Earthquake loading response of a slope with an inclined weak intercalated layer using centrifuge modeling

Seismic performance and the dynamic deformation mode of a slope with a weak intercalated layer (WIL) under earthquake excitations are very important for suitable seismic design of certain structures. In southwestern China, near the Longmenshan Fault, the dynamic response of slopes triggered by earthquakes is still not well understood. In this study, a series of dynamic centrifuge model tests under a 50-g hypergravity treatment with different input seismic motions were performed to investigate the effect of the input motion on the dynamic behavior of the WIL slope. The test results indicate that the amplification factors of the acceleration response increased with increasing height of the slope, reaching maximum values at the crest and the top surface, but abrupt changes in amplification with increasing height occurred at the WIL. The acceleration amplification at the WIL was related to the peak of the input motion. The amplification factor at the intercalated layer was weakened when the peak of input acceleration was equal to or less than 0.15 g, but it increased when the input peak was greater than 0.15 g. Acceleration amplification at the WIL was affected by the slope structure effect.