3-D shell analysis of cylindrical underground structures under seismic shear (S) wave action

The 3-D shell theory is employed in order to provide a new perspective to earthquake-induced strains in long cylindrical underground structures, when soil-structure interaction can be ignored. In this way, it is possible to derive analytical expressions for the distribution along the cross-section of axial, hoop and shear strains and also proceed to their consistent superposition in order to obtain the corresponding principal and von Mises strains. The resulting analytical solutions are verified against the results of 3-D dynamic FEM analyses. Seismic design strains are consequently established after optimization of the analytical solutions against the random angles which define the direction of wave propagation relative to the longitudinal structure axis, the direction of particle motion and the location on the structure cross-section. The basic approach is demonstrated herein for harmonic shear (S) waves with plane front, propagating in a homogeneous half-space or in a two layer profile, where soft soil overlays the bedrock.