Enhancing Seismic Response of Geo-Structures Through Systematic Shaking Table Testing: A Review

Shaking table testing has become a fundamental experimental approach in geotechnical earthquake engineering for investigating seismic soil–structure interaction. Although numerous studies have examined the dynamic behavior of reinforced retaining walls and soil slopes, the existing body of literature remains fragmented, with significant variations in scaling approaches, boundary conditions, input motions, and instrumentation methods. To date, no comprehensive review has critically synthesized these studies to identify consistent behavioral trends and methodological limitations. This paper presents a systematic and critical review of shaking table investigations of geosynthetic-reinforced retaining walls and clayey soil slopes. The review consolidates global experimental findings to evaluate how key parameters—including excitation characteristics, soil density, surcharge loading, reinforcement configuration, and boundary conditions—influence displacement patterns and acceleration amplification. Recurring response mechanisms are identified, such as elevation-dependent amplification, nonlinear frequency effects, and the confinement benefits of reinforcement and surcharge. The review further examines discrepancies among studies and between experimental and numerical results, highlighting challenges related to similitude requirements, boundary effects, and signal fidelity By synthesizing dispersed experimental evidence and critically evaluating methodological variations, this review provides a clearer understanding of seismic response mechanisms and offers guidance for improving experimental consistency and promoting future standardization in shaking table testing.