DEM analysis on diffuse failure of soil slope triggered by earthquakes

Earthquake-induced diffuse landslide can cause considerable harm. This study used discrete element modeling (DEM) to investigate the diffuse failure of soil slopes triggered by earthquakes. Initially, the DEM was validated through demonstrating satisfactory agreement with the experimental results of a shaking table test . Subsequently, the time and most realistic location of diffuse failure occurrence was quantified using discrete second-order work. Diffuse failure was associated with abrupt fluctuation of the second-order work and a local burst of kinetic energy. Within the context of second-order analysis, the frictional resistance of the slope was analyzed. Both the in-phase and the out-of-phase evolutions of frictional resistance and seismic loading were captured. The distinctive in-phase response was identified as an important feature of diffuse failure. Moreover, the predominant influence of particle rolling behavior on frictional resistance development during diffuse failure progression was highlighted. The magnitude and anisotropy of the contact force are profoundly influenced by the input vibration amplitude, resulting in variations in frictional resistance, which suggests that stress-induced anisotropy plays a crucial role in diffuse failure. The results of this study shed light on the grain-scale failure mechanisms of earthquake-induced landslides, and serve as the basis for elucidating the failure behavior of seismic-induced landslides. • This study used DEM to investigate the diffuse failure micro-mechanism of a soil slope under shaking table tests. • The timing and location of soil slope failure triggered by earthquakes were quantified using discrete second-order work. • The distinctive in-phase response between frictional resistance and vibration is an important mechanism for diffuse failure. • The particles rolling behavior and stress-induced anisotropy play a dominant role in the evolution of frictional resistance.