Influence of rate dependent soil behavior on propagated ground motion

Abstract

Laboratory test results indicate that cyclic cohesive soil behavior is influenced by the rate of loading. However, such behavior is most often ignored in the site response analysis. This paper develops three models of rate-dependent dynamic soil behavior based on available laboratory data and implemented in a one-dimensional equivalent linear site response analysis program. The site response analysis results show that rate-dependent shear modulus and damping can have a pronounced influence on propagated weak ground motion, but a secondary influence on propagated strong motion. Rate-dependence of damping ratio has a greater impact on the computed response than rate-dependence of the shear modulus.