Practical dynamic analysis of structures laterally vibrating in contact with water

This paper proposes a practical formulation to investigate the dynamic response of structures laterally vibrating in contact with water on one or both sides. The proposed technique accounts for structure’s flexibility, soil flexibility, varying water levels and various boundary conditions. Simplified procedures are developed for practical assessment of the vibration periods, hydrodynamic loads and seismic response of structure-water systems including higher mode effects. The efficiency of the proposed techniques is validated through examples of structure–water systems with different configurations. We show that the proposed methods give excellent results when compared to more advanced finite element solutions including fluid–structure interaction capabilities.

► New formulations developed for dynamic response of structures vibrating in contact with one or two water domains.
► Techniques account for structure’s flexibility, soil effects, varying water levels and various boundary conditions.
► Simplified procedures developed for practical assessment of seismic response of structure-water systems.
► Closed-form expressions developed for vibration periods of structure-water systems and hydrodynamic loads.
► Developed methods yield excellent results when compared to more advanced finite element solutions.