The earth is an internally active planet and therefore the increase and decrease in seismic activity for a certain region is a normal phenomenon. The Hejaz region of Saudi-Arabia was usually considered as seismically inactive but the recent earthquake in the region; for example one in Jeddah has raised the concerns. Therefore, it is extremely important to consider seismic effects in the design of modern infrastructure. According to thinkhazard report [2] , earthquake hazard in Saudi Arabia is classified as medium. The national center for recording earthquake, reported an earthquake of magnitude 2.5 on the Richter scale at Jan. 16, 2018, 14-kilometers north-west of Madinah, it was very shallow, and the depth was only 7-kilometers. As per USGC (United States Geological Survey), an earthquake of magnitude 5.7 occurred in western Saudi Arabia on 2009-05-19 with coordinates (25.291˚N, 37.740˚E) [3] [4] . Therefore, structures located in these regions need to be designed to withstand earthquake action. In some circumstances, the design practice and assumptions involved in seismic design are not always accurate, especially when considering the soil topography due to its unpredictable and changeable behavior with time. Although considerable research has been devoted over the years to the effect of soil structure interaction, there is still controversy regarding the role of SSI in the seismic performance of structures founded on soft soil. The SSI effect can be neglected if the structure is flexible and resting on hard soil such as moment resisting frames constructed on a stiff soil. Therefore, when steel MRFs are designed for hard soil conditions the SSI can be ignored. Nevertheless, the effect of SSI cannot be under estimated if such frames are designed on soft soil. Traditionally it is believed that SSI is beneficial to the seismic response. However, in most design codes, SSI effects are not clearly emphasized. For example, referring to Eurocode 8 [5] , soft soil conditions are accounted for solely by introducing a soil factor parameter in the design spectrum. In design practice, neglecting SSI effects is believed to be a conservative assumption that would simplify analyse and at the same time lead to improved safety margins. However, the fulfilment of the damageability criteria (inter-story drifts) would be difficult to achieve as the structure flexibility will be higher for higher fundamental periods. To this end, satisfying drift limitations will enhance the member profiles drastically, especially beam sections, compared to column profiles, which will disturb the capacity design rules of the code or otherwise will lead to uneconomical design solutions. Furthermore, the use of high ductility will not be possible as the ductility demand required by the design cannot be achieved. As per Eurocode 8 [6] , the following conditions are believed to have strong influence and therefore need to be incorporated in the design: 1) Structure where second order effects play a dominant role 2) Structures with massive or deep-seated foundations, such as bridge piers, offshore caissons and silos 3) Slender tall structures, such as towers and chimneys 4) Structures supported on very soft soils, with average shear wave velocity less than 100 m/s, such as clayey soils.

Many researches are devoted to the analysis of structures with SSI. Minasidis et al. [7] investigated the effects of soil?structure interaction on the inelastic response of two-dimensional steel frames subjected to near-fault earthquakes using response spectrum analysis from a read earthquake accelerogram. Karavasilis et al. [8] proposed an alternative procedure to estimate the maximum inelastic roof displacement and the maximum inelastic Interstory drift ratio along the height of regular multi-story steel moment resisting frames (MRFs) subjected to pulse-like ground motions based on dimensional response analysis. Malhotra in [9] presented interpretation of the response characteristics of three recorded and one synthetic near-field ground motions and showed that pulse-like ground motions with high peak ground velocity over peak ground acceleration ratio (PGV/PGA) have wide acceleration-sensitive region in their elastic response spectrum. Farouk et al. [10] examined the effect of the superstructure’s rigidity on the contact stress and the differential settlement for plane 2-bay frames. Christopoulos et al. [11] found that the effect of the vertical accelerations of near-fault records on the demand in rotational ductility and on the maximum story deflections of steel moment-resisting frames is negligible, even though a large increase in the maximum axial loads of columns is noted. Makris and Chang [12] found that, although in several occasions near-fault records resemble cycloidal pulses, the response of structures with low to moderate periods is substantially affected by the high-frequency fluctuations that often override the long duration pulse. MacRae et al. [13] found that inelastic demands of medium and longer period oscillators responding to near-fault strike-normal shaking increased for sites close to the fault as the distance along the fault from the epicenter increased. Rao and Jangid [14] , examining sliding systems under near-fault motions found that the resultant sliding base displacement is mainly due to the normal component of the near-fault motion. Mavroeidis and Papageorgiou [15] proposed a simple, yet effective, analytical model for the representation of near-field strong ground motions.

