2025 Volume 81 Issue 13 Article ID: 24-13484
The effect of the reinforcement method was analytically investigated through a seismic response analysis of embankments, considering slope failure using the particle-element coupled method (PEM). In PEM, the embankment is modeled as a gathering of particles, and the reinforcement structures are modeled as elements. PEM was initially applied to the seismic response analysis of embankments involving slope failure which were performed in a centrifuge to confirm the reproducibility of the method using three-dimensional model. Next, a series of numerical simulations were conducted using a reproducible numerical model, focusing on the arrangement of the ground with nailing reinforcement and along with the frame reinforcement method. The results showed that settlement only occurred on the top of the embankment when the nailing was densely placed. Settlement and tilting occurred when the nailing was insufficient, whereas settlement, tilting, and gap occurred when there was no reinforcement or insufficient rooting without any reinforcement effect. The frame reinforcement was analytically shown to be more effective with the nailing in restraining displacement in/after earthquakes even when the nailing was placed sparsely. The results of this study on the reinforcement arrangements demonstrate the importance of estimating the range of slope collapse in advance in the absence of reinforcement, to enable reinforcement construction with an appropriate rooting length and placement density.
