Upper bound finite element analysis of slope stability using a nonlinear failure criterion

In this study, upper bound finite element (FE) limit analysis is applied to stability problems of slopes using a nonlinear criterion. After formulating the upper bound analysis as the dual form of a second-order cone programming (SOCP) problem, the stress field and corresponding shear strength parameters can be determined iteratively. Thus, the nonlinear failure criterion is represented by the shear strength parameters associated with stress so that the analysis of slope stability using a nonlinear failure criterion can be transformed into the traditional upper bound method with a linear Mohr–Coulomb failure criterion. Comparison with published solutions illustrates the accuracy and feasibility of the proposed method for a simple homogeneous slope stability problem. The proposed approach is also applied to a seismic stability problem for a rockfill dam to study the influence of different failure criterions on the upper bound solutions. The results show that the seismic stability coefficients obtained using two different nonlinear failure criteria are similar but that the convergence differs significantly.     

地震效应下非线性抗剪强度参数对裂缝边坡稳定性影响的上限解析

基于非线性Mohr-Coulomb破坏准则,结合极限分析上限法和拟静力分析法,建立功能方程,推导了地震效应下裂缝边坡的安全系数计算方程。采用数学规划方法,计算了不同参数组合条件下的边坡安全系数值,详细分析了非线性条件下一系列参数对边坡稳定性的影响。研究表明,边坡安全系数随非线性参数和地震效应的增大而减小。对比分析可知,在非线性破坏准则下,裂缝深度较大时,裂缝对边坡稳定性影响显著,且边坡越陡影响越大;当裂缝深度超过某个值后,临界破坏面起始端可能不穿过裂缝最底端,而是从裂缝中间某部位穿过。在地震效应作用下,非线性抗剪强度参数对安全系数影响显著。研究成果进一步完善了裂缝边坡稳定性分析内容,所列图表为边坡的设计与施工提供有益参考。     

基于非线性破坏准则的边坡稳定性极限分析

上限定理是求解岩土工程问题的有效工具。以上限定理为理论基础,分析边坡的稳定性问题,并考虑了岩土材料破坏准则的非线性特性。在非线性Mohr-Coulomb破坏准则下,采用条分法与极限分析上限法相结合的方法,对边坡稳定性进行分析。通过切线法引入非线性强度参数 、 ,推导了岩土材料在非线性破坏准则下的相关联流动法则,建立功能方程,推导了边坡直线滑裂面、折线滑裂面和光滑曲线滑裂面安全系数F的计算方程。采用数学规划法计算后与工程实际中常用的边坡稳定性分析方法进行对比,并获得安全系数F =1.0时的稳定性系数Ns。与已有的研究成果进行比较分析,结果表明了该方法的正确性及优越性     

非线性破坏准则下边坡稳定性极限分析斜条分法

考虑坡顶均布荷载和地震效应典型情况下,将边坡滑体进行任意斜条块划分,建立了具有倾斜界面的多块体破坏模型。基于极限分析上限法和非线性摩尔-库仑破坏准则,考虑岩体内正应力的不均匀性,引入多点切线法和强度折减法推导得出边坡临界破坏状态下的安全系数Fs通用计算公式。采用序列二次规划法对安全系数Fs的目标函数进行最优化计算,并与既有研究成果进行对比分析,其结果具有较好的一致性,相对误差不超过3.565%,表明了该方法的正确性。同时对比传统单点切线法计算结果,多点切线法较单点切线法获得的边坡安全系数值偏小,表明了多点切线斜条分法偏于保守,是安全的。参数分析表明坡顶均布荷载、地震效应和非线性参数均对边坡安全系数及潜在临界滑裂面有重要影响。多点切线法引入非线性摩尔-库仑破坏准则对边坡进行稳定性极限分析,为相关研究人员提供了一种新的思路与方法。     

寒区路堤边坡稳定性的力学分析

区路堤边坡,特别是由冻结的砾石填筑的路堤或含冻结的砂砾层的路堤边坡的破坏准则具有极高的非线性.假定冻土为理想弹塑性体,且符合相关联的流动法则,基于极限分析的上限理论,对非线性破坏准则的寒区路堤边坡稳定性问题,提出了一个既考虑了相关的非线性效应,又易于工程计算,且不失必要分析精度的实用方法.在实际工程应用时,可以利用已有的线性问题的分析结果或依据我们提出的方法使问题简化.     

