Failure Characteristics and Mechanism of Double-Sided Slopes in Seismic Load

Abstract

In order to investigate the failure mechanism and failure modes of some double-sided slopes, the two-dimensional particle flow code (PFC2D) and shaking table tests are used to study the mechanism of double-sided slopes failure in this paper. The results show that the failure modes of slopes with different moisture content are different under seismic loads. The failure mode of slopes with 5% moisture content is shattering-shallow slip, and the failure mode of slopes with 8% moisture content is tension-shear slip, and shattering-collapse slip failure occurs at 12% moisture content. The failure mechanism of slopes with different water content is different. In the initial stage of vibration, the slope with 5% moisture content produces tensile cracks on the upper surface of the slope, and local shear slip occurs at the foot of slope and develops rapidly, then it turns to tensile failure. In the slope with 8% moisture content, local shear cracks develop first, and then they are connected into slip plane, so the slope is unstable. It first forms a fracture network in the slope with 12% moisture content under the shear action, and then uneven dislocation occurs in the slope during vibration, and finally the whole instability failure occurs. In the case of low moisture content, the tensile crack plays a leading role in the failure of the slope. But the influence of shear failure becomes greater with the increase of the moisture content.