Nonlinear response of bridge piers on inclined pile groups: the role of rocking foundation input motion

This paper presents first results of an on-going research focused on the effects of piles layout and inclination on the nonlinear seismic response of bridge piers. The analysis methodology, based on the substructure approach, is firstly presented. The soil-foundation system is studied in the frequency domain according to a numerical model developed by the authors while the inertial interaction analysis of the superstructures is carried out in the time domain to capture the nonlinear structural behaviour. A suitable lumped parameter model is used to approximate the frequency dependent behaviour of the soil-foundation impedances in the time domain analyses. The procedure is applied to some case studies constituted by single bridge piers founded on medium stiff and soft clayed soil deposits. Pile groups with piles of different inclinations are considered, as well as piers with different fundamental periods and yielding bending moments of the base cross sections, to simulate systems with different ductility capacity. Analyses results show the key role of the foundation rocking on the superstructure response and demonstrate that inclined pile foundations may have a significant impact on the superstructure response, reducing the pier head displacements and ductility demand

Soil-structure interaction effects on the seismic response of multi-span viaducts

The paper focuses on the effects of soil-structure interaction in the seismic response of multi-span viaducts on pile foundations. Analyses are performed by means of the substructure approach: the soil-foundation systems are studied in the frequency domain to obtain the foundation input motion and the dynamic impedance functions; inertial interaction analyses are carried out in the time domain accounting for the material nonlinear behaviour. Suitable lumped parameter models are introduced to simulate the frequency dependent behaviour of the soilfoundation system. A specific procedure for selecting and scaling real ground motions is proposed and used for the definition of the spatial seismic input. The seismic response of bridges on compliant base is compared with that obtained from fixed base analyses discussing the significance of soil-structure interaction effects

Numerical and Simplified Methods for Soil-pile Interaction Analysis

The paper presents a review of the analytical and numerical procedures developed by the authors for the dynamic analysis of soil-pile foundation systems subjected to the propagation of seismic waves in the soil. Inclined and vertical single piles and groups constituted by piles with a generic inclination are addressed. For the former, an analytical approach based on the beam on dynamic Winkler foundation approach is adopted; the pile is modelled as a Euler-Bernoulli beam and the soil-pile interaction is captured by defining soil impedances relevant to the harmonic vibrations of rigid disks available in the literature. The coupled flexural and axial behaviour of the pile is solved analytically exploiting exponential matrices. The pile group dynamic problem is similarly formulated but the solution is achieved exploiting the finite element approach. Besides numerical models, simplified approaches based on static equivalent methods and simplified formulas are also addressed to estimate the maximum kinematic stress resultants on vertical piles subjected to lateral seismic excitations. The reliability of the presented tools in capturing the dynamic stiffness and the overall kinematic response of pile foundations is shown by comparing results with those available in the literature or achieved through refined finite element models. From an engineering point of view, the proposed approaches assure a sufficient accuracy and may substitute refined computational demanding numerical models

Dissolved CO2 in natural waters: development of an automated monitoring system and first application to Stromboli volcano (Italy)

The study of geochemical parameters applied to natural systems has provided improved knowledge of geochemical mechanisms of gas/rock dissolution in natural waters that are linked to gas–water and/or water– rock interaction processes. Here we present the results of our studies focused on the development of an automated monitoring system for measuring the amount of dissolved CO2 in natural waters. The system is based on the principle of a dynamic equilibrium between water and the air as the host gas. The PCO2 measurements were carried out every four hours, and the equilibration time was around 20 minutes. Moreover, application to the thermal aquifer of Stromboli volcano during the 2009-2010 period is shown and analyzed. The data highlight a clear correlation between the changes in the PCO2 in the thermal aquifer and the changes in volcanic activity

Simultaneous effect of spatial variability of ground motion due to site conditions and SSI on the seismic response of multi-span viaducts

This work focuses on the effects of the spatial variability of the seismic motion due to site effects on the seismic response of multi-span viaducts on pile foundations. A methodology is proposed to include the effects of both soil-structure interaction and non-synchronous seismic actions in the nonlinear response of bridges. Then, some results of nonlinear dynamic analyses performed on a multi-span bridge founded on soft soil are presented. The deposit is characterized by an inclined layout of the bedrock and the seismic input is represented by a set of suitably selected real accelerograms. Comparisons with results obtained considering synchronous seismic motions demonstrate the influence of site effects on the response of long bridges

Seismic Response of Bridges Accounting for Soil-Structure Interaction effects and the Non-Synchronous Ground Motion due to 1D and 2D site analysis.

