Effect of bedding plane parameters on dynamic failure process of sliding rock slopes

Three groups of FLAC/PFC2D hybrid numerical models for sliding rock slopes with intermittent bedding planes and orthogonal secondary rock joints are established, and their seismically induced failure processes are simulated and analyzed. The simulated results reveal that the unbroken parts of the rock bedding planes fail in both tension and shear even when the rock slope is under solely horizontal seismic load. Moreover, the strength and penetration rate of the unbroken rock bedding planes affect the dynamic stability of the slope significantly, and they mainly serve to control the critical dynamic load to induce failure event of the rock slope and the scale of the failure. To the contrary, the shear strength (friction angle) of the broken parts of the bedding planes barely affect the failure process of the rock slope, yet they may occupy the controlling position only when there are no unbroken parts inside the bedding planes.