Analysis of slope fracturing under transient earthquake loading by random discrete element method

Earthquake can cause significant rock fracturing in either the short or long terms. A comprehensive analysis of the fracturing mechanism is critical for risk assessments of potential slope failures, landslide and debris granular dynamics in seismic prone areas. This study employed 2D discrete element method (DEM) to investigate the fracturing of an intact rock slope of 600 m in base length and 300 m in height, with explicit considerations of material heterogeneity by random field theory. Following the Monte-Carlo simulation scheme, 5,400 DEM simulations were performed, and the characteristics of slope fracturing was statistically analysed.