In the present study, the flexible foundation effect is considered to check the influence of SSI on the performance of MRFs. The formulations for springs constraints at the ground surface were used based on FEMA 356 [16] [17] . G is the effective modal mass for the fundamental mode of vibration in the direction under consideration computed to be 20.35 Mpa. In the current case the foundation is considered as rigid rectangular with length (L) equals 3 m and breadth (B) equals 2 m. The embedment depth of the foundation is placed at 3 m. Geotechnical conditions of Al-Madinah region of Saudi Arabia are used in this study. The soil type was selected based on geotechnical investigation report conducted for the construction of one of the academic blocks at the Islamic University of Madinah. The field investigations were carried out in July 2009. The soil strata under consideration are layered, the top 9 m thick layer comprises brown Clayey Sand. The denser underlying layer from 9.0 m to the explored depth of 15 m includes gravels. The groundwater table and the bed rock were not intercepted during exploration. Geometric properties of the foundations imply that the influence zone of the structure transpires only in the top layer of the soil. Based on field and laboratory investigations the soil properties at loose state were adopted (i.e. Relative density Dr. = 30%). The soil parameters used in this study are shown in Table 1 and the calculated stiffnesses are shown in Table 2 [18] [19] [20] .

A linear modal dynamic analysis is developed for the seismic design of the frames. The fundamental period obtained from the codified formulation for 12, 6 and 3 stories are found to be 1.44 sec, 0.83 sec and 0.47 sec, respectively, which is lower than the one obtained by modal analysis (See Table 6); in this circumstance the code specifies that scaling factors for the design forces and drift must be applied. Both scaling factors (forces and drifts) are 85% of the ratio of “the static base shear (V_static)” to “the modal base shear (V_b)”.

Table 6 shows the fundamental period (See Figure 3) and top displacement (See Figure 4) of all the frames with SSI and without SSI. It is obvious that the fundamental period of vibration and the top displacement are higher when SSI was considered.

The simplified formulae given by seismic codes tend to underestimate the fundamental period of vibration, they are being based on empirical evaluation, therefore globally accounting also for the stiffening effects of non-structural elements e.g. partition walls and infills etc. These effects are obviously of major importance for steel frames which exhibit relatively low horizontal stiffness. The underestimation of the natural period (considering only short branch of spectrum) leads to conservative design assumptions e.g. higher design acceleration (consequently high seismic base shear) and in turn larger inter-story drifts.

From Figure 3 and Figure 4 it is evident that SSI influences the overall stiffness of low, medium and high rise MRFs. Although in this case a medium soil was considered under a moderate seismic event. Nevertheless, the effect of SSI can even be more worsen for cases when structures are in high seismicity zones and with more weak and flexible soil which needs to be further investigated.

The Interstory drift limitations were still satisfied for 3 story spatial and perimeter frames (See Figure 5).

The drift limitations for perimeter frames both for 6 stories (See Figure 6) and 12 stories (See Figure 7) were not satisfied for some stories when SSI was considered. This is further to be noted that the SBC limits are still relaxed (0.02 h) for satisfying the Interstory drifts as with some codes like Eurocode these limits are quite strict (0.005 h, 0.0075 h and 0.01 h). A comparative study will be useful to see the pros and cons of Eurocode 8 on SCB. Drift checks: 0.02 h = 0.02 × 3500 = 70 mm limiting value.

SCWB: Strong Column Weak Beam.

To check the lateral load resisting performance of the frames, static pushover analysis has been carried out using FEMA-350 recommendations [25] . Triangular distribution (unit load at roof level) of static incremental loads (continues from the gravity load case) has been applied and the displacement at the roof level has been controlled. Mechanical non-linearities of the members have been assumed to be concentrated in plastic hinges at the ends [26] .

