Seismic Response of Piled Foundations: A State-of-the-Art Review

The foundations of buildings and other structures must support static and seismic loads in areas where seismic activity is common. To avoid bearing capacity failures, increase the dynamic stiffness of the structural system, and minimize dynamic oscillations during earthquakes, a transition from shallow to deep foundations is required. Although much information is available regarding pile foundations' structural response to static loads, much less is known about how they behave under dynamic loads. The present paper summarizes key findings from numerous research projects to give an extensive overview of the reaction of piling groups subjected to seismic loads. The paper covers a wide range of pile group behavior topics, such as how they dynamically respond to seismic loadings, what influences their performance, and how soil-structure interaction affects them. This research offers significant insight into the seismic reaction patterns of pile groups, which can be used to improve the dynamic performance of foundation systems. This work underscores that understanding the behavior of pile groups' underground motion is pivotal for informing and refining the design of pile foundations. By optimizing designs for improved seismic resilience and overall performance, engineers and researchers can further enhance the safety and stability of structures in seismically susceptible places.