Geoscience Reference
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23
Dynamic Simulation
of the Reinforced Slope
Failure at Chi-Nan University
During the 1999 Chi-Chi
Earthquake
Nelson N. S. Chou and Chia-Cheng Fan
Genesis Group/ Taiwan, Taipei, Taiwan
ABSTRACT
A reinforced slope, 60 to 80 m high and 180 m long, located at the entrance
of the National Chi-Nan University in Pu-Li collapsed during the 1999 Chi-
Chi earthquake. Although the Chi-Chi earthquake was the most severe
earthquake during the past 100 years in Taiwan, geologic conditions at the
site and some design deficiencies may also play roles in the failure of the
reinforced slope. Dynamic simulation of the reinforced slope using the FEM
software PLAXIS was conducted. The result shows that the slip surface took
place along a thin layer of clayey material. The reinforced slope with a low
ratio of reinforcement length to height is blamed for the instability of the
slope. In addition, the low strength of recompacted backfill of a previous
failed slope may also cause failure.
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