Seismic Analysis of Underground Structures
Summary
Seismic analysis of underground structures encompasses evaluation of how buried facilities such as tunnels, shafts, culverts and subterranean stations respond to earthquake-induced ground motions. Unlike above-ground buildings, these structures interact intimately with surrounding soils and rock masses, so their dynamic behaviour depends on complex soil-structure interaction, non-linear ground deformation and site amplification effects. Over the past decade research has moved from empirical observations of tunnel performance in major earthquakes towards sophisticated numerical and experimental methods. Shaking-table and centrifuge tests replicate stress fields under controlled conditions, while advanced finite-element and discrete-element simulations allow three-dimensional assessment of lining stresses, joint displacements and ground liquefaction. Simplified analytical schemes and design guidance are now complemented by probabilistic vulnerability assessments and fragility curves, offering engineers robust tools to predict performance under a range of seismic hazards. Global interest in resilient lifeline systems has driven studies across diverse environments—from soft urban sediments to deep excavations in rock—highlighting practical measures such as flexible joints, energy-dissipating linings and tailored ground improvement to enhance seismic safety. The continuous refinement of seismic analysis methodologies supports safer design, retrofitting and emergency planning for critical underground infrastructure.
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Seismic Analysis of Underground Structures publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in seismic analysis of underground structures across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Soil-structure interaction (SSI): mutual response between an underground structure and its surrounding soil during seismic loading.
Seismic fragility curve: probabilistic relationship between earthquake intensity and likelihood of reaching defined damage states.
Liquefaction: transformation of saturated granular soil into a fluid-like state under cyclic seismic loading, reducing shear strength.
Shaking-table testing: experimental technique that reproduces ground motions to study structural and soil responses at model scale.
Centrifuge modelling: scaled laboratory method employing increased gravity fields to replicate stress conditions in soil-structure systems.
References
- Seismic behaviour of tunnels: From experiments to analysis. Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology (2020).
- Soil Liquefaction–Induced Uplift of Underground Structures: Physical and Numerical Modeling. Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering (2014).
- Seismic vulnerability of circular tunnels in sand. Géotechnique (2020).
- Seismic Fragility Analysis of Tunnels with Different Buried Depths in a Soft Soil. Sustainability (2020).
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