Soft　sediment　deformation　structures　(SSDSs)　in　lacustrine　sediments　could　record　paleoearthquakes　in　tectonically　active　areas.　However,　their　interpretations　of　deformation　and　triggering　mechanisms　still　exist　disagreement　due　to　the　lack　of　understanding　of　natural　formation　processes　of　SSDSs.　In　this　study,　two　large　shaking　table　experiments　of　saturated　lacustrine　sedimentary　sequences,　including　Model　1　(simple　stratigraphic　system　of　thick　silty-clay　and　sand　layer)　and　Model　2　(stratigraphic　systems　of　thin　silty-clay　and　sand　alternating　layers)　were　carried　out　at　the　different　peak　ground　accelerations　(PGA)　in　order　to　simulate　the　earthquake-triggered　SSDSs　on　the　basis　of　field　investigation　in　Tashkorgan　of　western　China.　The　results　showed　that　there　were　no　SSDSs　formed　at　the　PGA　0.125g,　and　the　excess　pore-water　pressure　ratio　(γμ)　measured　in　the　sand　layer　was　lower　than　0.1;　sand　volcanos,　pipes　and　sand　veins　were　formed　at　the　PGA　0.25g,　and　the　γμ　value　of　the　sand　layer　reached　about　0.2　with　the　maximum　liquefied　depths　of　nearly　30　cm,　indicating　that　weak　liquefaction　occurred　in　the　sand　layer;　sand　volcanos,　pipes,　sand　veins,　diapirs,　load　and　flame　structures,　ball-and-pillow　structures,　silty-clay　deformation　structures　were　formed　at　the　PGA　0.5g　and　0.8g,　and　the　γμ　value　of　sand　layer　reached　about　0.91　and　0.94　with　the　maximum　liquefied　depths　of　nearly　60　cm　and　100　cm,　respectively.　The　γμ　value　of　silty-clay　layers　measured　in　all　the　tests　was　lower　than　0.1,　indicating　that　little　liquefaction　but　thixotropy　happened　in　the　silty-clay　layers.　The　tests　showed　that　liquefied　SSDSs　could　form　at　the　PGA　0.25g,　while　thixotropic　and　gravity-driven　SSDSs　could　form　until　the　PGA　reached　0.5g.　This　study　also　provided　insights　for　single　or　closely　spaced　shaking　events　being　responsible　of　superposed　deformed　beds.　The　simulated　SSDSs　have　striking　resemblance　to　that　of　ones　identified　in　the　field,　supporting　the　earthquake　triggering　of　SSDSs　in　the　Tashkorgan　area.　©　2024　Elsevier　B.V.