Toward Sustainable Geohazard Assessment: Dynamic Response and Failure Characteristics of Layered Rock Slopes Under Earthquakes via DEM Simulations

Fangfei Li, Guoxiang Yang, Dengke Guo (), Xiaoning Liu, Xiaoliang Wang and Gengkai Hu
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Fangfei Li: School of Aerospace Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
Guoxiang Yang: School of Engineering and Technology, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing 100083, China
Dengke Guo: School of Aerospace Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
Xiaoning Liu: School of Civil Engineering, Changsha University of Science and Technology, Changsha 410076, China
Xiaoliang Wang: School of Aerospace Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
Gengkai Hu: School of Aerospace Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 16, 1-23

Abstract: Understanding the dynamic response and failure mechanisms of rock slopes during earthquakes is crucial in sustainable geohazard prevention and mitigation engineering. The initiation of landslides involves complex interactions between seismic wave propagation, dynamic rock mass behavior, and crack network evolution, and these interactions are heavily influenced by the slope geometry, lithology, and structural parameters of the slope. However, systematic studies remain limited due to experimental challenges and the inherent variability of landslide scenarios. This study employs Discrete Element Method (DEM) modeling to comprehensively investigate how geological structure parameters control the dynamic amplification and deformation characteristic of typical bedding/anti-dip layered slopes consist of parallel distributed rock masses and joint faces, with calibrated mechanical properties. A soft-bond model (SBM) is utilized to accurately simulate the quasi-brittle rock behavior. Numerical results reveal distinct dynamic responses between bedding and anti-dip slopes, where local amplification zones (LAZs) act as seismic energy concentrators, while potential sliding zones (PSZs) exhibit hindering effects. Parametric analyses of strata dip angles and thicknesses identify a critical dip range where slope stability drastically decreases, highlighting high-risk configurations for earthquake-induced landslides. By linking the slope failure mechanism to seismic risk reduction strategies, this work provides practical guidelines for sustainable slope design and landslide mitigation in tectonically active regions.

Keywords: earthquake-induced landslide; bedding/anti-dip slopes; Discrete Element Method; sustainable geohazard assessment; rock slope stability; critical dip angle (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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