Loading of foundation piles during the 1992 Roermond earthquake, the Netherlands

Abstract

In order to assess the influence of the 1992 Roermond earthquake on a piled foundation, a pile and the interacting mass of the supported structure were modelled. The model represents a typical pile in the Maasniel area of Roermond, the Netherlands. Results indicate that piles are subjected to significant loading. Popular belief that wind-loading conditions in the Netherlands impose higher loads on the foundation piles than an earthquake like the one in Roermond is not correct. Especially bored (in-situ fabricated) pile types may be loaded beyond their elastic range. Recommendations for verification and improvement of the model are given