The Effect of Natural Frequency on the Seismic Behavior of an 8 m High MSE Wall

In recent years, the use of mechanical stabilized earth (MSE) wall systems have been becoming dramatically popular worldwide. When MSE walls are compared with conventional retaining walls, MSE walls have various economic and aesthetic advantages. As MSE walls have a higher tolerance for deformations in comparison to rigid retaining walls, they are much preferred specially in earthquake-prone areas. A better understanding of their behavior under static and seismic loading conditions is required to better predict their field performance. This study presents various methodologies developed for calculating the natural frequency of MSE walls. Upon estimating its natural frequency, an 8 m high prototype MSE wall was modeled using two-dimensional (2D) finite element method (FEM) computer program PLAXIS. Numerical analysis of the MSE wall was performed by applying input ground motions with varying frequency content (i.e., earthquake cases). Seismic response of MSE walls was discussed in the context of the frequency of the harmonic loading and the natural frequency of MSE walls by comparing deformations and tensile stresses in the reinforcement for each seismic loading case. Based on the results, the maximum acceleration amplification was observed at the estimated natural frequency of the MSE wall and the maximum horizontal displacements were greatest at the uppermost reinforcement.