Application of the flexible volume method to soil-structure interaction analysis of flexible and embedded foundations

A recently-developed SSI analysis computer program 'SASSI' which employs the FEM and the 'flexible volume' method of formulation, is capable of rigorously analyzing SSI responses of structures with embedded and/or flexible foundations. The effectiveness of this new computer program for analysis of SSI responses of embedded and flexible foundations is examined by comparing the SASSI solutions with the published solutions for three benchmark problems. In addition, an actual application is demonstrated by applying SASSI for seismic SSI analyses of a PWR containment structure with fixed-base, surface-supported, and embedded foundation conditions and observing the SSI effect and the effect of embedment on the structural response resulting from SASSI analyses. (orig./HP)