Deformation patterns and failure mechanism of earthquake-damaged gravel-soil cutting slope induced by rainfall

Abstract

Earthquakes and rainfall both cause soil damage and strength degradation of cutting slopes, resulting in increased slope instability. However, few studies have been conducted on the failure mechanisms of cutting slopes under earthquakes and rainfall. In this study, field electrical measurements were conducted to evaluate the damage to a cutting slope hit by the Yangbi Earthquake (MS = 6.4) in Yunnan Province, China. After material segmentation using the resistivity probability density statistical method, we observed several damaged areas running along the slope depth direction, forming several potential sliding surfaces. Furthermore, considering the slope damage after the earthquake, a discrete element model of the slope was developed, and the dynamic process of the gravel–soil landslide under rainfall was analyzed. Compared with low cutting slope with thin overburden sliding along one sliding surface, the results indicate that the high cutting slope with thick overburden slides along several sliding surfaces that formed by the earthquake—step sliding mods. Slope sliding can be divided into four stages: First, the slope body at the bottom area slid and accelerated firstly, while several cracks appear on the top area due to tension (initial stage and acceleration stage). Thereafter, the upper slope body gradually slides along its respective sliding surface. The body at the bottom area of the slope was pushed by that at the upper area and slid at a high velocity along the sliding surfaces due to secondary acceleration (secondary acceleration stage). Finally, the sliding velocity of the slope gradually decreases, and an accumulation is formed, entering a stable stage (deceleration stage).