Seismic Response of Steep Natural Slopes

摘要

The results of a research program to evaluate the seismic response of steep slopes are presented. The impetus for this work was the October 17, 1989, Loma Prieta Earthquake which caused extensive landsliding along the coastal bluffs from San Francisco to Santa Cruz. A frequency domain parametric study on topographic effects, using the generalized hyperelement method, shows that the peak amplification of motion at the crest occurs at a normalized frequency. Amplification was found to increase with inclined waves traveling into the slope crest, and to decrease with inclined waves traveling away from the crest. More importantly, the natural frequency of the site behind the crest dominates the response, relative to the topographic effect.