This work focuses on the effects of soil-structure interaction and the spatial variability of seismic motion due to site effects on the seismic response of a multi-span viaduct on pile foundations. In particular, site effects induced in a soft clay deposit by an inclined bedrock layout are evaluated through different models, characterised by an increasing level of accuracy, which allows determining the free-field motion that is adopted to perform soilstructure interaction analyses in the frame of the substructure approach. The seismic input is represented at the outcropping bedrock by a set of suitably selected and scaled real accelerograms. After a brief presentation of the adopted numerical procedure, analyses results are presented focusing on both site and structural response. Amplifications effects obtained from simplified linear equivalent 1D and nonlinear 2D site response models are compared, discussing the applicability of the simplified approach. Structural responses, obtained by considering the non-synchronous motion resulting from the local stratigraphic conditions, in conjunction with soil-structure interaction effects, are shown in terms of piers displacement and ductility demands. Furthermore, the role of soil structure interaction is clarified comparing results with those obtained from fixed base bridge models, proving that its contribution is more significant if the simplified model for site response is adopted

Seismic Response of Viaducts Accounting for Soil-Structure Interaction

A research was recently granted by the Italian Government to develop a comprehensive procedure to account for spatial variability of ground motion as well as soil-structure interaction in assessing the behaviour of bridges. This paper reports on the work-package relevant to the effects of soil-structure interaction. In the first section, a methodology to include the effects of soil-structure interaction in the nonlinear response of bridges is presented. Kinematic interaction analysis is performed in the frequency domain by means of a procedure accounting for radiation damping, soil-pile and pile-to-pile interaction; the non-linear inertial interaction analysis is performed in the time domain by using a finite element model of the superstructure. Suitable lumped parameter models are implemented to reproduce the frequency-dependent compliance of soil-foundation systems. In the second section, some results of nonlinear dynamic analyses performed on some bridges designed on soft soils by means of a direct displacement approach are presented

Simultaneous Effect of Spatial Variability of Ground Motion due to Site Conditions and SSI on The Seismic Response of Multi-Span Viaducts

This work focuses on the effects of the spatial variability of the seismic motion due to site effects on the seismic response of multi-span viaducts on pile foundations. A methodology is proposed to include the effects of both soil-structure interaction and non-synchronous seismic actions in the nonlinear response of bridges. Then, some results of nonlinear dynamic analyses performed on a multi-span bridge founded on soft soil are presented. The deposit is characterized by an inclined layout of the bedrock and the seismic input is represented by a set of suitably selected real accelerograms. Comparisons with results obtained considering synchronous seismic motions demonstrate the influence of site effects on the response of long bridges

Winkler model for predicting the dynamic response of caisson foundations

The paper presents a Winkler-based numerical model for the analysis of the dynamic response of caisson foundations. The model allows the evaluation of the impedance functions and of the foundation input motion (FIM), which can be used in the framework of the substructure approach to compute inertial soil-foundation superstructure interaction analyses. In addition, kinematic stress resultants due to seismic shear waves propagating into the soil can be estimated. The caisson is modelled as a Timoshenko beam and the soil-caisson interaction forces are derived from the analyses of the plane-strain vibration problem of an annular rigid ring embedded into the soil. The problem solution is obtained in the frequency domain exploiting the finite element approach and generic soil stratigraphies can be considered in the applications. The model, which is characterised by a very low computational effort, is validated by performing a parametric investigation, comparing results with those obtained from more rigorous BEM-FEM models of the soil-caissons systems. Finally, some applications to real caisson foundations of offshore wind turbines (OWTs) are shown to demonstrate the model accuracy in capturing the seismic response of the foundations obtained from more rigorous models

Biochar Particles Obtained from Agricultural Carob Waste as a Suitable Filler for Sustainable Biocomposite Formulations

In the context of sustainable and circular economy, the recovery of biowaste for sustainable biocomposites formulation is a challenging issue. The aim of this work is to give a new life to agricultural carob waste after glucose extraction carried out by a local factory for carob candy production. A pyrolysis process was carried out on bio-waste to produce biofuel and, later, the solid residual fraction of pyrolysis process was used as interesting filler for biocomposites production. In this work, biochar particles (BC) as a pyrolysis product, after fuels recovery of organic biowaste, specifically, pyrolyzed carobs after glucose extraction, were added on poly(butylene-adipate-co-terephthalate), (PBAT), at two different concentrations, i.e., 10 and 20 wt%. The BC have been produced using three pyrolysis processing temperatures (i.e., 280, 340 and 400 degrees C) to optimize the compositions of produced solid fractions and biofuels. The resulting particles from the pyrolysis process (BC280, BC340 and BC400) were considered as suitable fillers for PBAT. Firstly, the BC particles properties were characterized by elemental composition and spectroscopy analysis, particle size measurements and evaluation of radical scavenging activity and efficiency. Moreover, PBAT/BC composites were subjected to analysis of their rheological and thermal behavior, morphologies and mechanical properties. In addition, accelerated weathering, monitored by both tensile test and spectroscopic analysis, was carried out, and obtained results show that the biochar particles can exert a beneficial effect on photo-oxidation delay of PBAT matrix