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The effect of an earthquake on any structure is primarily determined by both its inherent properties and the surrounding environmental conditions. When seismic waves pass through different media, their characteristics and properties, such as amplitude, frequency content, and duration can change, thereby changing the seismic response of both soil and structures. The intensity and distribution of seismic waves can be influenced by several of key factors, including the local geology and stratigraphy, irregular topography, existence of man-made structures, and others. Relevant researches and studies have consistently emphasized the significance of the surrounding environment in seismic wave modification. Historical data also shows that similar types of earthquakes can result in varying degrees of damage depending on geographic location. Hence, a thorough understanding of the interaction between seismic waves and the surrounding environment is necessary for achieving precision in seismic design, risk assessment, and proper seismic mitigation strategies. An overview of contemporary research on seismic wave modification and the resulting interaction effects, presenting significant findings and analytical techniques related to phenomena such as soil-structure interaction (SSI) and its extended forms, including structure–soil–structure interaction (SSSI), soil–structure–cluster interaction (SSCI), and site–city interaction (SCI), is presented in this review article. The underlying mechanisms of these interactions are explored in this study and a detailed assessment of fundamental concepts, practical challenges, and methodologies for preventing and mitigating their effects in site-dependent settings is provided. Further, Topographic soil–structure interaction (TSSI) and topographic–structure–soil–structure interaction (TSSSI) are also discussed within a unified framework that considers the combined influence of topography and SSI extensions. This study focuses on the importance of the surrounding environment in influencing ground motion during earthquakes by identifying the complex interactions that affect the seismic response of both surface and underground structures. Some illustrative figures were generated with Microsoft Copilot and subsequently edited and validated by the authors.

The mechanical behavior at soil–structure interface (SSI) has a crucial influence on the safety and stability of geotechnical structures. However, the behavior of SSI under constant normal stiffness condition from micro- to macro-scale receives little attention. In this study, the frictional characteristics of SSI and the associated displacement localization under constant normal stiffness condition are investigated at both macro- and microscales by simulating a series of interface shear tests with discrete element method. The algorithm to achieve a constant normal stiffness is first developed. The macroscopic mechanical response of the interface shear tests with both loose and dense specimens at various normal stiffness is discussed in terms of shear stress, normal stress, vertical displacement, horizontal displacement and stress ratio. Then, the microscopic behaviors and properties, including shear zone formation, localized void ratio, coordination number, force chains and soil fabric, are investigated. The effect of normal stiffness is thus clarified at both macro- and microscales.

The method of inputting the seismic wave determines the accuracy of the simulation of soil-structure dynamic interaction. The wave method is a commonly used approach for seismic wave input, which converts the incident wave into equivalent loads on the cutoff boundaries. The wave method has high precision, but the implementation is complicated, especially for three-dimensional models. By deducing another form of equivalent input seismic loads in the finite element model, a new seismic wave input method is proposed. In the new method, by imposing the displacements of the free wave field on the nodes of the substructure composed of elements that contain artificial boundaries, the equivalent input seismic loads are obtained through dynamic analysis of the substructure. Subsequently, the equivalent input seismic loads are imposed on the artificial boundary nodes to complete the seismic wave input and perform seismic analysis of the soil-structure dynamic interaction model. Compared with the wave method, the new method is simplified by avoiding the complex processes of calculating the equivalent input seismic loads. The validity of the new method is verified by the dynamic analysis numerical examples of the homogeneous and layered half space under vertical and oblique incident seismic waves.

It is conventional to assume that the role of the soil-structure interaction (SSI) is beneficial to the buildings under seismic loading. However, lessons learned from recent earthquakes revealed that this assumption could be misleading, and SSI may have different effects on the seismic response of different structural systems. In this study, an enhanced soil-structure numerical model is developed and verified using ABAQUS software to assess the impact of SSI on high-rise frame-core tube structures. The seismic responses of 20, 30, and 40-storey buildings constructed on soil class Ee (according to Australian Standards) under four earthquake acceleration records have been studied. The results in terms of maximum lateral deflections, foundation rocking, inter-storey drifts and storey shear forces for the rigid base and flexible base frame-core tube structures have been discussed and compared. Generally, SSI has a remarkable impact on the seismic behaviour of high-rise frame-core tube structures since it can increase the lateral deflections and inter-storey drifts and decrease storey shear forces of structures. However, It is worth noting that the seismic responses of soil-structure systems under near and far field earthquakes are considerably different.

Two structural configurations of the EuroProteas prototype structure, defining two test structures with different structural stiffness, were subjected to dynamic excitation to study the influence of soil-foundation-structure interaction effects on the recorded response. The first test structure was braced in all directions making a stiff structure frame based on soft ground. In contrast, we removed the bracing in the direction of loading in the second structure to significantly reduce its structural stiffness and the relative structure-to-soil stiffness ratio. Ambient noise measurements, free-vibration tests over a wide range of pull-out forces and forced-vibration experiments over a wide range of frequencies were included in the experimental series performed on both structures. The strong effects of the soil-foundation-structure interaction in the response of the stiff structure were expressed in the detected period elongation and the dominating rocking component which increased the radiation damping. The identified rocking stiffness was found to be frequency-dependent, in contrast to the lateral stiffness. On the contrary, the most significant proportion of the introduced energy was dissipated in the structural members of the second test structure, and the measured translation and rotation of the foundation were almost negligible.

