Simplified seismic response of earth embankments

• Main Author: Low, Abigail Xiu Jun.
• Other Authors: Budi Wibawa
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2012
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Civil engineering::Geotechnical
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/50589
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

This study aims to validate the method proposed by Makdisi and Seed (1979), which provides a simplified procedure for determining the natural period and maximum crest acceleration of homogeneous earth embankments by hand calculation. A comparison was made with the results obtained using PLAXIS finite element analysis. The variation of maximum crest acceleration with increasing model geometry width was also studied. The results showed moderate agreement, with the simplified method overpredicting the maximum crest acceleration by 9% at a boundary width of 7 times the embankment base width. The model geometry width was found to have a significant effect on the maximum crest acceleration produced, indicating interference due to wave reflection at the model boundaries. Hence, it is recommended that model boundaries should be placed as far away from the area of interest as possible.