考虑张剪破坏的边坡下限原理有限元法

在工程中发生的很多边坡破坏模式不仅表现为剪切破坏,还表现为在边坡后缘产生一定深度的张拉破坏。这种既考虑剪切破坏又考虑张拉破坏的屈服准则,是经典的Mohr-Coulomb（简称M-C）屈服准则难以模拟的。从空间方位离散的角度出发,对经典的M-C屈服面线性化的方式进行改造,建立了基于方位离散的线性化屈服准则,同时在屈服准则中考虑了张拉破坏准则,并引入伪黏聚力,保证在每一个离散方位平面上既不违背屈服准则,又不违背张拉破坏准则,建立了同时考虑张拉及剪切破坏的下限原理有限元法。算例表明了该方法的有效性,同时也证明了仅考虑剪切破坏时,会过高地估计边坡的安全系数。     

Stability analysis of rock slopes with a modified Hoek–Brown failure criterion

The original Hoek–Brown (HB) failure criterion was used to analyse the stability of rock slopes. For highly fractured rock, the original HB failure criterion has been modified, but its effect on the stability of rock slopes has not been studied. Within the framework of the kinematical approach of limit analysis, this paper computes the rigorous upper bounds of stability factors of homogeneous rock slopes with the modified HB failure criterion under the plane strain condition, by employing a ‘generalized tangential’ technique. In such technique, instead of using the modified HB failure criterion, a series of linear failure surfaces tangent to the actual non-linear failure surface are utilized to derive the upper bound solutions, incorporating a new parameter n ranging from 0.5 to 0.65. The numerical results are compared with other published solutions for the case of n=0.5. The effects of the n on the stability factors of rock slopes are discussed. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

基于刚体平动运动单元的上限有限元研究

刚性块体极限分析上限法常应用于岩土工程稳定性研究,然而应用时需假定刚性块体破坏模式并递推繁琐的几何关系。为此,提出一种适应性更广的基于非线性规划模型的刚体平动运动单元上限有限元法,并解决了其优化模型初始值的确定问题。通过引入有限单元思想,将计算区域离散成刚体单元,同时以单元速度和节点坐标作为决策变量,由上限定理建立非线性规划模型获得上限解。利用编制的上限有限元程序进行边坡和浅埋隧道稳定性算例验证,表明运动单元上限有限元法能调整速度间断线至较优方位,所得破坏模式特征鲜明,上限解精度高,可广泛应用于边坡、隧道等稳定性分析研究。     

非线性破坏准则下的边坡稳定塑性极限分析

利用塑性分析上限定理,考虑岩土介质本身的非线性破坏准则,对各种不同破裂面边坡稳定性分析进行研究。针对破坏边坡破裂面不同,采用外切直线法来分析其上限解,推导出非线性破坏准则下的边坡稳定性系数计算公式,并对较复杂的对数螺旋线破裂面边坡提出初始切线法,较好地求出塑性极限分析上限解。将在非线性破坏准则下按对数螺旋线破裂面推导出的塑性极限分析上限解运用于实际边坡工程,其结果与精确塑性分析结果非常接近,为非线性破坏准则下的边坡稳定塑性极限分析提供了一条新的思路与方法。     

边坡稳定分析刚体有限元上限法的锥规划模型

极限分析方法是土边坡稳定性分析的重要方法之一。刚体有限元上限法是其中的一类,此类方法仍旧存在一些关键问题需要完善。由于单元的刚性假设,系统的塑性变形内能耗散仅发生在单元间的界面上,故此类方法的性能主要取决于界面的布局,即采用非结构化三角形单元计算往往精度较差。为此,提出了基于滑动面摄动的刚体有限元上限法及临界滑动面的搜索方法。首先,在考虑刚体转动的基础上构造刚体有限元上限法的二阶锥规划模型,用于确定在给定试滑动面条件下的运动许可速度场。其次,将试滑动面的控制参数视为决策变量,建立搜索临界滑动面的非线性非凸优化问题模型,并采用非线性单纯形方法和粒子群方法求解此优化问题找出临界滑动面。通过经典边坡稳定问题的分析求解,验证了所提出的新方法,进一步证实了网格类型（即界面的布局）是影响刚体有限元上限法计算精度的主要因素。经过计算结果的对比发现,在刚体有限元上限法中考虑刚体转动是非常必要的,不仅可以提高刚体有限元上限法的计算精度,还可以克服此方法对界面布局的依赖性。     

