Journal of Geoscience and Eco Agricultural Studies

Abstract

Retaining structures play a crucial role in civil engineering by supporting soils, especially in seismically active regions. Earthquake-induced lateral loadings can significantly increase lateral forces and movements on retaining walls, resulting in structural instability. An innovative method to mitigate earthquake hazards is the utilization of compressible and lightweight buffers, such as rubber–sand mixtures and EPS geofoam, behind retaining walls. This study presents a comprehensive literature review of experimental studies that have investigated the effect of a compressible layer on the performance of retaining walls under dynamic loading conditions. It has been demonstrated that seismic buffers have a significant role in decreasing the lateral forces and permanent displacement of the retaining walls. Additionally, this study includes one of the experimental studies in the literature that examines the seismic response of the scaled retaining wall using shake table tests. Test results are given as an example of the buffer application. A rubber–sand mixture is used as a sustainable buffer material. The experimental results are consistent with the literature, demonstrating that the inclusion of a sustainable buffer effectively reduces both acceleration and displacement responses.