Shaking table tests on wall-type gravel and rubber drains as a liquefaction countermeasure in silty sand

In this paper, the seismic performance of wall-type gravel and rubber drains as a liquefaction countermeasure in silty sand has been addressed using a series of 1 g shaking table tests. In these tests, the liquefaction resistance of silty sand was studied by changing soil relative density, silt content, number of walls, and materials of drainage walls. In order to evaluate shear wave propagation, the generation and dissipation of pore water pressure (PWP), and the ground surface settlement, various accelerometers, displacement and PWP transducers were placed. The obtained results indicated that an increase in the relative density and the number of wall-type gravel and rubber drains in liquefiable silty sand reduces the settlement, liquefaction-induced deformations, as well as the excess PWP and eventually improves the liquefaction resistance. Totally, it can be noted that the reinforced silty sand with wall-type gravel drains revealed less excess PWP and settlement than that with wall-type rubber drains. •The seismic performance of wall-type gravel and rubber drains has been addressed.•Liquefaction resistance of silty sand was studied.•An increase in the silt content decreases the rate of PWP dissipation.•Increasing the number of wall-type gravel and rubber drains will reduce settlement in the silty sand.