Shaking table test on seismic responses of asymmetrical underground subway stations

Abstract

Currently, many subway stations are designed symmetrically and less attention has been paid to asymmetrical stations. The middle column of the asymmetric underground structure is offset to one side, which is not conducive to load bearing during strong earthquakes and is prone to damage. In this study, shaking table tests of a soil-symmetrical station and a soil-asymmetrical station were designed and conducted. A numerical model of the soil–structure interaction system was established, and the feasibility of the simulation method was verified. Then, the seismic responses of two kinds of stations were discussed and analysed. The results show that the dynamic response of both symmetrical and asymmetrical stations increases with the increase of the loading seismic intensity. Influenced by the size effect of the model test, there is less difference between the two models in their dynamic response. From the perspective of internal force and relative deformation, the response of the asymmetrical station is greater than that of the symmetrical station, which adequately reflects the disadvantage of asymmetrical structures in seismic design.