Plasticity models for seismic analyses of slopes

Abstract

Large deformation seismic analyses of vertical slopes have been performed by employing both the Drucker-Prager perfectly plastic model and the elliptic cap work-hardening model. A comparative study is made between these models and between the finite element method and the limit analysis method. Development and verification of the ‘pseudo-static’ method of the finite element analysis after the sliding as well as before the sliding of the slopes are also studied. Emphasis is placed here on the effect of large deformation of slopes on the evaluation of the overall slope stability problems. Of particular concern is the comparison of the elastic-plastic responses of slopes with different plasticity models for the entire range of earthquake loading including the post failure behavior after the sliding and collapse.