Soil-structure Interaction Effects on Tall Industrial Chimney Subjected to Along-wind Load

Abstract

The present study focuses on the soil-structure interaction (SSI) effects on tall industrial chimneys subjected to along-wind loading. The influence of soil flexibility because of soil-structure interaction significantly affects the dynamic behavior and wind-induced vibrations of tall structures subjected to wind loads. A 3D finite element (FE) model has been developed to represent the integrated system comprising of chimney structure, annular raft foundation, and supporting soil. The model accounts for both self-weight and along-wind load, enabling a comprehensive assessment of the system’s response. The analysis specifically aims to evaluate the vertical displacement of a raft, contact pressure distribution beneath the raft, bending moment distribution within annular raft foundation, and modal analysis of the chimney. Two different SSI approaches, the Winkler foundation model and the Elastic Continuum model (a more refined and realistic model), have been employed. Their results are compared with those from the conventional (non-interactive) method, which typically assumes a rigid base or ignores soil flexibility. The findings indicate that the inclusion of SSI, particularly using the Winkler and the Elastic Continuum approaches, leads to a notable reduction in bending moments in the raft foundation as compared to the conventional method. This reduction is attributed to the redistribution of stress and the flexibility of the supporting soil, which allows for a more realistic representation of how the foundation interacts with the underlying soil. © 2025, International Association of Engineers. All rights reserved.