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Dynamic Process Study of Earthquake-Induced Landslides Applying an Improved Discontinuous Deformation Analysis Method Considering Site Response

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Abstract

Earthquake-induced landslides are complex dynamic processes, a better understanding of which can be achieved by studying the entire dynamic process, including the propagation of seismic waves, cracking, instability, movement, and deposition. This paper explores the entire dynamic process in combination with the propagation of seismic waves and crack developing process of the slope under earthquake actions, while taking into account the strength attenuation, the major factor that causes the high-speed and long-runout movement. In this study, a simulation analysis tool called discontinuous deformation analysis (DDA) was used and improved by incorporating a seismic input method based on a viscous boundary and the free-field theory, virtual and real joints, and a shear strength attenuation criterion, to conduct a unified simulation analysis of the whole dynamic process of earthquake-induced landslide, and to analyze the influence of the dynamic response law on the instability and motion of landslide. Based on these improvements, the Donghekou landslide caused by the Wenchuan earthquake in 2008 was simulated. The dynamic characteristics of the slope showed an obvious amplification effect. At places with strong dynamic responses, cracks initiated rapidly. The progressive crack developing process of the landslide was represented. Owing to the low-friction effect, the speed increased sharply after the landslide began, promoting its high speed and long runout. From the crack propagation in the slope and the formation process of the sliding surface, it is evident that the Donghekou landslide was a typical tension-cracking and shearing sliding landslide.

Highlights

  • The entire dynamic process analysis landslide method, from continuous to discontinuous, was established.

  • The influence of the site dynamic response to the formation of a landslide was considered.

  • The instability mechanism of a landslide was analyzed based on the fragmentation process.

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Data availability statement

The data that support the fingdings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the Sichuan Province Science and Technology Support Program (2020YFS0309) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) (41977213). We appreciate the financial support of these organizations.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Xihua University, Chengdu, 610039, China

    Jinmei Wang, Bo Shu, Yong Xu & Lin Lang

  2. China Railway Eryuan Engineering Group Co., Ltd., Chengdu, 610031, China

    Jinmei Wang

  3. School of Civil Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, 610031, China

    Yingbin Zhang, Pengcheng Yu & Qingdong Wang

  4. MOE Key Laboratory of Deep Earth Science and Engineering, Institute for Disaster Management and Reconstruction, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China

    Xinyan Peng

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  1. Jinmei Wang
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  2. Yingbin Zhang
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  5. Qingdong Wang
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Correspondence to Jinmei Wang.

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Wang, J., Zhang, Y., Yu, P. et al. Dynamic Process Study of Earthquake-Induced Landslides Applying an Improved Discontinuous Deformation Analysis Method Considering Site Response. Rock Mech Rock Eng 56, 5427–5446 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-023-03335-x

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