Shaking table test on the acceleration amplification effect of platform-canyon combination topography

Shaking table test on the acceleration amplification effect of platform-canyon combination topography | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Shaking table test on the acceleration amplification effect of platform-canyon combination topography Shixing Zhao, Qirui Luo, Yan Wang, Hao Wu, Jun Xiong, Dandan Wu, and 2 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-8674061/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Review Version 1 posted 4 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract In mountainous regions, the complex interplay between topography and geology significantly influences seismic wave propagation and amplification, posing considerable challenges to engineering seismic design. This study investigated the seismic amplification effects of platform-canyon combined topography through the shaking table tests. A scaled model with symmetrical geometry but distinct geological configurations (loess on the left side versus granite-overlain-by-loess on the right) was subjected to various seismic and sinusoidal excitations with peak accelerations ranging from 0.1g to 1.2g. The horizontal and vertical dynamic responses, characterized by the ground motion amplification factor (GMAF), were systematically analyzed. The main findings were as follows. First, the topography exerted a dominant control on the horizontal response. The less-constrained platform triggered a pronounced "whip effect," resulting in a peak horizontal displacement 20%-50% greater than that of the canyon, with the maximum horizontal GMAF (up to 3.03) occurring at the platform crest. Second, the geological structure significantly modified the surface response. The model side with an underlying granite layer exhibited a 36.3% stronger amplification (coefficient up to 4.13) compared to the side with a single loess layer, highlighting the role of higher elastic modulus. Third, resonant amplification was governed by the coupling between the site's natural frequency and the input wave spectrum. A local GMAF of 6.74 was recorded under specific frequency-matching conditions (10 Hz - Kobe wave). Finally, the vertical response exhibited high-frequency selectivity and spatial heterogeneity, being more pronounced on the granite side and at frequencies exceeding the site's vertical predominant frequency (20 Hz). These results quantitatively elucidate the amplification mechanisms arising from the combined influence of complex topography and variable geology. The findings provide a crucial experimental basis and theoretical reference for the seismic design and risk assessment of engineering structures in mountainous areas. Platform-canyon topography Seismic amplification Topographic effect Geological effect Shaking table test Full Text Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Review Version 1 posted Reviewers invited by journal 17 Feb, 2026 Editor invited by journal 12 Feb, 2026 Editor assigned by journal 25 Jan, 2026 First submitted to journal 23 Jan, 2026 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-8674061","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":592898799,"identity":"35e6524e-96df-49fa-8cb3-078a7b5efa2d","order_by":0,"name":"Shixing Zhao","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Tianjin University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Shixing","middleName":"","lastName":"Zhao","suffix":""},{"id":592898800,"identity":"6cefa298-5a7b-49b8-b5d9-f0d42bfb5859","order_by":1,"name":"Qirui Luo","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Sichuan Provincial Architectural Design and Research 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This study investigated the seismic amplification effects of platform-canyon combined topography through the shaking table tests. A scaled model with symmetrical geometry but distinct geological configurations (loess on the left side versus granite-overlain-by-loess on the right) was subjected to various seismic and sinusoidal excitations with peak accelerations ranging from 0.1g to 1.2g. The horizontal and vertical dynamic responses, characterized by the ground motion amplification factor (GMAF), were systematically analyzed. The main findings were as follows. First, the topography exerted a dominant control on the horizontal response. The less-constrained platform triggered a pronounced \"whip effect,\" resulting in a peak horizontal displacement 20%-50% greater than that of the canyon, with the maximum horizontal GMAF (up to 3.03) occurring at the platform crest. Second, the geological structure significantly modified the surface response. The model side with an underlying granite layer exhibited a 36.3% stronger amplification (coefficient up to 4.13) compared to the side with a single loess layer, highlighting the role of higher elastic modulus. Third, resonant amplification was governed by the coupling between the site's natural frequency and the input wave spectrum. A local GMAF of 6.74 was recorded under specific frequency-matching conditions (10 Hz - Kobe wave). Finally, the vertical response exhibited high-frequency selectivity and spatial heterogeneity, being more pronounced on the granite side and at frequencies exceeding the site's vertical predominant frequency (20 Hz). These results quantitatively elucidate the amplification mechanisms arising from the combined influence of complex topography and variable geology. 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