多阶多层复杂边坡稳定性的通用上限方法

极限分析上限方法在边坡稳定性评价中受到了广泛关注,但当前所取得的解析成果尚不能直接应用于解决任意多土层分布、多台阶的广义复杂层状边坡。基于组合对数螺线的旋转破坏机制,推导了具有任意坡面几何特征、任意多土层（含非水平土/岩层）边坡的外功率统一积分表达式及相应的虚功率方程,提出了多阶多层复杂边坡稳定性的通用极限分析上限方法;为克服积分式的复杂解析计算,引入了数值积分技术。在此基础上,结合最优化方法和强度折减技术,优化求解了复杂边坡的全局稳定性安全系数及相应的临界滑动面。通过多个典型算例的验证与对比分析,表明该方法具有较高的精度和广泛适用性。最后,针对典型多阶多层边坡实例,开展了上限法的深度拓展与应用研究,其结果为广义复杂层状边坡的稳定性评价提供了新思路。     

Limit analysis of 2-D and 3-D structures based on an ellipsoid yield criterion

In this paper, a nonlinear numerical technique is developed to calculate the limit load and failure mode of structures obeying an ellipsoid yield criterion by means of the kinematic limit theorem, nonlinear programming theory and displacement-based finite element method. Using an associated flow rule, a general yield criterion expressed by an ellipsoid equation can be directly introduced into the kinematic theorem of limit analysis. The yield surface is not linearized and instead a nonlinear purely kinematic formulation is obtained. The nonlinear formulation has a smaller number of constraints and requires less computational effort than a linear formulation. By applying the finite element method, the kinematic limit analysis with an ellipsoid yield criterion is formulated as a nonlinear mathematical programming problem subject to only a small number of equality constraints. The objective function corresponds to the dissipation power which is to be minimized and an upper bound to the plastic limit load of a structure can then be calculated by solving the minimum optimization problem. An effective, direct iterative algorithm has been developed to solve the resulting nonlinear programming formulation. The calculation is based purely on kinematically admissible velocities. The stress field does not need to be calculated and the failure mode of structures can be obtained. The proposed method can be used to calculate the bearing capacity of clay soils in a direct way. Some examples are given to illustrate the validity and effectiveness of the proposed method.     

Numerical analysis of slope stability based on the gravity increase method

A micromechanical model is proposed for studying the stability and failure process of slopes based on the gravity increase method (GIM). In this numerical model the heterogeneity of rock at a mesoscopic level is considered by assuming that the material properties conform to the Weibull distribution. Elastic damage mechanics is a method used for describing the constitutive law of the meso-level element, the finite element method (FEM) is employed as the basic stress analysis tool, and the maximum tensile strain criterion and the Mohr–Coulomb criterion are utilised as the damage threshold. The numerical model is implemented into the Realistic Failure Process Analysis (RFPA) code using finite element programming, and an extended version of RFPA, i.e., RFPA-GIM, is developed to analyse the failure process and stability of slopes. In the numerical modelling with RFPA-GIM, the critical failure surface of slopes is obtained by increasing the gravity gradually but keeping material properties constant. The acoustic emission (AE) event rate is employed as the criterion for slope failure. The salient feature of the RFPA-GIM in stability analysis of slopes is that the critical failure surface as well as the safety factor can be obtained without any presumption for the shape and location of the failure surface. Several numerical tests have been conducted to demonstrate the feasibility of RFPA-GIM. Numerical results agree well with experimental results and those predicted using the FEM strength reduction method and conventional limit equilibrium analysis. Furthermore it is shown that selection of the AE rate as the criterion for slope failure is reasonable and effective. Finally, the RFPA-GIM is applied to several more complex cases, including slopes in jointed rock masses and layered rock formations. The results indicate that the RFPA-GIM is capable of capturing the mechanism of slope failure and has the potential for application in a larger range of geo-engineering.     

