Seismic stability analysis of sandy slope with anti-slide pipe piles through shaking table tests and finite element

Seismic-induced landslides critically threaten infrastructure and human safety, especially in sandy slopes where conventional stabilization methods often fail under dynamic loading. This study evaluates circular open-ended anti-slide pipe piles embedded in a two-layer sandy slope with differing geotechnical properties. Ten physical models, including five free-field and five pile-reinforced slopes, were tested on a shaking table. Key seismic responses—acceleration, soil displacement, and bending moments—were monitored using accelerometers, strain gauges, and Digital Image Correlation (DIC). Complementary numerical simulations using Abaqus with a Mohr–Coulomb model validated experimental results. Soil displacement in free-field models under 0.25g shaking was about 3.5 times greater than in reinforced slopes. Bending moments increased with seismic intensity, peaking at depths around five times the pile diameter. Limitations including simplified two-layer soil representation, idealized seismic inputs, and boundary effects inherent to laboratory models restrict direct field application but enable controlled analysis. By combining physical experiments with numerical modeling, the study provides a robust and validated framework for seismic slope stabilization. This integrated approach enhances understanding of soil–pile interaction under seismic loads and offers targeted insights for developing safer and more reliable geotechnical design strategies in earthquake-prone areas.