Study on the dynamic response of dip bedded rock slope using discontinuous deformation analysis (DDA) and shaking table tests

Stability prediction for bedded rock slopes under seismic loading is very important for landslide hazard assessment. To clarify the dynamic behaviors and damage mechanism of dip bedded slope, shaking table tests and its prototype simulation analyses were performed. Shaking table tests were conducted to analysis the acceleration dynamic response firstly and then the discontinuous deformation analysis (DDA) method was used to reproduce the test results, and study the influence of vertical earthquake on the dynamic response of dip bedded rock slope. Both the two methods results reveal that the amplification coefficients increase with increasing acceleration amplitude under sinusoidal waves shaking condition, and show an increased trend with the relation height. With Wenchaun waves loading, the discontinuous characteristics between the test model and numerical model are consistent, the dynamic responses of the slope tops are strong, and it is easy to be destroyed. Compare the failure mechanism of the slope between shaking table test and numerical method, the damage areas both the numerical model and test model are the nearly identical, and the failure modes of two models are mainly the cracking sliding failure. Moreover, with horizontal and vertical earthquake loading, the acceleration response on the numerical slope top is strong, and the maximum peak acceleration amplification factors are at the leading and rear edges of the slope top. In overall, the dynamic response of the slope surface is more significant than that inside the slope. However, with an increase of amplitude, acceleration responses are different with different directional loading, the acceleration response with horizontal loading is stronger than with vertical loading.

Automated summary

The study on bedded rock slopes under seismic loading suggests that the dynamic response of the slope surface becomes more significant with increasing acceleration amplitude under sinusoidal waves; horizontal loading induces a stronger acceleration response compared to vertical loading.