Centrifuge Modeling of the Dynamic Behavior of Low-rise Buildings on Sandy Ground with Different Water Table Depths

Centrifuge Modeling of the Dynamic Behavior of Low-rise Buildings on Sandy Ground with Different Water Table Depths

In recent decades, Taiwan has experienced serious soil liquefaction disasters that have caused damage to buildings and affected people’s safety. This study aims to simulate the behavior of lowrise buildings on liquefiable ground during earthquakes via centrifuge modeling. In addition, different water table depths are used to investigate the effectiveness of the dewatering method for avoiding soil liquefaction disasters. The test results reveal that lowering the water table can effectively limit the excitation of excess pore water pressure and reduce the settlement of structures on liquefiable ground. However, it also reduces the seismic isolation effect of soil liquefaction on a structure. As the water table is lowered, the acceleration amplification in structures built on ground with a higher relative density is greater than that in structures on ground with a lower relative density. This shows that when the water table is lowered, the degree to which specific site conditions may affect acceleration amplification during seismic events must be considered.