This paper illustrates an approach to the study of the seismic soil–structure interaction that wasuddeveloped at the verification stage of the design of the Messina Strait Bridge in order to validate itsudseismic behaviour. It consisted of a series of two-dimensional, plane strain numerical analyses on modelsudthat included, in addition to the embedded foundation elements, a simplified structural description ofudthe bridge towers: simplified structural models were specifically designed to reproduce the firstudvibrations modes of the towers, that were deemed to have the most significant influence on theudsystem's dynamic response. Non-linear dynamic analyses were carried out in the time domain, studyingudthe effects of two different natural records, each characterised by three orthogonal components of theudsoil motion. In the first part of the paper, essential information is provided about the foundations layout,udthe main properties of the foundation soil resulting from the in situ and laboratory investigation, and theudassessment of the liquefaction potential. Then, the numerical models are discussed in some detail, withudan emphasis on the modelling of the soil and of the structural elements. For sake of conciseness, detailsudare provided only for one of the two shores. The results obtained with the present approach shed someudlight on the complex coupling between the soil's and the structure's behaviour, evidencing the significantudrole that the embedded, massive foundations of the bridge play in the dynamic response of the system.udThe computed time-histories of the displacements of the foundation elements are used to assess theudseismic performance of the bridge.
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