An extension of analytical methods for building damage evaluation in subsidence regions to anisotropic beams

Abstract

Ore and mineral extraction by underground mining often causes ground subsidence phenomena, and may induce severe damage to buildings. Analytical methods based on the Timoshenko beam theory is widely used to assess building damage in subsidence regions. These methods are used to develop abacus that allow the damage assessment in relation to the ground curvature and the horizontal ground strain transmitted to the building. These abacuses are actually developed for building with equivalent length and height and they suppose that buildings can be modelled by a beam with isotropic properties while many authors suggest that anisotropic properties should be more representative. This paper gives an extension of analytical methods to transversely anisotropic beams. Results are first validated with finite elements methods models. Then 72 abacuses are developed for a large set of geometries and mechanical properties.

Keywords:

• mining subsidence
• damage
• horizontal strain
• curvature
• beam theory
• anisotropic