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Pile-anchor structures are now widely used in major slope reinforcement projects, but research on the seismic response of slopes reinforced by these structures has been very limited. This paper presents the results of a series of 50g dynamic centrifuge tests that reproduce the seismic response of a slope reinforced by a pile-anchor structure exposed to an earthquake-induced stress field. A silica gel model of a slope is used to conduct multiple tests. Long-period wave amplitude amplification and frequency filtering are observed after spectral analysis. Pile bending moments and anchor tensions were recorded before the earthquake, at the moment of peak ground acceleration, and after the earthquake and the data show that the pile is the main load-bearing structure. The anchor aids in keeping the pile from tilting outward to improve the durability of the pile. Pile-anchor structure failure is caused by anchor relaxation, pile bending, and slope displacement after the passage of multiple seismic waves. A suggestion for pile-anchor structure design is provided. This paper provides a useful reference for future research on the interactions between support structures and a slope during and after earthquakes. The conclusions provided by these tests lay the foundation for designing pile-anchor reinforcement structures for better dynamic performance.

The pile-anchor structure is one of the most commonly used and effective methods in slope treatment. However, the dynamic behavior of slope reinforcement using a pile-anchor structure remains poorly understood. Performance assessment of the reinforcement system under seismic loading is therefore critical for reinforcement design. In this study, a numerical model of slope reinforced by pile-anchor structure, together with the analysis procedure, is briefly discussed. We consider four different reinforcement schemes to examine the effectiveness of pile-anchor reinforcement under seismic loading. Finite element analysis is used to derive the dynamic response, and Newmark sliding block analysis is employed to examine the stability of the reinforced slope. The performance assessment results indicate that the pile-anchor structure presents significant advantages of slope deformation reduction with a more reasonable internal force distribution and increased slope stability.