The effect of strength envelope nonlinearity on slope stability computations

2003 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 308-325 ◽  
Author(s):  
J -C Jiang ◽  
R Baker ◽  
T Yamagami

Engineering analysis of slope stability includes three separate but interrelated phases: (a) experimental strength measurements, (b) determination of a strength envelope that best fits the experimental results, and (c) formal limiting equilibrium analysis using the resulting strength envelopes. Studying the interrelations between these phases leads to an integrated approach to slope stability analysis. The present work uses a single experimental database that is fitted with both linear (Mohr–Coulomb) and nonlinear failure envelopes and investigates the effect of different forms of the failure criterion on slope stability computations for both 2D and 3D problems. It has been indicated that calculated minimum safety factors could be significantly overestimated by the linear approximation of a nonlinear strength envelope. The effect of neglecting strength envelope nonlinearity is more pronounced under 3D conditions than in a 2D simplification. As a result, the use of nonlinear failure criterions in slope stability analyses is recommended to account for the stress-dependent nature of the shear strength of soils.Key words: nonlinear strength envelope, Mohr–Coulomb failure criterion, limit equilibrium, critical slip surface, minimum factor of safety, three-dimensional stability analysis.

1989 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 679-686 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oldrich Hungr ◽  
F. M. Salgado ◽  
P. M. Byrne

A study comparing a three-dimensional extension of the Bishop simplified method with other limit equilibrium solutions is presented. Very good correspondence is found in cases of rotational and symmetric sliding surfaces, such as ellipsoids. The Bishop method tends to be conservative when applied to nonrotational and asymmetric surfaces because it neglects internal strength. The error is, however, tolerably small for many commonly occurring slide geometries. Indices are proposed to identify cases for which the method should not be used. With its limitations defined, the Bishop simplified method offers a useful algorithm for three-dimensional limit equilibrium analysis. Key words: three-dimensional slope stability analysis.


2012 ◽  
Vol 446-449 ◽  
pp. 1905-1913
Author(s):  
Mo Wen Xie ◽  
Zeng Fu Wang ◽  
Xiang Yu Liu ◽  
Ning Jia

The Various methods of optimization or random search have been developed for locating the critical slip surface of a slope and the related minimum safety factor in the limit equilibrium stability analysis of slope. But all these methods are based on a two-dimensional (2D) method and no one had been adapted for a search of the three-dimensional (3D) critical slip surface. In this paper, a new Monte Carlo random simulating method has been proposed to identify the 3D critical slip surface, in which assuming the initial slip to be the lower part of an ellipsoid, the 3D critical slip surface in the 3D slope stability analysis is located by minimizing the 3D safety factor of limit equilibrium approach. Based on the column-based three-dimensional limit equilibrium slope stability analysis models, new Geographic Information Systems (GIS) grid-based 3D deterministic limit equilibrium models are developed to calculate the 3D safety factors. Several practical examples, of obtained minimum safety factor and its critical slip surface by a 2D optimization or random technique, are extended to 3D slope problems to locate the 3D critical slip surface and to compare with the 2D results. The results shows that, comparing with the 2D results, the resulting 3D critical slip surface has no apparent difference only from a cross section, but the associated 3D safety factor is definitely higher.


2011 ◽  
Vol 261-263 ◽  
pp. 1465-1469
Author(s):  
Lan Jia ◽  
Lan Zhu Cao ◽  
Zi Ling Song

As the complexity and the tall of open pit slope, two-dimensional slope stability analysis methods have been unable to meet the needs of the accuracy of stability analysis. Therefore, for the complex situation of Pingzhuang open pit slope, use with three-dimensional rigid body limit equilibrium method to analysisstability of slope.slope3D system, which consists of pre-treatment, limit equilibrium analysis solver and post-processing, the first processing core is to construct three-dimensional geological model of the slope, post-processing mainly results analysis and visualization graphics. The system combined organically the slope engineering geological information three-dimensional visualization and the analysis of stability, which make us to determine the landslide model, reveal the mechanism of landslide more accurately. Make an important contribution for ensuring safety in open pit production, a good foundation for slope stability analysis of other open pit.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masagus Ahmad Azizi ◽  
Irfan Marwanza ◽  
Muhammad Kemal Ghifari ◽  
Afiat Anugrahadi

