Seismic Response of a Cliff-Attached Structure Based on Soil-Structure Interaction Effect

Cliff-attached constructions denote structures that align with and directly attach to the vertical interface of a mountain cliff. Compared to conventional building structures, cliff-attached constructions become particularly complex when considering the interaction between soil and structure due to the unequal height of the grounded foundation, which requires deeper study. This study investigates the influence of soil-structure interaction (SSI) on the seismic performance of such structures, based on which three different models of cliff-attached structures were established for analysis. These include cliff-attached structures without considering SSI effects, cliff-attached structures considering SSI effects with a soil shear wave velocity of 500 m/s, and cliff-attached structures considering SSI effects with a soil shear wave velocity of 700 m/s. Seismic inputs are assessed in both transverse and down-slope directions. The results indicate that the seismic response of cliff-attached structures increases as shear wave velocity decreases while considering SSI effects. SSI effects are most pronounced on the upper grounding layers of the structure and its upper layers’ dynamic response. Seismic responses in the down-slope direction are markedly lower than those in the transverse direction. The upper grounding layers of cliff-attached structures experience significant deformation and stress concentration. In mountainous regions, cliff-attached structures respond more accurately and reliably when considering SSI effects.