Centrifuge modeling of shallow embedded foundations subjected to reverse fault rupture

Abstract

Although the performance of surface, piled, and caisson foundations has been investigated against a large tectonic dislocation from a dip-slip fault, to date, the embedment depth has not been clearly considered on the behavior of shallow foundations subjected to dip-slip faulting. This paper presents a series of centrifuge model tests to investigate the effects of foundation embedment depth and contact pressure on the interaction of reverse faults and shallow foundations embedded at a depth of D. The effect of embedment depth on the behavior of a foundation was observed by comparing the results of the embedded foundation tests with those of surface foundation tests. The depth of the embedment, acting as a kinematic constraint, prevents the occurrence of sliding at the foundation–soil interface and consequently leads to significant foundation rotation and translation. Moreover, embedding the foundation causes the mechanism of the fault rupture – foundation interaction to change. The effect of contact pressure on the interaction of the fault rupture and the embedded foundations depends on the foundation position relative to the fault. In addition to the propagation of fault ruptures through the soil layer, passive failure wedges primarily occurred on both sides of the embedded foundations because of their translation and rotation, thereby imposing unfavorable effects on the adjacent structures.