Literature Review: Effects of subsidence on buildings

Buildings can deform due to many causes, such as self-weight, changes in temperature, changes in moisture content, or foundation movements. All of the above may lead to a strain in the building which in turn may lead to damage. The aim of this report is to identify the indicators which are relevant to assess building damage and to define lower bound criteria for the initiation of damage when buildings undergo a deformation of the foundation caused by subsidence. This information will then be used to improve the methods to assess building damage related to deep subsidence and heave (“diepe bodemdaling en -stijging”) due to gas extraction in Groningen (the “Groningenveld”) and gas extraction and storage in Norg (the “gasopslag Norg”).

This document presents results of a literature survey of the state-of-the-art for assessing damage on buildings induced by subsidence. First, the main types of damage together with their causes and indicators of damage are analysed. Later, an extensive literature overview is provided on the criteria and threshold values that are used to assess building damage. Finally, a choice has been made regarding the criteria and the threshold values that will be used within the scope of this project.

It is concluded that the approach defined by the study of Boscardin and Cording (1989), which was later refined by Son and Cording (2005), is well accepted internationally for the assessment of damage to buildings. However, within this project, it is proposed to limit the allowable strain to 0.2x10-3 instead of 0.5x10-3. This lower allowable strain takes into account buildings with a relatively high percentage of openings which were not considered explicitly in Boscardin and Cording (1989) and Son and Cording (2005). This also leads to a lower allowable curvature at the buildings’ foundation level.

Recommendations are formulated for further analysis of the vulnerability of buildings due to movements of the soil.