The 3-dimensional slope stability analysis has been developing rapidly since the last decade, and currently a number of geomechanical researchers in the world have put forward ideas for optimization of slope design related to the economics and safety of mining operations. The 3-dimensional slope stability analysis methods has answered the assumption of spatial parameters in determining safety factors and the failure probability, thus the volume of failed material and the location of the most critical slopes can be determined. This chapter discusses two methods of 3-dimensional slope stability analysis, namely the limit equilibrium method (LEM) and finite element method (FEM). LEM 3D requires an assumption of failure type with the variable of analysis are the maximum number of columns, the amount of grid points, increment radius, and type of slip surface. On the other hand, FEM 3D requires an assumption of convergence type, absolute force and energy, with the variable of analysis are mesh type and maximum number of iterations. LEM 3D shows that the cuckoo algorithm is reliable in obtaining position and shape of slip surface. Meanwhile FEM 3D, the optimum iteration number needs to be considered to improve analysis efficiency and preserving accuracy.


2015 ◽  
Vol 52 (5) ◽  
pp. 563-576 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dong-ping Deng ◽  
Lian-heng Zhao ◽  
Liang Li

The limit equilibrium stability analysis of two- and three-dimensional slopes with the nonlinear failure strength criterion uses a number of variables to determine the normal and shear stress on the slip surface. The equation for the nonlinear strength failure criterion is expressed using a Taylor series after analyzing the stress of an elemental slice or column. Multivariate linear equations are then derived to determine these variables based on the force and moment equilibrium conditions the sliding body is subject to. The stress on the slip surface can also be obtained to calculate the slope safety factor. The validity of the current method was verified by comparing it with established examples. Charts were produced for slope stability analysis with the nonlinear strength failure criterion under general conditions using the current method. The results of this study show that the slope safety factor decreases with an increase in the geotechnical material parameter m in the nonlinear strength failure criterion. The results of the current method are in close correspondence with other traditional limit equilibrium methods and are more reliable than the Swedish method. The charts can be used to determine slope design parameters that meet specific requirements.


2011 ◽  
Vol 48 (6) ◽  
pp. 891-904 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.R. Stianson ◽  
D.G. Fredlund ◽  
D. Chan

A procedure is developed where stresses from a finite element analysis are incorporated into a limit equilibrium framework to evaluate the stability of three-dimensional slopes. An independent stress-deformation analysis is performed to calculate the internal stress state for the slope. The stress distribution is imported into the three-dimensional slope stability analysis in the form of a regular grid. The slip surfaces considered in the limit equilibrium analysis are ellipsoidal and discretized using a series of triangular planes. The normal and shear force acting at the centroid of individual triangular planes can be computed from the internal stress distribution. Subsequently, the factor of safety of a selected slip surface can be calculated directly without using an iterative procedure. A series of verification examples are presented to confirm that the proposed method provides the required accuracy and flexibility to assess the stability of slopes typically encountered in practice. Sensitivity analyses are presented to show how the procedure used to compute the forces acting on each triangular plane, the number of planes used to discretize the slip surface, and Poisson’s ratio influence the computed factors of safety, but do not limit the successful application of the methodology.


