review · Journal of Infrastructure Preservation and Resilience
Soil-structure interaction significantly affects the safety, stability, and long-term performance of reinforced concrete buildings, bridges, and foundations. It alters structural stiffness, damping, and natural frequencies, making it essential for seismic design. However, practical engineering underutilises these interactions because of complex modelling requirements and gaps in international design codes. Advanced numerical techniques such as finite element analysis and discrete element methods now offer improved capabilities to capture static and dynamic behaviours. Analysis of historical earthquakes, including the Kobe and Loma Prieta events, confirms the severe consequences of omitting soil interaction effects during design. Emerging approaches, notably machine learning and advanced computational software, show promise in refining predictive accuracy and operational efficiency. Broader adoption requires unified design guidelines, specialised frameworks for soft soils, and links to smart sensing and sustainable infrastructure development.
Earthquakes pose catastrophic risks to structures when designers fail to account for how ground conditions alter structural vibrations. Understanding soil-structure interaction helps engineers design safer buildings, bridges, and foundations that better withstand major seismic shocks. Translating these insights into standard engineering codes and modern computational tools protects lives and ensures infrastructure remains resilient against natural disasters and shifting environmental conditions.
The work points towards applications in civil engineering consultancy, structural design software, and infrastructure monitoring. Engineering practitioners could use advanced computational frameworks, machine learning tools, and smart sensing systems to evaluate complex foundation behaviour, particularly for structures on soft soils. However, practical implementation depends on updating international building codes and standardising workflows, indicating that commercial deployment across broader industry design practices remains in development rather than immediately off the shelf.
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Abstract The safety, stability, and long-term performance of reinforced concrete (RC) structures depend significantly on soil-structure interaction (SSI), a critical phenomenon governing the dynamic relationship between soil and structural behaviour. SSI plays a pivotal role in seismic design, influencing the stiffness, damping, and natural frequency of structures, yet its application in practical design remains underutilized due to challenges in modelling and integrating code provisions. This review synthesizes existing knowledge on SSI, emphasizing its impact on buildings, bridges, and foundations under static and dynamic loads. It highlights advancements in analytical, numerical, and experimental modelling methods, such as finite element analysis and discrete element methods, and evaluates their effectiveness in capturing the complex interactions between soil and structural systems. The review identifies key gaps, including a lack of unified guidelines in international codes, inadequate integration of SSI in real-world design processes, and limited exploration of its role in emerging engineering challenges like sustainability and climate resilience. Historical seismic events, such as the Kobe and Loma Prieta earthquakes, are analysed to underscore the detrimental consequences of neglecting SSI considerations. Additionally, the review discusses recent innovations, including the application of machine learning and advanced computational tools, and their potential to enhance the accuracy and efficiency of SSI analysis. This study offers actionable insights for improving design practices, such as adapting SSI frameworks for structures on soft soils and incorporating dynamic interactions in seismic design codes. It concludes with a call for interdisciplinary collaboration and future research into novel SSI applications, including its integration with smart sensing technologies and sustainable infrastructure design. This review bridges the gap between theoretical advancements and practical applications of soil-structure interaction (SSI) by synthesizing current knowledge, identifying critical research gaps, and proposing innovative solutions to enhance structural resilience, sustainability, and seismic safety. Graphical Abstract
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DOI: 10.1186/s43065-025-00118-2
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