Investigation of dynamic behavior of slopes during earthquake using centrifuge tests

Abstract

Earthquake induced slope failure causes enormous damage to structures above and below the slope. In Korea, mountains are widely distributed, so it is more important to understand the dynamic behavior of slopes during earthquakes. The dynamic behavior of the slope is mainly refer to acceleration amplification and displacement. The acceleration amplified within the slope is directly related to the safety factor of the slope, and the permanent displacement of the slope represents the risk of the slope against earthquakes. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the characteristics of acceleration amplification and displacement occurring within the slope during earthquakes. In this study, dynamic behavior of slopes during earthquakes is analyzed through dynamic centrifugal model tests. Comparing the acceleration amplification pattern of a slope model and a flat ground model, it is observed that the acceleration was concentrated near the exposed slope by comparing the acceleration amplification pattern of a slope model and a flat ground model. This phenomenon was verified through a multi-degree of freedom analytical model. In addition, the correlation between the displacement of the slope and intensity measures of input motions are compared and discussed. Then, intensity measures that can be used in the empirical models for predicting slope displacement were suggested.