Dynamic response assessment of RC buildings featuring basement storeys integrated with soil-nailed structures

Abstract

The rising demand for high-rise buildings and infrastructure has led to construction on hilly and sloping terrains, necessitating their stabilisation. The area adjacent to a vertical cut, stabilised through the soil nailing technique, presents opportunities for constructing multi-storey buildings. Incorporating basement levels in buildings is also a common practice to maximise the utility of space. This study evaluates the seismic performance of integrated soil-nailed wall-building systems, where the multi-storey building is connected to the soil-nailed structure through a shear wall, termed the Shear wall (SW) system. The effect of providing two basement levels on the seismic response of the integrated SW system is analysed in soft soil conditions, denoted as the SWB system (Shear wall system with basement floors). Finite element analysis of three-dimensional models of these integrated systems is conducted in PLAXIS software. The influence of the frequency content of dynamic excitations on the responses of these structures is assessed using time history data of three different earthquakes, considering various heights of the building. Results indicate that the SWB system provides substantial benefits, including a 35.17 % reduction in seismic building deformation, a 19.23 % reduction in soil-nailed wall acceleration, an 81.66 % reduction in axial nail force and a 54.77 % reduction in inter-storey drift. However, these improvements come with increased lateral earth pressure on the soil-nailed wall, necessitating careful design to ensure optimal seismic performance. These integrated configurations are recommended as suitable for optimum space utilisation in space-constrained urban sites while ensuring structural stability under seismic loading. © 2025 Elsevier Ltd