Composite Impulse Waves Triggered by a Combined Earthquake and Landslide

Abstract

Impulse waves caused by a combination of earthquakes and landslides are a neglected problem in seismic research. In the Tibetan Plateau of China, where earthquakes and landslides are frequent and glacial lakes are widely distributed, even a small lake outburst could be catastrophic. However, minimal attention has been paid to the mechanism of impulse wave formation under the joint action of earthquakes and landslides. In this study, 120 large-scale shaking table experiments were conducted to reveal the formation regularity and characteristics of an impulse wave triggered by a combined earthquake and landslide. Several effective parameters were considered: still water depth, peak ground acceleration, impact velocity, and slide volume. Based on the experimental data, an empirical formula is proposed for the superposed height of an impulse wave triggered by a combined earthquake and landslide.