Landslides are common geological hazards that cause significant losses. Anti-slide piles are commonly used in landslide engineering, and model testing is one of the means to study pile-supported structures. However, model tests face several challenges, including difficulty in controlling the experimental process, challenges in repeated tests, and difficulty in monitoring soil deformation around piles. To address these issues, this study presents a model test method using particle image velocimetry (PIV), transparent soil, and 3D printing technology. Using this method, a series of model tests were conducted, including single-row and double-row anti-slide piles. The experimental results indicate that, compared with single-row piles, double-row piles exhibit better supporting effects. In the pile‒soil interaction, the displacement of the extrusion of soil between piles was controlled under the combined action of the front and back rows of piles. The inclination angle of a single-row pile after the test was 8°, whereas that of a double-row pile was reduced by 62.5%. With respect to the displacement of the soil behind the piles, the phenomenon of a “displacement triangle” behind the piles was observed. An analysis of the change process in this area revealed that the relative displacement caused by pile‒soil interactions is mainly distributed in the surface layer of the soil. The experiments demonstrate that this system is suitable for pile-supported structure model tests.

Clay minerals are essential components of soil systems and understanding their role in soil structure and function is critical for soil environmental quality management and sustainable agricultural development. An in-depth study of clay minerals and the development of related materials is essential for a complete understanding and effective management of soil systems. This review is a detailed compilation of relevant studies over the past decade in this area, focusing on an overview of clay minerals and their modified materials and their regulation of soil structure and function. We focus on the direct influence of clay minerals on the physical, chemical and biological properties of soils, such as soil structure, soil fertility, plant growth, soil microbial activity and soil carbon sequestration. Finally, we concluded by summarizing the existing issues with clay mineral materials in soil improvement and by outlining potential future development trends and strategies.

The safety, stability, and long-term performance of reinforced concrete (RC) structures depend significantly on soil-structure interaction (SSI), a critical phenomenon governing the dynamic relationship between soil and structural behaviour. SSI plays a pivotal role in seismic design, influencing the stiffness, damping, and natural frequency of structures, yet its application in practical design remains underutilized due to challenges in modelling and integrating code provisions. This review synthesizes existing knowledge on SSI, emphasizing its impact on buildings, bridges, and foundations under static and dynamic loads. It highlights advancements in analytical, numerical, and experimental modelling methods, such as finite element analysis and discrete element methods, and evaluates their effectiveness in capturing the complex interactions between soil and structural systems. The review identifies key gaps, including a lack of unified guidelines in international codes, inadequate integration of SSI in real-world design processes, and limited exploration of its role in emerging engineering challenges like sustainability and climate resilience. Historical seismic events, such as the Kobe and Loma Prieta earthquakes, are analysed to underscore the detrimental consequences of neglecting SSI considerations. Additionally, the review discusses recent innovations, including the application of machine learning and advanced computational tools, and their potential to enhance the accuracy and efficiency of SSI analysis. This study offers actionable insights for improving design practices, such as adapting SSI frameworks for structures on soft soils and incorporating dynamic interactions in seismic design codes. It concludes with a call for interdisciplinary collaboration and future research into novel SSI applications, including its integration with smart sensing technologies and sustainable infrastructure design. This review bridges the gap between theoretical advancements and practical applications of soil-structure interaction (SSI) by synthesizing current knowledge, identifying critical research gaps, and proposing innovative solutions to enhance structural resilience, sustainability, and seismic safety. Graphical Abstract Highlights ➢ The introduction of SSI and the previous studies in seismic design is debated. ➢ Need, significance and the standard code provisions of SSI of different countries are explained. ➢ Solving methods of SSI are discussed.

We outline an extension of Biot’s theory of dynamic wave propagation in fluid-saturated media, which can be used to model dynamic soil-structure interaction in frictionless conditions across a wide range of soil saturation levels. In this regard, we present a comprehensive analysis of experimental evidence, the thermodynamic, and the theoretical basis of using the degree of saturation as Bishop’s parameter in unsaturated soils. The analysis highlights the limitations of using this parameter to accurately model unsaturated soil behaviour, particularly as the soil approaches dryness. Based on the analysis, a new definition of effective stress is proposed, and the associated work-conjugate pairs are identified. Recommendations are made for constitutive modelling using the new definition of effective stress. Finally, we introduce a fully coupled finite element contact model that utilises the new effective stress definition. Through numerical examples, we demonstrate the model’s capability to control the vanishing capillary effect on soil-structure interaction as the soil dries.