Analysis of the interaction of a landslide with viaduct foundations under static and dynamic conditions

Abstract

The analysis of landslide movements and their consequences on infrastructure is of pivotal interest for social and economic reasons. This article investigates the interaction between bridges and landslides by evaluating the interaction of a landslide with the foundations of a viaduct located on a moderately inclined slope, both under static and dynamic conditions. By analyzing numerous case studies located in different parts of the world, it was possible to highlight the most common conditions and consequences occurring when a landslide interacts, partially or completely, with a viaduct. Based on these analyses, a three-dimensional finite element analysis was developed, considering an ideal complex topography, and simulating a rotational landslide that moves along the direction aligned with the viaduct axis. To model the homogeneous soil volume where the viaduct is founded and the landslide is triggered, an advanced constitutive model was employed, capable of reproducing hysteresis during cyclic loading conditions and the contextual attenuation of the soil dynamic stiffness. The results highlighted that, in seismic scenarios, the foundation piles of the viaduct play a crucial role in balancing the destabilizing actions exerted by the landslide, resulting in a significant reduction in horizontal displacements at the base and top of the pier.