The formation of plastic hinges based on FEMA 356 rules are introduced as input in SAP 2000 program [26] .

The FEMA 356 [27] rules with the IO, LS and CP limit states for hinge rotation have been used in the analysis with the SAP 2000 program. The five points (O, B, C, D and E) as shown in Figure 8 are used to define the hinge rotation behaviour of analysed frame members according to FEMA recommendations. Three more points Immediate Occupancy (IO), Life Safety (LS) and (Collapse Prevention) CP are used to define the acceptance criteria for the hinge. The colours below show different acceptance criteria.

The performance is shown in Figure 9, Figure 10 and Figure 11 for 3 stories, 6 stories and 12 stories respectively. The obtained structural capacity curves are plotted in Figure 12, Figure 13 and Figure 14 for 3 stories, 6 stories and 12 stories respectively that shows total base shear (V_b) versus top displacement (Δ). All these curves show reduced stiffness of the frames when SSI was considered.

In the case of 3 story frames (spatial and perimeter) plastic hinges were formed at the top and bottom of almost all columns having reached the collapse limit state (See Figure 9(a), Figure 9(b), Figure 9(c) and Figure 9(d)). In the case of 6 stories spatial frames (See Figure 10(a), Figure 10(b), figure) plastic hinges were formed at the bottom four floors and the columns reached to the collapse prevention limit state in the case of SSI whereas it reached to collapse limit state with fixed base condition. The 6 stories perimeter frames (See Figure 10(c), Figure 10(d)) reached to collapse limit state and in general plastic hinges were formed along all stories.

Finally, for 12 stories spatial frames (Figure 11(a) and Figure 11(b)) plastic hinges were formed at the bottom eight floors and the columns reached to the collapse prevention limit state in the case of SSI whereas it reached to collapse limit state with fixed base condition. The 12 stories perimeter frames (Figure 11(c) and Figure 11(d)) reached to collapse prevention limit state (SSI) and to collapse limit state (fixed base) and in general plastic hinges were formed along ten stories.

Comparison is made in terms of fundamental period of vibration, inter-story drifts and performance for 3, 6 and 12 story frames with and without SSI. These were designed as spatial and perimeter MRFs with a response modification factor of 8 using Saudi Building Codes. In total 12 cases were conducted to see the effect of SSI on such frames. Frames supported on loose granular soil (Site Class D) with moderate seismic zone, compatible to the PGA like Madinah region were considered. The results revealed the following:

・ In the case of loose granular soil with moderate seismicity, SSI affects fundamental period of vibration and top building displacement.

・ The Interstory drifts for spatial frames were within the limits as these are generally less loaded as compared to perimeter frames. On the other hand, the Interstory drifts for 6 and 12 stories were exceeding the limits in the case of perimeter frames.

・ Spatial frames were less affected by considering SSI compared to perimeter frames, which concludes that if frames are subjected to high seismic force the influence of SSI becomes more critical and needs to be incorporated in the design.

・ Overall the stiffness and ductility of the frames decreased when SSI was considered; this might be due to the capacity design approach which needs to be further investigated.

・ The collapse limit state was reached in the case of 3 story spatial and perimeter frames for both cases. For 6 and 12 stories (spatial and perimeter frames) collapse prevention limit state was observed for the cases when SSI was considered, and collapse limit state was reached when SSI was not considered.

A more detailed study might be useful to see the effect of SSI under more stringent cases such as, heavily loaded steel frames (braced) etc., considering loose/soft ground.

This work was supported by Deanship of Research at the Islamic University of Madinah with research project No 83/40.

The authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper.

Naqash, M.T., Farooq, Q.U. and Harireche, O. (2019) Seismic Evaluation of Steel Moment Resisting Frames (MRFs)―Supported by Loose Granular Soil. Open Journal of Earthquake Research, 8, 37-51. https://doi.org/10.4236/ojer.2019.82003