Xiyin Zhang

ABSTRACT Under seismic loading, liquefaction-induced lateral spreading and sliding readily occur in inclined sandy soil sites, leading to more severe seismic damage compared to level sites. When an overlying frozen soil layer exists on an inclined sandy site, the seismic response becomes significantly more complicated.

1. Introduction Productivity gains are essential for long-term economic growth and the high-quality development of international trade [1]. Since Melitz (2003) introduced the theory of heterogeneous firm trade, export trade has been recognized as a crucial driver of productivity enhancement. In recent years, however, global trade protectionism has surged, heightening economic and trade tensions between major nations such as China and the United States.

1. Introduction Pile foundations are extensively utilized in various projects, including ports, terminals, offshore oil platforms, and large-span bridges [1,2,3], owing to their exceptional vertical load-bearing performance. However, pile foundations are not only subjected to vertical loads but also experience lateral loads, such as wind, earthquake, wave forces, and vehicle braking forces [4,5,6,7,8,9].