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Centrifuge modelling of the seismic performance of soft buried barriers

Accepted version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

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Authors

Nappa, V 
Bilotta, E 
Flora, A 
Madabhushi, SPG 

Abstract

The paper presents the results of an experimental work carried out in a geotechnical centrifuge at the Schofield Centre of Cambridge University. Two reduced scale models of soft barriers in a sand layer underwent a series of ground shaking. In the first model a thin horizontal layer made of latex balloons filled with a cross-linked gel was created at about mid-height of the sand layer. In the second, the same balloons were deployed to form a V-shaped barrier aimed at isolating a relatively shallow volume of sand. The aim of the study was to get experimental evidence of the capability of such soft barriers to isolate a volume of soil thus reducing amplification of ground motion during severe seismic events. The experimental results were compared with FE numerical analyses of the same models, carried out also in free field to have a benchmark condition. By validating the FE modelling via the comparison with the experimental results, a robust model has been built, aimed at being used for carrying out a wider parametric numerical testing. The experimental results confirm the effectiveness of such soft barriers to reduce amplification in the isolated volumes during seismic events.

Description

Keywords

Seismic risk, Risk mitigation, Soft grouted barrier, Centrifuge tests, Numerical analyses

Journal Title

Bulletin of Earthquake Engineering

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

1570-761X
1573-1456

Volume Title

14

Publisher

Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Sponsorship
The research activity was carried out at the University of Napoli Federico II as part of the national research project PON_03 METRICS. The financial support of the consortium Stress s.c.a r.l. is kindly acknowledged.