Simplified estimation of seismically induced settlements

Abstract

This paper proposes a predictive expression of settlements for a dry sand deposit overlying a bedrock and subjected to a seismic motion. The proposed formula combines geometrical and mechanical properties of the soil profile with classical characteristics of the input motion. One of the main concepts developed herein consists in regarding the input motion and the dynamical response as samples of random processes; another key concept consists in the common densification curve from Sawicki. The model introduces a parameter k identified by means of an extensive set of accelerograms. The main advantage of the proposed method consists in allowing fast comparisons of earthquake induced settlements for different soil and motion characteristics and therefore quantifying the damage power of a time-history input motion. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.