Seismic response analysis of automated underground garages based on shaking table test

The seismic performance of vertical automated parking systems, a promising solution to urban parking scarcity, requires further investigation due to their increasing adoption and structural complexity. This study investigates the seismic behavior of shaft structures through a series of shaking table tests, explicitly considering the effects of soil stratification and construction methods. Three reduced scale physical models were designed and tested: a cast-in-place shaft in homogeneous soil, a prefabricated shaft in homogeneous soil, and a prefabricated shaft in layered soil. The dynamic responses, including acceleration, structural deformation, dynamic earth pressure, and bolt axial forces, were systematically monitored and analyzed. The results reveal distinct damage patterns and seismic response mechanisms between cast-in-place and prefabricated shafts. The presence of a weak interlayer in stratified soil was found to significantly amplify the seismic response. Furthermore, the axial force characteristics of connecting bolts were successfully quantified, revealing a direct correlation with global structural deformation. The findings provide valuable experimental data and insights for the improved seismic design of such underground structures. • Shaking table tests of homogeneous and prefabricated shaft structures are executed. • A novel method for obtaining and analyzing bolt axial force is developed. • The influences of structural forms and soil parameters are analyzed.