Seismic behavior of inverted T-shape flexible retaining walls via dynamic centrifuge

摘要

The behavior of inverted T-shape flexible retaining walls under seismic loadings was experimentally investigated. Two centrifuge tests were carried out on reduced-scale models of flexible retaining walls with different heights in dry sand. The experimental data showed that acceleration amplification is not affected by the wall height. The acceleration of the backfill was not uniform and a phase difference was measured between the wall and backfill soil. During the maximum bending moments of the wall, dynamic earth pressures were only measured at the bottom area of the wall. The inertial force of the wall induced deflection of the wall to result in gapping between the wall and backfill soil.