Centrifuge modelling of flexible retaining walls subjected to dynamic loading

•Centrifuge tests on flexible retaining walls under seismic loads in saturated sand.•Soil-structure interaction evaluated in terms of different physical quantities.•Highlighted the role of pore pressures on the dynamic behaviour of the structure.•A comparison with similar tests in dry sand is systematically carried out.•Tactile pressure sensors are used for evaluation of earth pressures.

This paper outlines the results of an experimental program carried out on centrifuge models of cantilevered and propped retaining walls embedded in saturated sand. The main aim of the paper is to investigate the dynamic response of these structures when the foundation soil is saturated by measuring the accelerations and pore pressures in the soil, displacements and bending moment of the walls. A comparison among tests with different geometrical configurations and relative density of the soil is presented. The centrifuge models were subjected to dynamic loading in the form of sinusoidal accelerations applied at the base of the models. This paper also presents data from pressure sensors used to measure total earth pressure on the walls. Furthermore, these results are compared with previous dynamic centrifuge tests on flexible retaining walls in dry sand.