TURBO GENERATOR MACHINE FOUNDATIONS SUBJECTED TO EARTHQUAKE LOADINGS

For industrial partners, actual simplified design rules in line with the growth of knowledge regarding earthquake engineering are essential for competitiveness. As turbo generators are placed all over the world, i.e. in different seismic hazard zones, not only machine sets but also the foundations have to be standardised and able to resist certain earthquake loading levels. Prior to the release of new or revised turbo generators (foundations), extensive static and dynamic calculations are carried out to confirm the foundation outline and basic dimensions, and also verifying the resistance against unfavourable load combinations. Based on gained knowledge of detailed seismic analyses, practical design approaches have been elaborated for different kind of foundation types (mainly spring mounted, table mounted and raft foundations); and, for some machine manufacturers, summarised in specific design criteria.

Design of Machine Foundation on Reinforced Sand

Dynamic analysis to evaluate the response of earth structures to dynamic stress applications, such as those produced by earthquakes, blasting, wind loading or machine vibrations are finding increased application in civil engineering practice. In the present investigation the authors have calculated the dynamic soil parameters, the coefficient of elastic uniform compression (Cu), coefficient of elastic uniform shear (Cτ), coefficient of elastic non-uniform compression(Cφ) and coefficient of elastic non-uniform shear(Cψ) by performing laboratory model cyclic tests on annular footing resting on un-reinforced and reinforced earth beds.