In　the　shaking　table　tests　of　underground　structures,　the　scale　ratios　of　the　soil　and　structure　are　inconsistent.　To　this　end,　a　scaled　model　soil　was　developed　in　this　study.　Through　a　series　of　tests,　the　dynamic　response　of　the　model　soil　was　investigated.　A　clay　mixed　with　sawdust　was　designed　for　shaking　table　tests　based　on　the　predominant　period　similarity　relationship　between　the　structure　and　the　foundation　soil.　The　sawdust-mixed　clay　was　subjected　to　a　series　of　shaking　table　tests　at　Beijing　University　of　Technology　using　a　rigid　prefabricated　continuous　model　box　(dimensions:　7.7　m　×　3.2　m　×　1.2　m).　Through　the　tests,　the　performance　of　the　model　box　and　the　nonlinear　seismic　behavior　of　the　model　soil　were　studied.　The　results　are　as　follows:　(i)　The　boundary　effect　of　the　model　box　was　negligible　during　the　test.　(ii)　The　predominant　frequencies　of　the　model　soil　shifted　toward　lower　values　with　increasing　shaking　intensity.　This　indicated　that　the　model　soil　became　increasingly　softer　and　that　the　nonlinear　effect　of　the　soil　was　more　evident.　(iii)　With　the　increase　in　the　shaking　intensity,　the　peak　acceleration　of　the　model　soil　at　the　same　measured　points　increased,　whereas　their　amplification　factors　decreased.　In　addition,　the　amplification　factors　first　decreased　and　then　increased　from　the　bottom　to　the　top　of　the　soil.　This　might　have　been　due　to　the　increase　in　the　shear　strain　and　decrease　in　the　shear　modulus　of　the　soil　with　increasing　shaking　intensity.　(iv)　The　shear　modulus　of　the　soil　was　closely　related　to　the　confining　pressure.　At　the　same　shaking　intensity,　the　shear　stress　increased,　and　the　shear　strain　decreased　from　top　to　bottom　of　the　model　soil.　©　2020　Elsevier　Ltd