Dynamic response of heterogeneously stratified calcareous sand foundations: An integrated experimental-numerical study

Calcareous sand foundations in island reef engineering projects are prone to developing layered structures due to construction impacts. This study investigates layered calcareous sand foundations through shaking table tests comparing homogeneous and stratified calcareous sand foundations. Concurrently, a numerical model of layered calcareous sand foundations was developed to analyze the effects of seismic intensity, number of strata, and layer depth on dynamic response. Results demonstrate that under identical conditions, homogeneous foundations exhibit weaker dynamic responses than stratified foundations. Numerical simulations reveal that dynamic responses intensify with increased seismic intensity and deeper layer depths, but diminish with greater numbers of strata.