Numerical modelling of a long storage facility foundation plate under seismic actions

Abstract

The storage facility has been modelled by using the finite element method and checked on the base of comparison with analytical expressions from the technical codes of various countries. Because of great influence on the over-ground structures, the task was given to provide the ideal joint operation of the foundation and construction as more closely as possible. The analysis model of the construction on the elastic soil foundation has been subdivided in two basic sub-models: the model of half-space of ground and the model of frame system on the load-bearing baseplate. The link between sub-models has been carried out through external loads (from the over-ground structure on the soil) and through sub-grade factors (from the soil back to over-ground structures). The general idea of modelling of the stress/strain state of the ground half-space is to prove need of application of exact analytical layer-by-layer model; to prove the usage of the reinforced pile field which has not been connected directly with the footing baseplate. In the analysis model technological filling process of the storage building has been conditionally divided in 20 stages, the first 12 stages take into account loading with weight and temperature, the rest – only with temperature. The weight load filling direction is from the storage edges to the middle, direction of the temperature load “moving” – from the distant end of the room to the near one. Additionally, seismic actions in different directions have been analysed. So, such kind of stress/strain state analysis (which in this research has been practically expressed by reinforcement intensity) of the long load-bearing base-plate is very complicated, even by using advanced engineering software. These investigations are applicable in the case of extreme structure loading.