| Abstract: |
The phenomenon of structural pounding between closely spaced buildings during seismic events and explosion-induced loading has emerged as a critical concern in modern structural engineering, particularly in densely populated urban environments where construction space constraints necessitate minimal separation distances between adjacent structures. This review paper presents a comprehensive meta-analysis of past research work addressing the dynamic performance of closely spaced buildings subjected to earthquake ground motions and blast-induced pressures, with particular emphasis on impact mitigation strategies. The study systematically examines the evolution of pounding models, ranging from linear viscoelastic representations to advanced nonlinear Hertz-contact formulations, and evaluates their predictive accuracy against experimental and numerical benchmarks. A thorough survey of mitigation techniques including viscous dampers, friction dampers, tuned mass dampers, base isolation systems, and viscoelastic energy dissipators is conducted to assess their relative effectiveness under both seismic and explosion-induced loading scenarios. The methodology integrates a multi-degree-of-freedom structural framework with various contact mechanics models to capture the complex interaction forces during pounding events. Critical analysis of existing literature reveals significant gaps in understanding the combined effects of seismic and blast loading on pounding behavior, the influence of soil-structure interaction on impact forces, and the long-term degradation of mitigation devices under repeated pounding cycles. The findings indicate that hybrid mitigation approaches combining base isolation with supplemental damping systems demonstrate superior performance in reducing both inter-story drift ratios and peak floor accelerations. This review provides a consolidated framework for future research directions and highlights the need for performance-based design guidelines specifically addressing pounding-sensitive structures in multi-hazard environments. |
