In civil engineering, the mechanical behaviour of soil and structural elements is described through the common tool of solid mechanics. It would therefore seem logical to study the problem of soil-structure interaction through a unified approach, in which the two materials in contact are simply endowed with different mechanical properties. However, due to the specific behaviours of soils and structures, to the different traditions of geotechnical and structural engineering practice, and to the conceptual and practical difficulties of a unified approach, each problem is typically addressed by introducing strong simplifications, related to the purpose of the analysis.
The study of soil-structure interaction under static action is primarily focused on determining the stresses in structural elements and the displacements of geotechnical systems (foundations, excavations, tunnels), which in turn can induce significant effects on existing constructions. Seismic actions introduce additional complexities, as the characteristics of the soil and structural elements determine the dynamic response of the system, and the study of soil-structure interaction must primarily address this aspect.
The present course examines different situations where the interaction of the soil with structural members has a strong effect on the design of a structure; it illustrates common and advanced analysis techniques, dealing with their applicability and their limitations in relation to the objectives of the analysis. The course considers the effects of both static and seismic actions.
June 12,13,15,16, 2023, 10:30am-12:30pm / 2:00pm-4:00pm
The course will take place in blended mode: in presence at the Sala Riunioni - DISG (Structures), room 329, Faculty of Engineering, via Eudossiana 18, Rome and online via Zoom.