A numerical study on the effect of shear resistance on the landslide by Discontinuous Deformation Analysis (DDA)

Abstract

Japan is located in Circum-Pacific earthquake zone, which is one of the most seismologically active areas in the world. As a result, landslides have occurred frequently and often cause serious damage not only to human lives but also to the various important structures such as national roads, railway, electric power plans etc. From the engineering point of view, to investigate the mechanism of landslide due to earthquakes and estimate the damage caused by landslides are important issues. In this study, as the first step, to check the validity of DDA simulation for the seismic problems, a series of shaking table tests were carried out in the laboratory and simulated by DDA. Then, one of the largest landslides occurred in Aratozawa Area, Miyagi, Japan in 2008 caused by Iwate-Miyagi Nairiku Earthquake was simulated using DDA and discussed the mechanisms of the landslide. The 2-D DDA model for one of the survey lines was created based on the geological survey, and physical properties were determined from the laboratory tests using rock/soil samples obtained from the landslide site. In this study, to discuss the mechanism of the landslide, a series of parametric study in terms of shear resistance along the fractures was conducted.

Keywords:

• shaking table test
• huge landslide
• seismic problem
• discontinuous deformation analysis (DDA)

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank to Dr. Eisaku Hamasaki, Advantechnology, Co., Ltd., Dr. Ryouichi Ohno Japan Conservation Engineering & Co., Ltd., Dr. Takeshi Sasaki, Suncoh Consultants Co., Ltd. and Dr. Shigeru Miki, Kiso-Ziban Consultants Co., Ltd. for their valuable comments and suggestions.