ABSTRACT
The dynamic response and stability of rock slopes during earthquakes are of great concern in rock engineering works such as highway, dam and nuclear power plant constructions. The main objectives of the study are to investigate the dynamic response of slopes and likely forms of instability of the slopes in relation to the number and orientation of discontinuity sets with respect to the slope geometry under various kinds of acceleration waves. The dynamic response of the model slopes were measured using accelerometers installed at various points in the slope. In the tests, various parameters such as the effect of the frequency and the amplitude of input acceleration waves are investigated in relation to discontinuity patterns and their inclinations and the slope geometry. Finally, the model slopes were forced to fail by increasing the amplitude of input acceleration waves and the forms of instability were investigated. In this study, the authors describe the results of the model tests on the dynamic response and stability of rock slopes and discuss their implications.
