Effects of Earthquake on Foundations

Abstract

As we know,shaking due to seismic waves causes damage to buildings. The damage maybe influenced by the characteristics of soil in the affected area.The objective of the paper is to show the effect of the earthquake on different types of foundations such as shallow, mat/raft, pile and structures like gravity dam, arch dam etc. The reaction of soil to the loading of the building when a building undergoes an earthquake disturbance as a behaviour of deflection is known as the soil structure interaction. The movement of ground during theearthquake induces kinematic and inertial loading which decreases the bearing capacity and increments the settlement of shallow foundations. In seismic regions, where kinematic interactions have been observed, the mat foundations experiences overturning moments. Pile foundations are influenced by both kinematic and inertial interactions which causes many failures. The convoluted oscillating arrangement of acceleration and ground motion in a gravity dam,developing ephemeral dynamic loads because of inertia of dam and confined water is the seismic activity generated in these dams. The arch dam foundations undergoes effects of inertia and flexibility due to the propagation of seismicwaves.