In previous seismic analyses of cast-in-place stations, the importance of the construction process was typically not emphasized. Unlike cast-in-place stations, prefabricated subway stations feature innovative construction methods. The effect of ignoring the complete construction process on the seismic performance of prefabricated subway stations remains unclear, and this study aims to address this issue. In this research, a three-dimensional nonlinear numerical model considering soil-structure interaction (SSI) was established. First, the complete construction process of the station, including excavation of the foundation pit and structural assembly, was replicated. The initial state before dynamic loading was clearly defined. Subsequently, the seismic response mechanisms of the station, including deformation, SSI, acceleration, and internal forces, were thoroughly investigated, revealing the impact of structural type and construction method on seismic performance. The results indicate that neglecting the complete construction process leads to differences in the initial state before dynamic loading, resulting in variations in seismic response. Specifically, ignoring the assembly process causes an average bending moment error of 59 % and an axial force error of 35 % for each component. By comprehensively analyzing these findings, a deeper understanding of the intricate interplay between assembly techniques, structural behavior, and construction processes in seismic contexts can be attained, thereby informing more robust engineering practices.

In recent years, the prefabricated subway station structure (PSSS) has become a hot spot of underground structure research. In this paper, the numerical model of a soil-subway station structure in a slowly inclined liquefiable site at the surface is established by using FLAC3D finite difference software. And the applicability of the PSSS under the gently inclined liquefiable site is investigated through the foundation pore water pressure, lateral movement of liquefied soil, and dynamic response and uplift characteristics of the subway station structure. It is found that under the gently inclined liquefiable site conditions, the PSSS exhibits tilting and floating behaviors and has an anti-liquefaction effect within a certain range of surrounding soil layers. Compared with the same type of cast-in-place subway station structure (CIPSSS), it has better resistance to overturning and uplift, and the structure has less stress. Under the premise of ensuring static waterproofing, the PSSS can be applied to surface inclined liquefiable sites.

This paper presents the design and commissioning of a novel pseudo-static test apparatus for underground structures that accounts for soil-structure interaction by simulating the soil with suitably designed springs. The developed apparatus was employed to conduct 1:10 large scale tests on a two-story three-span prefabricated subway station structure. Two comparative cyclic load tests were conducted: one involved the developed springs-structure system; and one involved the structure alone (no springs). The test results demonstrated important differences in the damage location, damage degree, bearing capacity, and deformation capacity of the prefabricated subway station structure under the two loading conditions (i.e., with and without springs). The presence of springs (i.e., soil-structure interaction) enhanced the lateral collapse resistance of the underground structure and affected the inter-story displacement ratio (IDR) between the upper and lower layers of the two-story prefabricated subway station structure. However, it did not affect the deformation coordination of the walls and columns of each layer. A finite element model of the prototype station was also established to conduct dynamic time history analysis simulating the soil-structure interaction. The results from the dynamic analysis validated the effectiveness of the pseudo-static test method employing the spring-structure system. The excellent agreement between the calculated dynamic responses and the responses obtained from the pseudo static tests confirmed the ability of the developed apparatus to conduct seismic tests on complex large-scale underground structures such as prefabricated subway stations. Thus, this test methodology might be utilized to attain valuable insights into the seismic performance of prefabricated subway stations at a relatively low cost and effort.