Based on the development experience of soil containers for shaking table tests

a multidirectional laminar shear model container with variable stiffness is designed to meet the needs of shaking table tests in geotechnical engineering under different site conditions. The container is constructed with a stack of annular steel frames

and supported by ball bearings and bolts. Its height can be adjusted according to the test conditions. By adjusting the stiffness

the number

and the arrangement of bolts

the stiffness of the container can be changed. The stiffness-variable characteristic of the container is verified by analyzing the characteristic frequencies of various combined model boxes in ABAQUS. Then a free-field shaking table test employing the container is performed. The test results are discussed in terms of the acceleration time histories and the corresponding response spectra at various heights and distances. A 2-norm deviation index is also used to quantify the boundary effects. The result shows that the developed laminar shear container does not impose significant boundary effect and is able to maintain the in-plane free-field response.