Design and performance of an equivalent-shear-beam container for earthquake centrifuge modelling

A model container used on a shaking table should cause stress and strain in the model similar to that in a soil layer of infinite lateral extent and finite depth. This paper reports the design and results of preliminary tests of a new type of centrifuge model container for earthquake tests-an equivalent-shear-beam container. The model is made of rectangular frames of aluminium alloy spaced by rubber layers so as to achieve the same dynamic stiffness as the soil it contains. To sustain the complementary shear stresses induced by base shaking at each end wall, a flexible and inextensible frictional sheet is introduced. Data of centrifuge tests indicate that this model container satisfies certain requirements for an ideal model confinement for centrifuge modelling of earthquake design conditions.