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Seismic response of tied‐back retaining walls
Author(s) -
Siller Thomas J.,
Christiano Paul P.,
Bielak Jacobo
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
earthquake engineering and structural dynamics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.218
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1096-9845
pISSN - 0098-8847
DOI - 10.1002/eqe.4290200702
Subject(s) - structural engineering , stiffness , displacement (psychology) , finite element method , parametric statistics , wavelength , transient (computer programming) , transient response , linear elasticity , structural load , geology , geotechnical engineering , mechanics , engineering , materials science , physics , mathematics , optics , computer science , psychology , statistics , psychotherapist , operating system , electrical engineering
Parametric studies based on finite element simulations were conducted to establish the fundamental mechanisms by which tied‐back walls respond to travelling displacement pulses. Considering first linear elastic soil behaviour, we observed that the flexural stiffness of the wall hardly affects maximum transient displacements. Rather, the transient response is determined mainly by the ratio of pulse wavelength to wall height. The maximum load carried by the anchor was found to increase with increasing anchor stiffness. For short wavelengths, on the order of less than two times the wall height, the maximum displacements and displaced shapes are affected significantly by the inclination of the anchor. The importance of the anchor stiffness suggested by the linear elastic analysis was confirmed by the non‐linear analysis. A stiff anchor suppressed permanent displacements in the vicinity of the anchor, but did not substantially reduce permanent displacements elsewhere. As peak accelerations increased from 0.1 g to 0.4 g , permanent wall displacements increased significantly.