Characteristics of spatial variability of shear wave velocity on seismic response of slopes

Abstract

The soil shear wave velocity has long been recognized as an effective parameter in the assessment of the seismic response of slopes. However, most seismic analyses have been carried out by deterministic models considering just a single realization of soil shear wave velocity. In other words, only a small number of researchers have explored the spatial variability effects of soil shear wave velocity on the seismic response of slopes. This paper investigates this phenomenon stochastically, and the auto-correlation matrix decomposition method based on Monte Carlo Simulation was applied to generate the stationary random fields in order to simulate the spatial variability of soil shear wave velocity. This framework includes interpreting the coefficient of the soil shear modulus variation and auto-correlation length effected on maximum horizontal equivalent acceleration. The results showed that the spatial variation of shear wave velocity might have a significant effect on the dynamic response of the sliding mass if slopes were subjected to weak ground motions. By contrast, it could have a significant effect on maximum horizontal equivalent acceleration induced in slopes subjected to intense ground motions.