Experimental Assessment of the Effect of Vertical Earthquake Motion on Underground Metro Station

Abstract

This paper presents experimental assessment of the effect of the ratio of vertical to horizontal peak ground acceleration (RVH) on underground metro station. An atrium-style metro station embedded in artificial soil subjected to earthquake loading is examined through shaking table tests. The experimental results for three different RVH, including soil acceleration, soil-structure acceleration difference, dynamic soil normal stress (DSNS), and structural dynamic strain, are presented and the results are compared with the case of horizontal-only excitation. It is found that for an atrium-style metro station, the differences in horizontal acceleration amplitude between the structure and the adjacent soil rise with increasing RVH, which are different at different depths. The most significant differences occur at the depth of the ceiling slab. It is also observed that both the amplitude and distribution of peak DSNS have obvious differences between the left and right side walls at all levels. It is therefore concluded that the RVH has a significant influence on dynamic soil-structure interaction. It is believed that under extreme earthquake loading, such as near fault zones, RVH is a parameter of paramount importance and should be accounted for in the seismic analyses and seismic performance assessments of underground structures, especially for those with zero or near-zero buried depth, such as atrium-style metro stations.

Shaking Table Test on the Response of a Cross Interchange Metro Station under Harmonic Excitations Refers to a Single Two-Storey Metro Station

“…It confirmed that the soil response recorded at the SA-ff array (out of the single station) was close to the analytical assumption as a free field condition. The slight discrepancy around the frequency of 10 Hz could apply to the influence of the single station structure [20]. In the SA-4 array, which was 1.1W from the interchange station structure (Figure 13b), the fundamental frequency followed the far field soil.…”

“…The above methods are mostly applied to the analysis of tunnels and underground structures with uniform cross-sections [20][21][22][23][24][25][26]. In the specific case of cross interchange stations, its seismic response has not been studied extensively thus far.…”

Special Issue on “Buildings and Structures under Extreme Loads”

“…A first set of papers reports on earthquake structural design of structures and buildings [1][2][3][4][5]. Various kinds of structures have been considered under the effects of seismic loads, including steel frames [1], liquid storage tanks [2], and an experimental prototype of atrium-style underground metro station [3], but also existing masonry structures [4] or new timber buildings [5], presenting a perspective review on their seismic design. Among others, a extreme natural event is certainly represented by windstorms.…”

A Novel Negative Stiffness Amplification System Based Isolation Method for the Vibration Control of Underground Structures

“…Underground structures are essential infrastructure of modern metropoles that can be vulnerable to strong earthquakes [1][2][3]. During the Great Hanshin earthquake in 1995, Daikai subway station suffered catastrophic damage [4,5].…”