Abstract
Model shaking tests using an irregular base acceleration record during the 1995 Kobe earthquake was performed to investigate the failure mechanism and seismic stability of three types of soil retaining walls (RWs) situated on slope. A conventional leaning-type RW exhibited brittle failure when subjected to a relatively low base acceleration. A reinforced soil RW with a full-height rigid facing showed a coherent seismic-resistant behavior. A leaning-type RW reinforced with large-diameter soil nails at the top and bottom of RW exhibited the highest seismic-stability among the three types of RWs. The wall showed small displacements even when subjected to a base acceleration higher than 1g. This type of RW is considered as effective in improving the seismic performance of existing leaning type RWs. It was also found that the distribution of dynamic earth pressure increment could be approximated basically by a trapezoid or triangle distribution, but also depending on the input base acceleration and the pattern of shear bands developed in the foundation and the backfill.
