Estimating Seismically Induced Rock Slope Failure Volume in 2D Homogeneous Slopes Using a Sliding Block Correlation

Seismically induced rock slope failures have caused tens of thousands of deaths and economic losses in the billions of dollars over the last century. They are among the most common, dangerous, and least understood seismic hazards. Recently, progress has been made toward understanding the fundamental mechanisms of seismic rock slope failures using the bonded particle model (BPM). Although powerful, BPM is computationally intensive and difficult to scale for regional or probabilistic analyses. In contrast to BPM, sliding block methods are quick to run and widely used in seismic soil slope analysis. However, sliding block methods do not explicitly capture rock slope behavior during earthquakes. This study presents a framework for correlating coupled sliding block displacement to realistic modes and volumes of failure in 2D homogeneous rock slopes due to strong ground motion. The framework captures three distinct behaviors for homogeneous rock slopes in response to strong ground motion: (1) damage through the initiation of new fractures but without any failure volume leading to a weakened post-seismic condition; (2) the development of shallow, highly disrupted rock falls; and (3) the development of deep-seated rock slumps.