This paper describes a simulation of wave propagation in the soil as a result of an impact. In this specific case, the dynamic load is the velocity of a falling chimney. The impacting parts of the chimney transfer their dynamic forces to the adjacent continuum. This causes vibrations in the surrounding area. In this paper, measurements of velocities in the soil caused by a falling chimney are compared with numerical solutions using a two-dimensional FEM-SBFEM model.

In this paper the differences of floor response spectra (FRS) resulting from different ground response spectra are discussed. These spectra include the site effects which are quantified via site response analysis. This response is generated by wave propagation from the base rock through the overlying soil layers to the surface. The influences of the different layers and the corresponding dynamic soil properties are considered by using wave propagation analysis. The paper then discusses the results obtained from seismic input at different depths conditions. Similar results might be expected, because the depth of the input spectra is adjusted for each layer. However, in comparing the floor response spectra of these calculations, significant differences are observed and therefore interpreted. The paper is completed with the explanation of these significant differences and also with comparable floor response spectra.

The SBFEM is used to calculate dynamic stiffness matrices of unbounded media. Time-domain respresentations of the associated force-displacement relationship are obtained approximating the latter by rational functions.