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Analysis of Failure Mechanism of Medium-Steep Bedding Rock Slopes under Seismic Action

Author

Listed:
  • Xiuhong Zheng

    (State Key Laboratory of Geohazard Prevention and Geoenvironment Protection, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, China)

  • Qihua Zhao

    (State Key Laboratory of Geohazard Prevention and Geoenvironment Protection, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, China)

  • Sheqin Peng

    (State Key Laboratory of Geohazard Prevention and Geoenvironment Protection, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, China)

  • Longke Wu

    (Guangxi Communications Design Group Co., Ltd., Nanning 530025, China)

  • Yanghao Dou

    (State Key Laboratory of Geohazard Prevention and Geoenvironment Protection, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, China)

  • Kuangyu Chen

    (State Key Laboratory of Geohazard Prevention and Geoenvironment Protection, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, China)

Abstract

Medium-steep bedding rock slopes (MBRSs) are generally considered relatively stable, because the dip angle of the rock layers (45–55°) is larger than the slope angle (40–45°). However, the stability of MBRSs was significantly impacted during the 1933 Diexi earthquake, leading to slope instability. Field investigations revealed that no continuous sliding surface was recognized in the failure slopes. Instead, the source areas of landslides present a “reverse steps” feature, where the step surfaces are perpendicular to the bedding surface, and their normal directions point towards the crest of the slopes. These orientations of “reverse steps” differ significantly from those of steps formed under static conditions, which makes it difficult to explain the phenomenon using traditional failure mechanism of the slope. Therefore, a large-scale shaking table test was conducted to replicate the deformation and failure processes of MBRSs under seismic action. The test revealed the elevation amplification effect, where the amplification factors of the acceleration increased with increasing elevation. As the amplitude of the input seismic wave increased, the acceleration amplification factor initially rose and subsequently decreased with the increase in the shear strain of the rock mass. The dynamic response of the slope under Z -direction seismic waves is stronger than that under X -direction seismic waves. The deformation and failure were mainly concentrated in the upper part of the slope, which was in good agreement with the field observations. Based on these findings, the deformation and failure mechanism of MBRSs was analyzed by considering both the spatial relationship between the seismogenic fault and the slope, and the propagation characteristics of seismic waves along the slope. The seismic failure mode of MBRSs in the study area was characterized as flexural–tensile failure. This work can provide a reference for post-earthquake disaster investigation, as well as disaster prevention and mitigation, in seismically active regions.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiuhong Zheng & Qihua Zhao & Sheqin Peng & Longke Wu & Yanghao Dou & Kuangyu Chen, 2024. "Analysis of Failure Mechanism of Medium-Steep Bedding Rock Slopes under Seismic Action," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-21, September.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:17:p:7729-:d:1472068
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Yu-liang Lin & Wu-ming Leng & Guo-lin Yang & Liang Li & Jun-Sheng Yang, 2015. "Seismic response of embankment slopes with different reinforcing measures in shaking table tests," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 76(2), pages 791-810, March.
    2. Jianxian He & Zhifa Zhan & Shengwen Qi & Chunlei Li & Bowen Zheng & Guoxiang Yang & Songfeng Guo & Xiaolin Huang & Yu Zou & Ning Liang, 2023. "Investigation into a homogenous step-like rock slope response under wide-frequency seismic loads using a large-scale shaking table," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 116(2), pages 2645-2669, March.
    3. Ross S. Stein, 1999. "The role of stress transfer in earthquake occurrence," Nature, Nature, vol. 402(6762), pages 605-609, December.
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