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Distinct Element Modelling of a Landslide Triggered by the 5.12 Wenchuan Earthquake: A Case Study

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Abstract

The Donghekou landslide, which was triggered by the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake, was estimated to have a volume of 24 million cubic meters and resulted in numerous properties and lives lost. The landslide is considered a typical rapid long run-out earthquake-induced event, but the kinematic processes are not well understood. The main objectives of this study were to numerically model the landslide progression and to reproduce the post-failure configuration. We first built a physical model of the slope based on the topography and geology of the source area from field investigations. The corrected baseline and filtered actual ground motions were then used as the volume force acting on the base block, and the kinematic process and mechanics of the throwing phenomenon were modelled using a 2-D discrete element code. We used the non-linear Barton–Bandis criterion to accurately simulate the behaviour of joints. The size effect of the enormous landslide was also considered. The results of the simulations agreed well with those obtained from post-earthquake field investigations. A sensitivity analysis of several related parameters that may control the dynamic movements of the Donghekou landslide was discussed in detail. The results show that: the seismic force and the residual friction angle were main factors that affect the run-out of landslides.

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Acknowledgements

This study was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 51208522, 51308551, 51478477, 51408511), Guizhou Provincial Department of Transportation Foundation (No. 2012122033) and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities of Central South University (No. 2016zzts413). All financial supports are greatly appreciated.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Civil Engineering, Central South University, Changsha, 410075, Hunan, China

    Zhi-Chen Song, Lian-Heng Zhao, Liang Li & Gaopeng Tang

  2. Key Laboratory of Heavy-Haul Railway Engineering Structure, Ministry of Education, Central South University, Changsha, 410075, Hunan, China

    Lian-Heng Zhao

  3. Key Laboratory of Transportation Tunnel Engineering, Ministry of Education, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, 610031, China

    Yingbin Zhang

  4. Department of Geotechnical Engineering, School of Civil Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, 610031, China

    Yingbin Zhang

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  1. Zhi-Chen Song
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  2. Lian-Heng Zhao
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Correspondence to Lian-Heng Zhao or Yingbin Zhang.

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Song, ZC., Zhao, LH., Li, L. et al. Distinct Element Modelling of a Landslide Triggered by the 5.12 Wenchuan Earthquake: A Case Study. Geotech Geol Eng 36, 2533–2551 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-018-0481-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-018-0481-3

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