Simulation study of the void space gas effect on slope instability triggered by an earthquake

This study aims at exploring the void space gas effect of earthquake-triggered slope instability and providing a new method for studying the formation mechanism of earthquake-triggered landslides. We analysed the basic characteristics, kinematic characteristics, initiation mechanisms and physical mechanical parameters of the Daguangbao landslide, generalized a landslide prototype, and established a geological model and performed simulation tests. Based on the seismic wave propagation theory of rock-soil mass, rock fracture mechanics and the effective stress principle, we found that the void space gas effect is due to the occurrence of excess void space gas pressure when the dynamic response of seismic loads impacts the void space gas in weak intercalated layers of the slope. The excess void space gas pressure generated by the vibration(earthquake) damages the rock mass around the void space with a certain regularity. The model test results show that the effective shear strength of the rock mass can be reduced by 4.4% to 21.6% due to the void space gas effect.