Numerical and physical modelling of the seismic response of gentle slopes in soft clay

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ABSTRACT:  This paper presents the development and validation of numerical models designed to simulate the seismic response of gentle slopes in soft clay, a topic of significant interest in the scientific community due to the potential implications for geotechnical engineering and hazard mitigation. The motivation for this research stems from the need to improve the understanding of the behaviour of such slopes under seismic loading, particularly in light of existing research and methodologies. Nonlinear ground response analyses were conducted using OpenSeesPL, incorporating three-dimensional soil columns and a dynamic nonlinear constitutive model. Validation of the numerical models was performed by comparing the results with experimental data obtained from centrifuge tests on gentle slopes. Evaluation criteria included lateral displacements and acceleration-time histories. To conclude, the paper presents the results of simplified parametric analyses, examining the seismic response of gentle slopes at various inclination angles. The findings of this research aim at understanding of the seismic behaviour of such slopes and suggest directions for future research and model refinement. This work also provides reference data sets for numerical simulations and model preparation methodologies, including the use of a laminar container for simulating an infinite slope condition.

5th European Conference on Physical Modelling in Geotechnics (ECPMG2024)

Onshore and offshore foundation systems