Influence of Soil Structure Interaction on the Foundation of Equipment Subject to Dynamic Forces

Abstract

In the last decades, analytical solutions based on simplified assumptions commonly used in project offices have been replaced by sophisticated and precise mathematical methods based on finite element modeling, bringing more reliability to the calculations. However, the finite element method may have its results strongly influenced by the parameter values adopted in the simulation of the dynamic behavior of the system equipment-foundation-foundation soil. The definition of parameters for dynamic analysis of foundations with complex geometry, buried in excavated and compacted soil, supported by a terrain with diversified stratification has significant importance on the accuracy of results, when faced to the uncertainties of the actual parameters of the foundation soil. To circumvent such uncertainties, the use of conservative parameters for soil has been the practice adopted, preventing high costs and long time required for the development of assessment surveys on the characteristic parameters of the foundation soil. Aiming to a customized project, it is therefore necessary to assess the influence of Soil Structure Interaction upon the displacements from the dynamic loads. In this article, the influence of soil rigidity in displacements of the foundation of a ball mill subject to dynamic loading is assessed. The main objective is assuring that the vibration amplitudes of the foundation occur within allowable values for both the equipment and people in its surroundings.