Application of Ground Vibration Analysis and Damping Ratio in Predicting Riverbank Landslides

Riverbank landslides pose significant threats to residential areas, infrastructure, and agricultural production. Conventional prediction approaches primarily rely on hydrological and static geotechnical parameters and therefore do not fully capture the dynamic response and progressive mechanical degradation of soils prior to observable deformation. This study proposes the use of ground vibration characteristics and damping ratio as complementary indicators for assessing riverbank slope stability. Field recorded ground vibration signals are processed using frequency domain analysis to identify characteristic frequencies and frequency dependent energy distribution. The damping ratio is determined using the half-power bandwidth method to quantify the energy dissipation capacity and micro scale deformation behavior of soils. Results indicate that riverbank sections with higher landslide susceptibility exhibit a systematic redistribution of vibrational energy from high frequency to low-frequency bands, accompanied by a pronounced increase in damping ratio, reflecting stiffness degradation and enhanced energy dissipation within the soil skeleton. The integration of these vibration based indicators with conventional geotechnical analysis enables early identification of mechanically vulnerable riverbank zones prior to the onset of visible failure, thereby supporting early warning and sustainable riverbank management.