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Experimental study on progressive deformation and failure mode of loess fill slopes under freeze-thaw cycles and earthquakes
Abstract Earthquakes and freeze-thaw cycles are two important causes of landslides, but knowledge of their combined effect is limited. Therefore, a freeze-thaw test and large-scale shaking table tests were carried out to simulate the progressive deformation and failure mode of loess fill slopes. The process of frost-heaving deformation and seismic deformation was observed, and the failure mode was analyzed by comparing with the accelerations. The results showed that the slope stability decreased after freeze-thaw cycles. Freezing and thawing causes the crest and upper portion melted, and settled to the lower portion, creating frost-heaving zones and irreversible cracks. Comparisons between the freezing-thawing slope and nonfreezing-thawing slope allowed to highlight, through the analysis of seismic responses, the possible and not negligible effect of both frost-heaving spatial distribution of slope surface soil and freeze-thaw interface during the seismic shaking in initiation and development of landslides. The peak ground acceleration (PGA) amplification factors of freezing-thawing slope were higher, especially in the frost-heaving zones. Cracks in freezing-thawing slope developed faster and deformation was greater. The freeze-thaw interface became a potential slip surface and a multistep landslide suddenly occurred under 1.2 g seismic loads, while the nonfreezing-thawing slope was stable. The freezing-thawing slope shows a brittle superficial shear failure, and its failure mode is freeze-thaw cycles - forming potential sliding surface and irreversible cracks - slow expansion of cracks - rapid development and penetration of cracks - superficial shear sliding.
Highlights The failure mode of loess fill slopes under freeze-thaw cycles and earthquakes were revealed for the first time. Progressive deformation of freezing-thawing loess fill slope was obtained, based on large-scale shaking table model tests. Large-scale freeze-thaw cycle tests address the impacts of freeze-thaw on materials and deformation of loess fill slopes.
Experimental study on progressive deformation and failure mode of loess fill slopes under freeze-thaw cycles and earthquakes
Abstract Earthquakes and freeze-thaw cycles are two important causes of landslides, but knowledge of their combined effect is limited. Therefore, a freeze-thaw test and large-scale shaking table tests were carried out to simulate the progressive deformation and failure mode of loess fill slopes. The process of frost-heaving deformation and seismic deformation was observed, and the failure mode was analyzed by comparing with the accelerations. The results showed that the slope stability decreased after freeze-thaw cycles. Freezing and thawing causes the crest and upper portion melted, and settled to the lower portion, creating frost-heaving zones and irreversible cracks. Comparisons between the freezing-thawing slope and nonfreezing-thawing slope allowed to highlight, through the analysis of seismic responses, the possible and not negligible effect of both frost-heaving spatial distribution of slope surface soil and freeze-thaw interface during the seismic shaking in initiation and development of landslides. The peak ground acceleration (PGA) amplification factors of freezing-thawing slope were higher, especially in the frost-heaving zones. Cracks in freezing-thawing slope developed faster and deformation was greater. The freeze-thaw interface became a potential slip surface and a multistep landslide suddenly occurred under 1.2 g seismic loads, while the nonfreezing-thawing slope was stable. The freezing-thawing slope shows a brittle superficial shear failure, and its failure mode is freeze-thaw cycles - forming potential sliding surface and irreversible cracks - slow expansion of cracks - rapid development and penetration of cracks - superficial shear sliding.
Highlights The failure mode of loess fill slopes under freeze-thaw cycles and earthquakes were revealed for the first time. Progressive deformation of freezing-thawing loess fill slope was obtained, based on large-scale shaking table model tests. Large-scale freeze-thaw cycle tests address the impacts of freeze-thaw on materials and deformation of loess fill slopes.
Experimental study on progressive deformation and failure mode of loess fill slopes under freeze-thaw cycles and earthquakes
Jing, Jingjing (author) / Wu, Zhijian (author) / Yan, Wujian (author) / Ma, Wei (author) / Liang, Chao (author) / Lu, Yu (author) / Chen, Dawei (author)
Engineering Geology ; 310
2022-10-12
Article (Journal)
Electronic Resource
English
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