Experimentally‐Informed Compliant Contact Model for Rocking Structures

Abstract

The rocking motion resembles the dynamic behaviour of various structures, and therefore, it is fundamental for many earthquake engineering applications. Despite its importance, modelling the rocking motion remains an open and challenging topic owing to its highly non‐linear and sensitive dynamic behaviour. Several rocking models have been proposed in the scientific literature, yet, in most cases, with limited or partial validation against experimental results. To this end, this study proposes a novel compliant contact model for simulating the response of block‐type rocking structures. The model is calibrated using data from an experimental campaign on dry‐joint interfaces and features a hysteretic, rate‐independent term that captures the joint‐closure tests. Moreover, the model includes a non‐linear viscous damping term calibrated to match energy dissipation for any angular coefficient of restitution value. Subsequently, the proposed model is validated against an extensive experimental campaign of more than 400 free‐rocking and forced‐rocking shaking‐table tests of limestone blocks with various geometries.