Underground structures are generally considered to have high seismic performance and expected to play an important role as a base for reconstruction even after a destructive earthquake. Rigidity changing points, such as jointed and curved portions of underground structure, where localized deformation and stress is supposed to be generated, are ones of the most critical portions in terms of seismic performance of underground structure. Because the underground structure in a mega-city functions as a network, local damage could lead to fatal dysfunction. Accordingly, rigidity changing points and their surrounding area could significantly influence the resiliency of urban functions, and it is indispensable to evaluate their seismic performance and dynamic responses during earthquakes. The responses of rigidity changing points and their surrounding area to earthquakes have been tried evaluating by using large-scale numerical analyses, there is no case available where the responses have been measured in detail. For this reason, it is difficult to verify the validity of the results of such evaluations.

In light of the above, the shake table test was conducted at E-Defense using a coupled specimen of soil and underground structures to obtain detailed data, especially on the localized responses around rigidity changing points during the earthquake. Based on the data obtained, the behavior of the underground structure with a curved portion at the time of an earthquake was analyzed comprehensively. As a result of the analysis on the test data, it is found that there is a strong correlation between the localized deformation of the curved portion of the tunnel and the displacement of the surrounding ground. In addition, it is necessary to conduct a three-dimensional seismic response analysis not only around the rigidity changing point but also in wider area.

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