Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Centrifuge model test study on pile reinforcement behavior of cohesive soil slopes under earthquake conditions

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Landslides Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In this study, dynamic centrifuge model tests were conducted to investigate the dynamic response of cohesive soil slopes with the use of stabilizing piles during an earthquake. The behavior of the pile reinforcement was analyzed based on the obtained deformation over the entire slope through image-based measurement, and the behavior of the slope was compared to that of an unreinforced slope. The piles significantly increased the stability of the slope and reduced its deformation during an earthquake. The bending moment of the piles exhibited a nearly triangular distribution due to the earthquake. The acceleration response of the slope increased with increasing elevation, and the displacement accumulated apparently irreversibly over the course of the earthquake. The piles significantly affected the deformation of the slope in a certain area, the boundary of which was defined using a continuous surface. A strain analysis of the slope demonstrated that the piles had a significant effect on the reduction in the deformation of the slope in their vicinities, and this effect expanded upward along the slope and arrested the possible slip surface that would have occurred in an unreinforced slope. Several influencing factors were simulated in the tests, and observation of these factors demonstrated that the dynamic response of the pile-reinforced slope was affected by the pile spacing, pile location, slope gradient, and input earthquake to varying extent.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14
Fig. 15
Fig. 16

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Anbarasu K, Sengupta A, Gupta S (2010) Mechanism of activation of the Lanta Khola landslide in Sikkim Himalayas. Landslides 7(2):135–147

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ashford SA, Juirnarongrit T, Sugano T, Hamada M (2006) Soil–pile response to blast-induced lateral spreading.I: field test. J Geotech Geoenviron Eng 132(2):152–162

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ausilio E, Conte E, Dente G (2001) Stability analysis of slopes reinforced with piles. Comput Geotech 28(8):591–611

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brandenberg SJ, Boulanger RW, Kutter BL, Chang D (2005) Behavior of pile foundations in laterally spreading ground during centrifuge tests. J Geotech Geoenviron Eng 131(11):1378–1391

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cai F, Ugai K (2000) Numerical analysis of the stability of a slope reinforced with piles. Soils Found 40:73–84

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • El Sawwaf MA (2005) Strip footing behavior on pile and sheet pile-stabilized sand slope. J Geotech Geoenviron Eng 131(6):705–715

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gallagher RH (1974) Finite element analysis. Prentice-Hall, New Jersey

    Google Scholar 

  • Huang RQ, Pei XJ, Fan XM, Zhang WF, Li SG, Li BL (2012) The characteristics and failure mechanism of the largest landslide triggered by the Wenchuan earthquake, May 12, 2008, China. Landslides 9(1):131–142

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Imamura S, Hagiwara T, Tsukamoto Y, Ishihara K (2004) Response of pile groups against seismically induced lateral flow in centrifuge model tests. Soils Found 44(3):39–55

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ito T, Matsui T (1975) Methods to estimate lateral force acting on stabilizing piles. Soils Found 15(4):43–59

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jeong S, Kim B, Won J, Lee J (2003) Uncoupled analysis of stabilizing piles in weathered slopes. Comput Geotech 30(8):671–682

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kang GC, Song YS, Kim TH (2009) Behavior and stability of a large-scale cut slope considering reinforcement stages. Landslides 6(3):263–272

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martin GR, Chen CY (2005) Response of piles due to lateral slope movement Flac3D. Comput Struct 83(8–9):588–598

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mezazigh S, Levacher D (1998) Laterally loaded piles in sand: slope effect on p–y reaction curves. Can Geotech J 35(3):433–441

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Poulos HG (1995) Design of reinforcing piles to increase slope stability. Can Geotech J 32(5):808–818

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rogers CDF, Glendinning S (1997) Improvement of clay soils in situ using lime piles in the UK. Eng Geol 47(3):243–257

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rosquoet F, Thorel L, Garnier J, Canepa Y (2007) Lateral cyclic loading of sand-installed piles. Soils Found 47(5):821–832

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smethurst JA, Powrie W (2007) Monitoring and analysis of the bending behaviour of discrete piles used to stabilise a railway embankment. Geotechnique 57(8):663–677

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Take WA, Bolton MD, Wong PCP, Yeung FJ (2004) Evaluation of landslide triggering mechanisms in model fill slopes. Landslides 1(3):173–184

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Take WA, Bolton MD (2001) The use of centrifuge modelling to investigate progressive failure of overconsolidated clay embankments. Workshop on Constitutive and Centrifuge Modelling: Two Extremes, Monte Verita, Switzerland

  • Thompson MJ, White DJ (2006) Design of slope reinforcement with small-diameter piles. ASCE Geotech Spec Publ 151:67–73

    Google Scholar 

  • Thusyanthan NI, Madabhushi SPG, Singh S (2007) Tension in geomembranes on landfill slopes under static and earthquake loading—centrifuge study. Geotext Geomembr 25(2):78–95

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Viswanadham BVS, Rajesh S (2009) Centrifuge model tests on clay based engineered barriers subjected to differential settlements. Appl Clay Sci 42(3–4):460–472

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang LP, Zhang G, Zhang JM (2010) Nail reinforcement mechanism of cohesive soil slopes under earthquake conditions. Soils Found 50(4):459–469

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang LP, Zhang G, Zhang JM (2011) Centrifuge model tests of geotextile-reinforced soil embankments during an earthquake. Geotext Geomembr 29(3):222–232

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yamagami T, Jiang JC, Ueno K (2000) Limit equilibrium stability analysis of slopes with stabilizing piles. ASCE Geotech Spec Publ 101:343–354

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang G, Hu Y, Zhang JM (2009) New image-analysis-based displacement-measurement system for centrifuge modeling tests. Measurement 42(1):87–96

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang G, Liang DF, Zhang JM (2006) Image analysis measurement of soil particle movement during a soil–structure interface test. Comput Geotech 33(4–5):248–259

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang LM, Ng CWW, Lee CJ (2004) Effects of slope and sleeving on the behavior of laterally loaded piles. Soils Found 44(4):99–108

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zornberg JG, Arriaga F (2003) Strain distribution within geosynthetic-reinforced slopes. J Geotech Geoenviron Eng 129(1):32–45

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The study is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (nos. 50979045, 51079073, and 51129902).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Hydroscience and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China

    Liping P. Wang & Ga Zhang

  2. Institute of Geotechnical Engineering, Department of Hydraulic Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, People’s Republic of China

    Ga Zhang

Authors
  1. Liping P. Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ga Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ga Zhang.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Wang, L.P., Zhang, G. Centrifuge model test study on pile reinforcement behavior of cohesive soil slopes under earthquake conditions. Landslides 11, 213–223 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10346-013-0388-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10346-013-0388-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation