Abstract
A model ground of air dried Gifu sand compacted in a shear testing apparatus and three composite models at each of which the model conduit of different rigidity was buried in same model ground as above one were excited horizontally with sinusoidal motions on a shaking table. From observed response acceleration in the ground and dynamic earth pressures along the vertical walls of conduit it has been found that the dynamic earth pressure reverses in its acting direction at the same phase of base motion as the shearing rigidity of the conduit changes from very high (low) to very low (high) as well as it reverses in the direction along the side wall and that the shear forces acting on both ceiling and bottom of the conduit are partially sustained by the conduit itself according to its rigidity. Above experiments were simulated with 2D-FEM numerical model and very good agreement of the results with the experimental ones was obtained so as to enable us to use the numerical model in further quantitative study on this problem.
