Failure mechanism of TRSS mode in landslides induced by earthquake

Renli Liu,Jun Xiao,Tao Wang,Yanhui Han

doi:10.1038/s41598-020-78503-y

Renli Liu, Jun Xiao + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-78503-y

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Journal: Scientific Reports	Publication Date: Dec 1, 2020
Citations: 10	License type: open-access

Affiliation: Wuhan University, University of Minnesota

Abstract

Investigation of the slopes in the Wenchuan earthquake shows that tension failures appear in the upper part in many landslides. The typical failure mode can be generalized as “tensile-rupture and sheared-sliding” (TRSS). In this paper, the distinct element method (DEM) is employed to simulate the gradual failure process of the Tangjiashan landslide under the excitation of the Wenchuan earthquake. It is found that the first failure is the appearance of deep tension cracks on the top, and then shearing slip along the bottom. The posterior fracture is deep, steep, and rough, and the bottom shear slip surface has a relatively gently dip. The simulation shows the failure mode of TRSS in the slope can be well reproduced, and the geological and mechanical mechanisms can be revealed in the DEM model.

Highlights

Investigation of the slopes in the Wenchuan earthquake shows that tension failures appear in the upper part in many landslides
Under the gravitational loading condition, the failure mode of the slope is shearing sliding along the weak surface, and the tensile cracks of small-scale occur at the trailing edge. the shear slip surface grows and demonstrates nearly mode of pure shear; the rear fracture is shallower, and the scale is relatively smaller, showing the deformation and failure characteristics of the bottom shear slip
It is found that the discontinuities distribution and strong seismic force are important reasons for the formation of tensile-rupture and sheared-sliding” (TRSS)

Summary

Introduction

Investigation of the slopes in the Wenchuan earthquake shows that tension failures appear in the upper part in many landslides. Zheng et al.[19], Xu et al.17and Yan et al.[20] found that in the Wenchuan earthquake the tensional failures appear in the upper part of the most landslides, and in some slopes some rock and soil masses were even thrown out through the top fractures.

Results

Conclusion