Relationship between Arias intensity and the responses of reinforced soil retaining walls subjected to near-field ground motions

A validated dynamic Finite Element procedure was employed to investigate the seismic responses of geosynthetic-reinforced soil retaining walls subjected to various near-field ground motions. The study is focused on the relationship between the ground motion parameters and the reinforcement loads and residual facing displacement. Twenty-five near-field motions from two earthquakes were scaled to a peak acceleration of 0.4 g and employed as the excitation motions. It was found that the maximum reinforcement load in the retaining wall is determined by the vibration characteristic of the earth structure as well as the intensity of the input motion, and the Arias intensity at the top of the reinforced soil zone is well correlated with the maximum reinforcement load. The residual lateral facing displacement is also affected by these two factors, but a very good correlation with the Arias intensity cannot be established. •A validated Finite Element procedure was used to analyze the seismic responses of geosynthetic reinforced soil walls.•Twenty-five near-field motions were used as the excitation in the analyses.•The vibration characteristic of the earth structure and the intensity of the input motion are critical to the responses.•Maximum reinforcement load is well correlated with the Arias intensity at the wall top.•Good correlation with the Arias intensity cannot be established for residual facing displacement.