ABSTRACT
Overhanging rock cliffs may generally become unstable due to toe erosion resulting from the wave action. The critical erosion depth depends upon the height of cliff and the strength (tensile or shear) of the rock, and if the resulting stress state exceeds the strength of rock, it will collapse. Recently, it is reported that overhanging rock slopes may also fail during recent earthquakes. This experimental study was undertaken to investigate the stability of model rock cliffs under dynamic loading conditions in order to clarify the governing factors associated with their failure. The rock mass was modeled as continuum, layered, and blocky model. Shaking table (OA-ST1000X) has a size of 1 m×1 m and the allowable maximum load is 100 kg under the conditions of maximum horizontal displacement of ±50 mm, maximum velocity of 0.56 m/s and maximum acceleration of 600 gals. The outcomes of the experimental studies are presented and discussed in this study. It is found that the failure modes of overhanging cliffs very much depend upon the number of discontinuity sets, tensile and shear strength of rock mass and their geometrical configuration.
