This study aims to investigate the impact of soil-structure interaction (SSI) on the seismic behavior of reinforced concrete buildings. An advanced numerical model for SSI was developed and verified using ABAQUS software. The seismic response of a 12-story building on four types of soil (rock, dense soil, stiff soil, and soft soil) was examined using a Normalized Response Spectra based on the Moroccan paraseismic regulation RPS 2011. The global lateral displacement, inter-story drift, and period were compared for two types of bracing (column and shear wall). The results show that SSI has a significant impact on the seismic behavior of buildings, and the seismic responses of soil-structure systems with column and shear wall bracing are quite different. The research contributions of this paper include developing an advanced numerical model for SSI, examining the impact of SSI on the choice of bracing for reinforced concrete buildings, and providing guidance on the most reliable bracing method for structures of various heights and soil types. The study's findings have important implications for seismic design and can help improve the safety and reliability of buildings in earthquake-prone regions. The study also highlights the importance of considering SSI in seismic design and the need for guidelines that describe the bracing systems to be used based on the structure's height and type of soil. Doi: 10.28991/CEJ-2023-09-06-06 Full Text: PDF

Liquefaction is a hazardous and temporary phenomenon by which a soil saturated with water loses some or all of its resistance. The undrained conditions and a cyclic load increase the pores water pressure inside the soil and therefore a reduction of the effective stress. Nowadays many semi-empirical methods are used to introduce a proposition to evaluate the liquefaction's potential using the in-situ test results. The objective of this paper is to study their ability to correctly predict the liquefaction potential by modelling our case using finite element methods. The study is based on the data of Cone Penetration Tests experimental results of the Casablanca-Tangier High-Speed Line exactly between PK 116 + 450 and PK 116 + 950 and near of Moulay-Bousselham city. It belongs to the Drader-Soueir basin region which is located in the North-West of Morocco. This region had a specific soil’s formation, the first 50 meters are characterised by the existence of sand layers alternating with layers of clay. These formations are very loose and saturated which suggests the possibility of soil liquefaction. We present and discuss the results of applying the Olsen method [1], the Juang method [2] and the Robertson method [3], in the evaluation of liquefaction susceptibility. Apart from the previous empirical analysis to evaluate the liquefaction potential, numerical modelling is performed in this study.

The earthquakes are abrupt and sudden, and, in few seconds, they can lead to huge casualties. Nowadays, several approaches can be used to better know the seismic movement than we can expect when and where will have an earthquake. These approaches kind, always begins with a full study of the seismic action: the seismic birth, the wave formation and propagation, accelerometers and associated spectrum representation, etc. The northern region in Morocco has an important seismic activity, indeed, this region has been struck during its history by many destructive earthquakes. In this paper, we present and discuss the Mediterranean earthquake, January 25, 2016, saved in ZGH station located in Zeghanghane near of Nador city, Morocco. In this case, we determine the spectral response of the ground motion for ZGH station, and study his influence on the structures as well as make a comparison with the requirements of the Moroccan seismic construction regulations (RPS) 2000 revised in 2011.

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