Simplified Analytical Model and Shaking Table Test Validation for Seismic Analysis of Piled Raft Foundation

Abstract

This study adopted development of a shaking table to simulate real earthquake loadings in the laboratory. It is a platform excited with a type of mechanical loading to provide periodic or random motions. Currently, it is the only experimental method to simulate different types of motion such as earthquakes, ground motions, and sine sweeps directly. In order to perform dynamic testing to simulate seismic loading, a large, effective, and practical shaking table was designed and manufactured in this study. The developed shaking table is capable to move in horizontal and vertical direction forward and backward and combination of those. Several researches utilized shaking tables in geotechnical engineering under seismic loads to evaluate miscellaneous parameters. Although these researches that developed excellent shaking tables, there is a high demand to design and manufacturing a shaking table capable to simulate the seismic load and its effects on the buildings. To attain this objective, this study aims to develop a novel shaking table that can simulate the manner of the real earthquake. The shaking table proposed in this study capable to mimic an earthquake that starts from a high energy then the energy decreases gradually until reach the zero. In addition, the proposed shaking table can implement simulated earthquake for time similar to that occurs in the nature. Therefore, this study can fill the research gap in this domain. The proposed shaking table work was verified and validated by testing based on repeated operating.