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The state of zero effective stress is a situation at which the effective stress of saturated sand decreases to zero in the process of liquefaction. In the state of zero effective stress, sand particles suspend in water and the foundation is vulnerable to much large lateral deformation. The state of zero effective stress can be achieved through dynamic loading tests, but the obtained state is difficult to sustain a steady situation. To simulate the suspended sand in water under fully liquefied condition, plastic sand, characterized by small specific gravity, is used instead of quartz sand to build an inclined foundation. Salt water with similar density is used to pass in slowly near bottom of the foundation. As observed in tests, the plastic sand is able to suspend in sodium chloride solution (salt water) of a specific density and thus this model can be used to simulate the lateral spreading of a foundation under zero effective stress state. Lateral deformation occurs within a certain depth beneath the ground and the magnitude increases from the bottom up, showing nonlinear behaviors. This paper presents a physical modeling approach for achieving the state of zero effective stress under static laboratory condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports a study of the effects of different concealed bracing materials on the seismic performance of short-legged shear walls and presents the results of low-frequency cyclic loading tests on three L-shaped short-leg shear walls—one wall without concealed bracing and the other two with concealed bracing materials of steel bars and SMA bars, respectively. The tests were aimed mainly at analyzing the effects of different concealed bracing materials on seismic performance indicators such as crack pattern, bearing capacity, ductility, hysteresis performance, stiffness, and energy dissipation of the L-shaped short-leg shear walls. The results revealed that their seismic performance with concealed bracing was better than without concealed bracing. The short-leg shear walls with SMA bar concealed bracing had the lowest number of cracks and the smallest crack width, and the effect of delaying the development of cracks was more evident. The short-leg shear walls with steel reinforcement and SMA-bar concealed bracing were better in bearing capacity, ductility, and energy dissipation capacity, with, respectively, 11% and 26.3% increase in ultimate load, 4% and 18.6% increase in ultimate displacement, and 12% and 28% increase in energy dissipation. It can be seen that setting concealed bracing effectively enhances the seismic performance of short-leg shear walls, and that short-leg shear walls with concealed SMA bar bracing have the most significant improvement in seismic performance. • The low-frequency cyclic loading tests on three L-shaped short-leg shear walls with different concealed bracing materials were conducted. • The effects of different concealed bracing materials on seismic performance indicators of the L-shaped short-leg shear walls were explored. • The short-leg shear walls with concealed SMA bar bracing have the most significant improvement in seismic performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]