 2365-2369
Author(s):  
Emad Gheibi ◽  
Mohammad Hosein Bagheripour

The concept of equivalent number of uniform stress cycles, is essential for assessment of soil liquefaction potential. In this regard, various procedures are used to convert random acceleration time history to uniform cycles having amplitude of 0.65 of peak acceleration. Equivalent number of cycles (Neq) defines equivalent energy generated by harmonic loading as that imposed by irregular motion during an earthquake. Neq is assumed to be a function of earthquake magnitude. Over the past years, in accordance with development in methods of soil liquefaction evaluation, various methods have been proposed to determinate equivalent number of cycles. In particular, parameters like site to source distance (r), have been related directly to Neq. In this study, more than 80 earthquake records have been investigated and their Neqs are assessed using energy approach and nonlinear site response analysis. It is shown that equivalent number of cycles is related to earthquake magnitude (M), r and depth of originated signals. Unlike previous methods which result in scatter in output data, current approach has led to more uniform and consistent results for each earthquake.


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