Abstract Previous studies developed several types of weak and soft walls to deviate reverse fault ruptures and to absorb the compressional soil deformation. However, different strategies are required to address the extensional soil deformation caused by normal faulting. This study proposes a rigid diaphragm wall with a relief shelf (RDWRS) to mitigate soil and shallow foundation deformations in normal fault. The relief shelf is applied to keep the stability of the diaphragm wall and to protect the shallow foundation on the ground surface. Numerical modeling is performed to investigate the diaphragm wall-normal fault interaction mechanisms and the effects of RDWRS on deformation mitigation of shallow foundations. The RDWRS shows promising effects concerning the mitigation of soil and shallow foundation deformations. The protection effects depend on soil depth, foundation width, foundation location, surcharge pressure, wall depth relative to the rupture, the width of the relief shelf, and the distance between the wall and the foundation. As this paper presents the results of numerical modeling, experimental studies are suggested for future studies. Besides, the economy of the RDWRS should be comprehensively considered when applying this method.

中文翻译：

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带有浮雕架的刚性连续墙，以减轻受正常断层影响的土壤和浅地基的变形

摘要 先前的研究开发了几种类型的软弱墙体来偏离反向断层破裂并吸收压缩土体变形。然而，需要不同的策略来解决由正常断层引起的拉伸土壤变形。本研究提出了一种带有浮雕架 (RDWRS) 的刚性连续墙，以减轻正常断层中的土壤和浅层基础变形。采用浮雕架，保持连续墙的稳定性，保护地表浅层基础。进行数值模拟以研究连续墙-正断层相互作用机制以及 RDWRS 对浅地基变形减缓的影响。RDWRS 在减轻土壤和浅层基础变形方面显示出有前景的效果。保护效果取决于土壤深度、基础宽度、基础位置、超载压力、相对于破裂的墙体深度、浮雕架的宽度以及墙体与基础之间的距离。由于本文介绍了数值模拟的结果，因此建议对未来的研究进行实验研究。此外，应用该方法时应综合考虑RDWRS的经济性。