Seismic Response of a Geogrid Reinforced Retaining Wall by Shaking Table Test

A geogrid reinforced retaining wall is a relatively new flexible retaining structure. However, its dynamic behavior and seismic resistance mechanism under earthquakes are not clear at present. A laminar shear container was used to install the test model of geogrid reinforced retaining wall. Its seismic response was investigated by a large-scale shaking table test. The similarity criterion of the model was confirmed by the Froude constant of Bockingham Π theorem in dimensional analysis theory. A series of variables - such as acceleration, horizontal displacement of the wall, seismic subsidence of reinforced zone and unreinforced zone under different waves - were measured. The measured results show that the reinforced wall model has different responses under different earthquake motions. Accelerations of the wall were amplified under earthquake wave caused by far field, while the distribution of spectrum is symmetric and the largest spectrum value was presented on the top of the wall. The displacement of wall top is the largest along the reinforced wall height, and the seismic subsidence of the reinforced zone is smaller than unreinforced zone, which indicates the geogrid effect on the reinforced soil retaining wall.