Development and application of a slope excavation device for centrifugal model tests

The problems induced by slope excavation is quite common in practice. Considering the disadvantages of previous excavation simulation technology in the centrifuge, a new device is developed based on the centrifuge of Tsinghua University to conduct the excavation of a slope in flight. Two electric motors and linear guide tracks are used to simulate the two main processes: “cut” and “pull”, and then live excavation and multi-excavations can be achieved with the image-capture and displacement-measurement systems. Using this device, centrifugal model tests are conducted by recording the deformation processes of the slope after excavations.