Simulation of earthquake-induced slope deformation using SPH method

• Published in: International journal for numerical and analytical methods in geomechanics Vol. 38; no. 3; pp. 297 - 330
• Main Authors: Chen, Wei, Qiu, Tong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chichester Blackwell Publishing Ltd 25.02.2014; Wiley; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Buildings. Public works; Computation methods. Tables. Charts; Computer simulation; Constitutive relationships; cyclic nonlinear behavior; Deformation; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Earthquake engineering; Earthquakes; elasto-plasticity; Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics; Exact sciences and technology; Geotechnics; Hydrodynamics; large deformation; Mathematical models; meshless method; Natural hazards: prediction, damages, etc; progressive failure; Reduction; Seismic activity; seismic loading; Seismic phenomena; Shear strength; Soil (material); Soil mechanics. Rocks mechanics; Soil strength; Structural analysis. Stresses; viscoplasticity; Wave propagation; Constitutive equation; High strain; Earthquake effect; Nonlinear analysis; Smoothed particle hydrodynamics method; Calibration; Modeling; Soil mechanics; cyclic nonlinear behavior; seismic loading; Elastoplasticity; elasto-plasticity; progressive failure; Meshless method; Viscoplasticity; Landslide; Simulation model; large deformation; Seismic load
• ISSN: 0363-9061; 1096-9853
• DOI: 10.1002/nag.2218

SUMMARY This paper presents the development, calibration, and validation of a smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) model for the simulation of seismically induced slope deformation under undrained condition. A constitutive model that combines the isotropic strain softening viscoplasticity and the modified Kondner and Zelasko rule is developed and implemented into SPH formulations. The developed SPH model accounts for the effects of wave propagation in the sliding mass, cyclic nonlinear behavior of soil, and progressive reduction in shear strength during sliding, which are not explicitly considered in various Newmark‐type analyses widely used in the current research and practice in geotechnical earthquake engineering. Soil parameters needed for the developed model can be calibrated using typical laboratory shear strength tests, and experimental or empirical shear modulus reduction curve and damping curve. The strain‐rate effects on soil strength are considered. The developed SPH model is validated against a readily available and well‐documented model slope test on a shaking table. The model simulated slope failure mode, acceleration response spectra, and slope deformations are in excellent agreement with the experimental data. It is thus suggested that the developed SPH model may be utilized to reliably simulate earthquake‐induced slope deformations. This paper also indicates that if implemented with appropriate constitutive models, SPH method can be used to model large‐deformation problems with high fidelity. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.