Multi-point shaking table test of the free field under non-uniform earthquake excitation

Abstract A series of shaking table tests of model field were conducted using four shaking tables. Details of experimental setup are first presented with particular focus on design of the similitude ratio, the 40-m-long model boxes, and the synthetic model soil. The experiments were conducted in two phases: Phase 1 is shaking table test of the model boxes without soil; while Phase 2 is the model field shaking table test. Test results including response acceleration and its spectrum are discussed. The comparisons show that non-uniform excitation in different wave form, peak acceleration, vibration direction and wave propagation direction may lead to different dynamic response. The wave passage effects caused by earthquake should be considered in study of seismic response of long-shape field.