A Modified Concentrated Spring Model of Arbitrary Free-Standing Rigid Blocks on Flexible Foundation with a Slope

Due to different settlements of the base, failure of the foundation, etc., the rigid blocks may experience free-standing rocking on a flexible foundation with a slope under excitation. However, the rigid blocks free-standing on a foundation with a slope were not taken into account. A modified concentrated spring model is proposed to simulate the rocking of the asymmetric rigid blocks free-standing on a flexible foundation with a slope in this study. The rocking response of the free-standing rigid block on a flexible foundation with a slope under free vibration, one-sine pulse excitation, and earthquake motions is investigated. It reveals that the rocking response of a rigid block can be influenced by the slope of the flexible foundation and the slenderness of the block. The energy dissipated from the asymmetric block rocking is larger than the energy dissipated from the symmetric block.

Automated summary

A modified concentrated spring model is proposed to simulate the rocking of asymmetric rigid blocks free-standing on a flexible foundation with a slope. The study reveals that the rocking response of a rigid block can be influenced by the slope of the flexible foundation and the slenderness of the block.