Development of synthetic soil mixture for experimental shaking table tests on building frames resting on soft soils

In this study, a synthetic soil mixture has been developed and proposed for experimental soil-structure interaction shaking table tests on building frames with shallow foundations resting on soft soil deposits. The proposed mix provides adequate undrained shear strength to mobilise the required shallow foundation bearing capacity underneath the structural model while meeting both criteria of dynamic similarity between the model and the prototype to model soft soils in shaking table tests. To find the most appropriate mixture, different mixes with different proportions of mix components were examined in the soils laboratory. Performing bender element tests, the shear wave velocity of the soil specimens was acquired at different cure ages and the results were examined and compared. Based on the test results, a synthetic clay mixture consisting of kaolinite clay, bentonite, fly ash, lime and water has been proposed for experimental shaking table tests.