Recent studies have highlighted the potential benefits of allowing inelastic foundation response during strong seismic shaking. This approach, known as rocking isolation, reduces the moment at the base of the column by transferring the plastic joint beneath the foundation and into the soil bed. This mechanism acts as a fuse, preventing damage to the superstructure. However, structures with a low static safety factor against vertical loads (FSv) may experience unacceptable settlements during earthquakes. To address this, shallow soil improvement is proposed to ensure sufficient safety and mitigate risks. In this study, a small-scale physical model of a foundation and structure (SDOF model, n = 40) was placed on dense sandy soil, and seismic loading was simulated using lateral displacement applied by an actuator. A group of short-yielding piles with varying bearing capacities (QU/NU = 0.1-0.8) was installed beneath the rocking foundation. The results of the small-scale tests demonstrate that the use of short-yielding piles during seismic loading reduces the settlement of the shallow foundation by up to 50% and increases rotational damping by 59%. This is achieved through the frictional yielding of the pile wall and the yielding of the pile tip, which dissipate energy and enhance the overall seismic performance of the foundation. The findings suggest that incorporating yielding pile groups in the design of rocking foundations can significantly improve their seismic performance by reducing settlement and increasing energy dissipation, making it a viable strategy for enhancing the resilience of structures in earthquake-prone areas. The optimal bearing capacity ratio (QU/NU = 0.25-0.5) provides a straightforward guideline for designing cost-effective seismic retrofits.
