Seismic Response of Embankment on Soft Clay Based on Shaking Table Test

This study investigates the seismic effect due to different input motion on the wrap-faced soil walls by performing shaking table tests. The dynamic soil parameters like input acceleration, frequency and surcharge loads at the top of the wall are varied. The research evaluates the response of these parameters on the wrap faced embankment on soft clay soil. The responses of the acceleration amplifications and faced displacement of the model wall have also been analyzed. The numerical analysis has also been conducted on a similar wrap faced soil model using PLAXIS 3D. The results of the shaking table tests have been compared with the obtained data from numerical analysis. The acceleration amplification and the normalized face displacements increase with the increase of base accelerations. On the other hand, it is observed that the acceleration amplification and the normalized face displacements decrease with the increase of the surcharge pressures positioned at the top of the wall. The experimental result is found to be lower than the numerical result that has been obtained from the PLAXIS 3D analyses; the deviation is less than 5%. The outputs of this research will be useful to predict the dynamic behaviour of wrap-faced embankment on soft clay.