Evaluative literature review of numerical analysis methods for soil structure interaction

Abstract Soil–structure interaction (SSI) is an essential concept in earthquake engineering that explains how the ground and a structure influence each other during seismic shaking. While SSI can occasionally reduce structural demands, its overall impact is case-dependent and has contributed to observed damage in earthquakes such as Mexico (1985), Kobe (1995), and Adana–Ceyhan (1998). This study provides an evaluative review of SSI research, focusing on peer-reviewed studies employing advanced numerical modeling under dynamic seismic loading. Among the various approaches, the Finite Element Method (FEM) and the coupled Finite Element–Boundary Element Method (FEM–BEM) are the most widely adopted, mainly because of their strong theoretical foundation in continuum mechanics and their effectiveness in modeling wave propagation. Rising techniques such as the Finite–Discrete Element Method (FDEM) and the Applied Element Method (AEM) have gained attention for their ability to capture highly nonlinear behavior, including progressive collapse and soil discontinuities under extreme conditions. The review also identifies several key factors that govern SSI behavior, including the structure-to-soil stiffness ratio, building aspect ratio, and the proximity of seismic excitation frequencies to the coupled system’s natural frequency. Critical gaps in current research are also highlighted, emphasizing the need for large-scale shake-table and centrifuge experiments, investigations of fully saturated liquefiable soils, and simplified machine-learning-assisted design tools that translate complex numerical findings into practical engineering applications. By bringing together developments in numerical methods, key findings, and future research directions, this review aims to serve as a useful reference for both researchers and practicing engineers. An extensive bibliography is provided at the end, making this review a valuable resource for beginners in SSI.