Seismic response of a sheet-pile wall with anchoring frame beam by numerical simulation and shaking table test

The sheet-pile wall is widely combined with anchoring frame beam to support high slope in Geotechnical Engineering. However, the dynamic characteristics of the sheet-pile wall with anchoring frame beam subjected to seismic excitation are not clear, and the seismic design for such combined structure is still performed based on pseudo-static method or experience. The combination effect will probably induce an interaction between the sheet-pile wall and the anchoring frame beam, which subsequently makes the seismic behavior of such combined structure more complex. In this study, numerical simulation and shaking table test were carried out to investigate the seismic response of the sheet-pile wall with anchoring frame beam by applying Wenchuan ground motion with different amplitudes. The acceleration response, the earth pressure response and the axial stress of anchor were studied in time domain, and the failure mode of structure was obtained by analyzing the element state at different excitation moment. The influence of the excitation amplitudes on the seismic response of sheet-pile wall with anchoring frame beam was also studied regarding the acceleration amplification, the residual earth pressure, the peak earth pressure response, the distribution of anchor stress and the element state of structure. The results show that the acceleration response of sheet-pile wall with anchoring frame beam is less intense while experiencing another equal seismic excitation. The acceleration amplification of anchoring frame beam is greater than that of sheet-pile wall. The residual earth pressure behind sheet-pile wall increases with an increase in excitation amplitude, especially at the top of sheet-pile wall. The peak earth pressure response at the back of sheet-pile wall increases along the wall height, while it presents a decreasing trend behind anchoring frame beam. The anchor is more likely to fail at the beginning of earthquake. The axial stress of anchor increases nonlinearly with an increase in excitation amplitude, and the increasing ratio increases for a larger value of input acceleration. The outer surface of soil deposit experiences repeated tension and shear failures. The element state of structure changes greatly during the intense periods of seismic excitation.