Dynamic behaviour of reinforced soil retaining wall under horizontal seismic loading

Abstract

Based on the status that the reinforced soil retaining wall (RSRW) is difficult to popularize in highway in high earthquake intensity region of China. The dynamic behavior of modular-block RSRW was investigated by large-scale shaking table tests. The standard soil was taken as the backfill. The concrete blocks were selected as panel. The geogrid was reinforcement. The failure mode of the wall was observed, and dynamic response and the displacements were measured. The results showed that, the middle of retaining wall panel was slightly bulged under the inputted earthquake motion, the mortar on the surface of wall was breaking down. When the input motion was WL2.0g (model scale: 1/2), the blocks at the top fell down, then the retaining wall was destroyed. The settlements of the soil and lateral displacement of the wall increased with the increase of the acceleration motion. The acceleration amplification factor is decreased with the increase of input acceleration. When the input acceleration was larger than 0.8g, the acceleration amplification factor of upper wall gradually is decreased less than 1. When model scale and inputting earthquake motion is different, the range of acceleration amplification factor is different. Shaking table tests results of RSRW with different panel forms and reinforced materials are summarized. The results show that seismic behaviour of RSRW is excellent. It is advise to revise some items of “Chinese Specification of Seismic Design for Highway Engineering” in order to promote the application of RSRW in highway.