Shaking Table Tests to Evaluate the Seismic Performance of Soil Nailing Stabilized Embankments

Abstract

A series of shaking table tests will be carried out on 0.4 m high instrumented soil nailed embankments. The important parameters considered in this study consist of a combination of three different slope angles (β = 30°, 45°, and 60°), three different nail inclinations (i = 0°, 15°, and 30°), and three nail lengths (l = 0.2, 0.3, and 0.4 m). This study revealed that the effect of slope angle on the seismic resistance of steep nailed soil slopes was significant and the minimal magnitude of the facing displacement was obtained with nail inclinations of 0° and 15° for the nailed slopes without facing and with facing, respectively. A model nailed slope with a nail inclination of 15° provided better reinforcement action than the horizontally and 30° inclined nails when stabilizing soil slopes. The maximum axial nail force was obtained at approximately two-thirds of the nail length in the model slopes with facing and at the slope facing for model slopes without facing.