Geotechnical Aspects of Structural Failures

<p>Strong seismic shaking is recognized as the direct cause of structural failures. In many cases, however, the factor that initiates the structural damage is ground failure or ground displacement. This chapter deals with the identification of all geotechnical related structural failures. Surface fault rupture has been a well-acknowledged cause of failures of structures built across or near the fault, which are increasing in frequency as the man-made environment constantly expands to new areas. Seismically induced rockfalls, landslides and slope failures have also been associ-ated with major disasters with an increasing frequency in some cases due to an expanding popu-lation, which encroach on areas with landslide risk or in other cases as result of the destruction of the natural environment (vegetation and water routes), which have protected these slopes in the past. Foundation damage may be a result of failure of shallow foundations or piles. In addition, although liquefaction and ground settlement are technically part of foundation failures, they are usually treated as separate, special cases. Retaining wall structures, usually considered as simple systems, may display a complex behaviour, which can be related to extensive seismic failures. Finally, not taking into account soil–structure interaction (SSI) may have a detrimental effect on the dynamic response of structures. Although SSI may never be the direct cause of a structural failure, it has proven to be, in several cases, the underlying reason for the analysis misconception that led to the failure.</p>