Model tests on seismic performance of retaining walls

ABSTRACT

This paper is a preliminary report of ongoing studies for the purpose of developing a rational design method to evaluate stability for several types of conventional retaining walls during an earthquake. Since the seismic behavior of retaining walls is not yet completely understood, a series of tilting and shaking table tests on small scale model are performed. The observed failure pattern and critical condition are compared with the predicted ones that are calculated based on pseudo-static approach. The results show that they are qualitatively consistent. However, the angle of failure planes observed for shaking table tests is steeper than what is predicted. It may suggest that the seismic behavior assumed in the prediction is not fully correct (AU)