| Summary: | A series of numerical simulations were conducted to study the seismic response in the mountain tunnel portal section. The seismic damage mechanism, including slope cracking and landslide, rockfalls and collapse, and lining cracking were analyzed based on the seismic damage characteristics of the Longxi tunnel during the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake in China. The results show that slope cracking due to the huge horizontal seismic inertial force which exceeds the strength of slope; landslide is caused by the connected cracks where the oblique component of horizontal seismic inertia force exceeds the shear strength of slope; rockfalls and collapse are caused by the cumulative tensile stress in loose soil and rock which exceed the strength of slope; the transverse lining cracks due to the alternate tensile and compressive action of the seismic load along the axial direction, which makes the lining tensile strain accumulates and exceeds the concrete ultimate strength. As for the longitudinal lining cracking, the transverse seismic load makes the bending moment direction in lining alternates, leading to the strength reduction of concrete. Moreover, the circumferential penetrating rupture zone is caused by the large shear force resulting from the slope sliding, which leads to the stress concentration at vault and when the tensile stress exceeds the concrete tensile strength, the vault begins to crack, and then the cracks extend from the arch shoulder to foot.
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