2013 ◽  
Vol 275-277 ◽  
pp. 1423-1426
Author(s):  
Lin Kuang ◽  
Ai Zhong Lv ◽  
Yu Zhou

Based on finite element analysis software ANSYS, slope stability analysis is carried out by Elastic limiting equilibrium method proposed in this paper. A series of sliding surface of the slope can be assumed firstly, and then stress field along the sliding surface is analyzed as the slope is in elastic state. The normal and tangential stresses along each sliding surface can be obtained, respectively. Then the safety factor for each slip surface can be calculated, the slip surface which the safety factor is smallest is the most dangerous sliding surface. This method is different from the previous limit equilibrium method. For the previous limit equilibrium method, the normal and tangential stresses along the sliding surface are calculated based on many assumptions. While, the limit equilibrium method proposed in this paper has fewer assumptions and clear physical meaning.


2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hua-Fu Pei ◽  
Chao Li ◽  
Hong-Hu Zhu ◽  
Yu-Jie Wang

In the past few decades, slope stability analysis using numerical methods is becoming a hot issue, but it is based on extremely ideal assumptions. Soil nailing technique, as one of the most cost-effective reinforcing methods, has already been widely used for reinforcing slopes. In this study, to evaluate the safety factor of a slope, the strains on soil nails were measured by fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensor. Strains along soil nails in the same cross section of a slope can be computed using the measured wavelength shifts of FBG sensors. In order to evaluate the stability of a slope, an optimal model was proposed to search the potential slip surfaces based on measured strain values. Maximum sum of strains on soil nails at different elevations of the same cross section was taken as the objective. Positions of soil nails, circular slip surface, and boundary conditions of the soil nails were summarized and taken as constraints. Finally, safety factors can be computed using the searched slip surface regarding the axial stress of soil nails. This method combines the limit equilibrium methods with measured axial strains on site which can reflect the actual condition of field slopes.


2015 ◽  
Vol 52 (9) ◽  
pp. 1283-1301 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roohollah Kalatehjari ◽  
Ali Arefnia ◽  
Ahmad Safuan A Rashid ◽  
Nazri Ali ◽  
Mohsen Hajihassani

This paper presents the application of particle swarm optimization (PSO) in three-dimensional (3D) slope stability analysis to determine the shape and direction of failure as the critical slip surface. A detailed description of adopted PSO is presented and a rotating ellipsoidal shape is introduced as the possible failure surface in the analysis. Based on the limit equilibrium method, an equation of factor of safety (FoS) was developed with the ability to calculate the direction of sliding (DoS) in its internal process. A computer code was developed in Matlab to determine the 3D shape of the failure surface and calculate its FoS and DoS. Then, two example problems were used to verify the applicability of the presented code, the first by conducting a comparison between the results of the code and PLAXIS-3D finite element software and the second by re-analyzing an example from the literature to find the 3D failure surface. In addition, a hypothetical 3D asymmetric slope was introduced and analyzed to demonstrate the ability of the presented method to determine the shape and DOS of failure in 3D slope stability problems. Finally, a small-scale physical model of a 3D slope under vertical load was constructed and tested in the laboratory and the results were re-analyzed and compared with the code results. The results demonstrate the efficiency and effectiveness of the presented code in determining the 3D shape of the failure surface in soil slopes.


2012 ◽  
Vol 166-169 ◽  
pp. 2535-2538
Author(s):  
Ke Wang ◽  
Chang Ming Wang ◽  
Fang Qi ◽  
Cen Cen Niu

The traditional limit equilibrium method in the analysis of slope stability not only exists some subjective empirical hypothesis that can not meet the equilibrium of force and moment, but also ignores the effects of internal stress and strain on the slope stability. Furthermore, in the stability of the slope evaluation, limit equilibrium method relies too much on experience when hypothesizing the slope slip surface. So that it makes deviation on slope analysis and stability evaluation. This paper is based on simplified Bishop method used to establish the model of slope stability analysis. And it used genetic algorithms to solve the minimum safety factor and the most dangerous slip surface of slope. It was the arithmetic which simulates organisms genetic evolutionary process and it avoided the traditional methods falling into the local extreme value point easily and error propagation leading to convergence. The algorithm had advantages of higher accuracy, quick convergence and applicability. It showed that the genetic algorithm is accurate and reliable in the analysis of slope stability.


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