Coral　sand,　as　a　geological　material　for　foundation　filling,　is　widely　used　for　reclamation　projects　in　coral　reef　areas.　The　coral　sand　is　characterized　by　a　wide　grain　size　distribution.　A　series　of　centrifuge　shaking　table　tests　were　conducted　to　explore　the　seismic　response　of　a　shallow　buried　underground　structure　in　saturated　coral　sand　and　coral　gravelly　sand.　The　emphasis　was　placed　on　comparing　the　similarities　and　differences　in　the　dynamic　behavior　of　the　underground　structure　at　the　two　sites.　The　responses　of　excess　pore　pressure,　acceleration,　displacement,　and　dynamic　soil　pressure　of　the　structure　were　analyzed　in　detail.　The　results　indicated　that　the　underground　structure　in　coral　sand　had　a　significant　influence　on　the　development　of　excess　pore　pressure　in　the　surrounding　soil,　but　this　effect　was　not　evident　in　coral　gravelly　sand　due　to　well-drained　channels.　Liquefaction　was　observed　in　the　soil　layer　around　the　structure　in　coral　sand,　but　it　did　not　occur　in　coral　gravelly　sand.　In　coral　sand,　the　liquefaction　of　the　soil　layer　at　the　bottom　of　the　structure　caused　a　significant　attenuation　in　the　acceleration　of　the　structure.　Compared　to　coral　gravelly　sand,　the　acceleration　response　of　the　soil　layer　near　the　bottom　of　the　underground　structure　was　higher　in　coral　sand.　During　the　shaking,　the　displacement　pattern　of　the　structure　in　coral　gravelly　sand　was　slight　subsidence-slight　uplift-significant　subsidence,　while　it　exhibited　a　significant　uplift　in　coral　sand.　The　maximum　dynamic　soil　pressure　distribution　on　the　structural　sidewalls　presented　a　trapezoidal　distribution,　and　the　dynamic　soil　pressure　had　a　strong　connection　with　the　development　of　excess　pore　pressure　in　the　surrounding　soil.　©　2024　Elsevier　Ltd