|
Abstract
|
The response of a building is mainly governed by its structural system and the properties of the construction material. For low-rise structures, buildings with different materials can be encountered during tunneling in urban areas (e.g. masonry, wood, concrete or steel). To realistically capture the overall building behavior, the main load carrying components have to be identified with their interconnections with the foundation system. Generally, the interaction between a structure and the ground is mainly influenced by the flexural stiffness of the building (Mair, 2013; Mair and Williamson, 2014). Masonry structures have less overall stiffness as compared to e.g. reinforced concrete structures and react to surface settlements by experiencing generally less severe and often repairable cracks. However, as more cracks evolve to crack patterns, more severe settlements may also lead to loss of structural integrity and failure. Damage occurs when the maximum strain limits are reached due to tunneling induced deformations. Numerically, the buildings are represented as beam, shell or volume elements using simplified linear elastic or nonlinear materials. Therefore, the assessment of soil-structure interaction is a critical component during the design phase, especially when historical or important buildings are involved. If damage is expected, mitigation measures can be implemented to control ground deformations (Peck, 1969).
|