Guidance on Seismic Site Response Analysis with Pore Water Pressure Generation

NCHRP Synthesis 428: Practices and Procedures for Site-Specific Evaluations of Earthquake Ground Motions revealed that one-dimensional (1-D) equivalent-linear analysis is the de facto standard for state DOT highway facilities at those locations where site-specific ground response analyses are conducted in accordance with provisions in the AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications (2014) and the AASHTO Design Guidelines for Seismic Bridge Design (2011). However, users have concerns about the applicability of equivalent-linear analyses for the cases for which site-specific response analyses are most useful (i.e., soft soil sites, liquefiable sites, and sites subjected to very strong shaking). While nonlinear 1-D site response analyses are beginning to be used in practice to address these concerns, considerable uncertainty exists with respect to the appropriate manner in which to employ and interpret such analyses. To assist bridge and foundation designers, guidance on the use and selection of 1-D nonlinear software with pore water pressure generation is needed for the effective and economical seismic design of all types of highway structures. The objective of this research was to provide guidance on the use and selection of analytical methods for 1-D nonlinear seismic site response analysis with pore water pressures generation to quantify the effects of site-specific conditions on earthquake ground response. The guidance considered the following: (1) input parameters required for the analyses (e.g., site characterizations, seismic loading); (2) limitation, selection, and validation of analytical methods; (3) the process of model setup; and (4) how to use the results of the analytical methods.

• Record URL:
  http://apps.trb.org/cmsfeed/TRBNetProjectDisplay.asp?ProjectID=4366

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Completed
• Funding: $640000
• Contract Numbers:

  Project 12-114

• Sponsor Organizations:

  National Cooperative Highway Research Program

  Transportation Research Board
  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001

  American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)

  444 North Capitol Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Project Managers:

  Abu-Hawash, Ahmad

• Performing Organizations:

  GeoLogic Associates

  Ontario, CA  United States 
• Principal Investigators:

  Matasovic, Neven

• Start Date: 20181108
• Expected Completion Date: 20230131
• Actual Completion Date: 20230131
• Source Data: RiP Project 41632

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Benchmarks; Earthquake resistant design; Pore water pressures; Repeated loads; Saturated soils; Seismicity; Shear strength; Software; Stiffness; Validation
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Geotechnology; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01634937
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Transportation Research Board
• Contract Numbers: Project 12-114
• Files: TRB, RIP
• Created Date: May 18 2017 11:59AM