Geotechnical Centrifuge Test of Reinforced Road Embankment Against Earthquake-Induced Liquefaction

Abstract

Liquefaction is one of the causes of ground and structural damages during the earthquake. The occurrence of liquefaction during the earthquake is caused by the contractive behavior of loose sands subjected to cyclic loading. Due to this phenomenon, the soil deposits will lose its strength, causing deformation and settlement. In this study, the seismic response of the road embankment with proposed countermeasures is analyzed by conducting a centrifuge model test. The model was subjected to a gravitational acceleration of 50g to replicate the prototype scale's actual conditions of stress and strain. Two types of proposed countermeasures, gravel mat and gravel mat with geogrid, were used in this study. The study aims to observe the behavior and mechanism of the model subjected to liquefaction. The results show that the proposed countermeasures helped prevent structural failure by reducing the excess pore water pressure development and its dissipation time and reducing the settlement. It also reduces the lateral spreading of the foundation ground based on visual observations.