Abstract
Surface layer that overlays a sloped base layer often suffers severely in earthquake disasters. To research this problem, a model experimental analysis on elastic wave propagation phenomena in slope layers was conducted. A model made of a material of low elasticity was used to facilitate the experiment. An elastic layer on a sloped rigid base has varying thickness. SH waves are thought to propagate from the deep to shallow part of the surface layer. The following conclusions were drawn: (1) Higher frequency waves propagate in shallow parts of the slope layer. (2) Wave behavior in the slope layer is similar to a Love wave propagaton through a layer of uniform thickness. However, this similarity does not hold for a slope layer inclined at more than 15°.
