Seismic Response of a Shallow Cut and Cover Tunnel in Close Proximity to a High-Rise Building

This test investigated the seismic response of a cut and cover tunnel in close proximity to a high-rise building (Prototype 42 stories high). Dry Nevada sand with the same relative density (~55%) as the baseline experiments (Experiment 1 & 2) was used.The model is built with a model scale of N = 65. Model structures were built at 1/65th of the prototype dimensions. The model is equipped with sensors throughout including accelerometers, LVDT’s, strain gages, and pressure sensors on the sides of the tunnel. Eight ground motions were applied to the model once 65 g’s was reached in the following order: Northridge, Loma Prieta, Joshua Tree, Chi Chi, Lucerne, Kobe, and Northridge_Strong, and Los Gatos. The first seven motions were also applied in the baseline tests and were chosen as to provide realistic earthquake motions and a wide range of characteristics. LosGatos was an additional shake, hoping to excite the high-rise at its natural frequency.The adjacent high-rise building was built with a prototype 3-story basement, as is common in tall buildings for parking garages. This is similar to how the mid-rise was built also.