Dynamic Centrifuge Testing of Slickensided Shear Surfaces
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 134, Issue 8
Abstract
Movement along preexisting slickensided rupture surfaces in overconsolidated clay and clay shale slopes can represent a critical sliding mechanism during earthquakes. The seismic behavior of preexisting slickensided surfaces in overconsolidated clay was examined by performing dynamic centrifuge model tests of two slickensided sliding block models constructed using Rancho Solano lean clay. Dynamic shear displacements were concentrated along the preformed slickensided surfaces. The peak shear resistances mobilized along the slickensided surfaces during dynamic loading were 90–120% higher than the drained residual strength measured prior to shaking. To accurately predict the displacements of the sliding blocks using Newmark’s method, it was necessary to use dynamic strengths that were 37–64% larger than the drained residual strength of the soil. Dynamic loading caused a positive pore pressure response in the soil surrounding the slickensided planes. The postshaking shear strengths were 17–31% higher than those measured prior to shaking.
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Acknowledgments
Funding was provided by the National Science Foundation under Award Nos. NSFCMS-0321789 and NSFCMS-0324499 and by Virginia Tech, through the Instructorship Position. The writers would like to acknowledge the suggestions and assistance of Dan Wilson, Chad Justice, Tom Kohnke, Tom Coker, Victor Ray, Roger Claremont, Lars Pedersen, and Cypress Winters. Development of the centrifuge at UC Davis was supported primarily by the National Science Foundation (NSF), NASA, Obayashi Corp., Caltrans, and the University of California. Recent upgrades have been funded by NSF Award No. NSFCMS-0086566 through the George E. Brown, Jr. Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulation (NEES).NSFNASA
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Information
Published In
Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 134 • Issue 8 • August 2008
Pages: 1086 - 1096
Copyright
© 2008 ASCE.
History
Received: Jan 15, 2007
Accepted: Nov 26, 2007
Published online: Aug 1, 2008
Published in print: Aug 2008
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