Progressive Failure Behavior and Mechanism of Soil Slopes under Dynamic Loading Conditions

Dynamic loading is a major cause of landslides with significantly different behavior from static loading. A series of centrifuge model tests was conducted to investigate the progressive failure behavior of slopes under dynamic loading conditions, with a focus on the effect of cyclic loading. The cyclic effect induced significant deformation and final failure of the slope, which was influenced by the cyclic loading patterns. The slip surface developed from the top of the slope downward to the lower part with the application of vertical loading. The failure process of the slope exhibited a significant coupling with the deformation localization under dynamic loading conditions. The deformation localization developed in the slope during loading and resulted in the formation of the slip surface. Alternately, the local failure caused stronger deformation localization near the slip surface. The deformation was mainly concentrated in a limited zone. In the zone, a reversed triangular zone under the loading plate exhibited negligible deformation localization. The cyclic loading pattern had a significant effect on the slip surface and limit-bearing capacity of the slope, which was essentially dependent on the diversity of the deformation behavior of the slopes under different cyclic loading conditions. (C) 2016 American Society of Civil Engineers.