Experimental study on vibration reduction by using soilbags

The effectiveness of soilbags in reducing mechanical vibration is investigated, and the influential factors are examined through a series of laboratory tests, including cyclic lateral shear tests, vertical excitation tests and small shaking table tests as well as a soilbag-filled trench field test. The test results illustrate that soilbags have a relatively high damping ratio and variable horizontal stiffness, which are greatly influenced by the materials inside the bags at low vertical stress but become nearly independent of the materials inside the bags at high vertical stress. We find that vertical and horizontal vibrations can be effectively reduced through the use of soilbags.