Rocking vibrations of a rigid circular foundation on poroelastic half-space to elastic waves

A study is carefully conducted for the rocking response of a rigid circular foundation resting on a poroelastic half-space when subjected to seismic waves under the framework of Biot's theory. The free-field waves, rigid-body scattering field waves and radiation scattering field waves are introduced to consider the complex behavior of the soil owing to the scattering phenomena caused by the existence of the foundation. The contact surface between the soil and the foundation is supposed to be perfectly bonded and fully permeable. Combining with the divided wave fields, two sets of dual integral equations elaborating the mixed boundary-value conditions are established, and then reduced to Fredholm integral equations. Therefore, with a semi-analytical method, the expressions of the rocking displacements are obtained. The numerical results of the rocking vibration of the foundation for incident P. SV and Rayleigh waves are presented. The influences of certain parameters, such as the permeability of the soil, the incident angle, Poisson's ratio and the mass of the foundation, on the rocking vibration of the foundation are explored and studied. Different reactions are found when the foundation is excited by different waves. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.