Rotational–translational mechanism for the upper bound stability analysis of slopes with weak interlayer

The presence of a weak interlayer has usually an adverse effect on the slope stability. However, the rotational failure mechanism in the conventional upper bound limit analysis cannot rationally describe the sliding of the failure mass along the weak interlayer. Therefore, a new failure mechanism was proposed in this study to evaluate the stability of slopes with weak interlayers using the upper bound limit analysis and the associated factor of safety was determined by the shear strength reduction technique. The new failure mechanism is comprised of rigid blocks undergoing rotational or translational movements, instead of the rotational movement in the conventional failure mechanism. It has also been extended to the stability analysis of slopes in presence of stabilizing piles and pore water pressures. Case studies were carried out on actual slopes with weak interlayers. The proposed rotational–translational failure mechanism was verified by the shear strength reduction finite element method (SSRFEM). Comparisons demonstrate the reliability of limit analysis method with the proposed rotational–translational failure mechanism for slopes with weak interlayers and therefore it can be used as a simple evaluation method for the engineering design.     

基于极限分析上限方法的海底斜坡地震稳定性

极限分析上限方法在海底斜坡稳定性评价中受到了广泛关注,但已有成果未考虑地震荷载以及多土层海底斜坡可能出现的局部破坏机制。基于上限定理,推导了拟静力水平地震条件下多土层海底斜坡外力功率与内能耗散率平衡方程;结合强度折减技术和最优化方法,求解了海底斜坡整体和局部地震稳定性安全系数,并实现了多土层海底斜坡的局部滑动面搜索;通过典型算例分析,验证了本文方法的有效性。在此基础上,探讨了不同水平地震条件下两种组合土层海底斜坡的整体和局部稳定性,通过与数值解对比,其结果可以较准确地评价海底斜坡稳定性并有效预测滑移面位置。最后,将极限分析上限方法应用于一海底斜坡工程实例。     

基于非线性破坏准则的主动土压力上限计算

主要叙述了一种基于非线性破坏准则下的主动土压力计算分析方法。引入Power-Law非线性破坏准则,并根据切线法引入了变量 ,建立了一个统一的容许速度场,通过上限分析得出了主动土压力的计算表达式。由于主动土压力计算表达式中自变量个数繁多,为实现对上限解的最优化,应用了大型的数学规划软件,采用了目前广泛使用的SQP算法,得出了最优的上限解。通过与同样引入Power-Law非线性破坏准则后的朗肯土压力理论解的比较,发现所述的方法切实有效,并且适用范围更加广泛。     

Stability design charts for homogeneous slopes under typical conditions based on the double shear strength reduction technique

Based on a brief review of the existing shear strength reduction (SSR) techniques, the objective function of the comprehensive safety factor for simple homogeneous slopes is established by combining the double SSR technique (considered the shortest pathway of the strength reduction) with the upper bound limit analysis theorem, leading to a strict upper bound on the safety factor. Combining nonlinear sequential quadratic programming (SQP) with the random walk method, the value of the comprehensive safety factor can be optimized, avoiding the trap of a local minimum. Compared with classical examples, the present method is a conservative and effective method for slope stability evaluation. A set of design charts for homogeneous slopes under simple and typical conditions, such as surcharge load, pore water pressure, and seismic loading are produced by the analysis of substantial data, which can eliminate the necessity for iterations when calculating the safety factor. These stability charts are presented in a convenient manner to determine the comprehensive safety factors and corresponding failure patterns under different typical conditions, which might be preferred by engineers for performing the preliminary evaluations of slope safety. Several examples are used to illustrate the application of these stability charts under different conditions.     

Slope stability analyses for materials with a non-linear failure envelope

Upper bound techniques are used to analyse the stability of slopes of material failing according to a non-linear failure criterion, such as closely jointed rocks. The global, extremal nature of upper bound calculations is discussed, as is the inverse use of such procedures for obtaining safe lower bound estimates for material strength properties in back analyses. Specific results are presented for the material model proposed by Hoek and Brown.     

非线性破坏准则与岩土材料地基承载力研究

根据线性Mohr-Coulomb破坏准则,前人运用极限平衡法、滑移线理论或极限分析等方法求解地基承载力问题,但实际上岩土在剪切破坏过程中破坏准则具有非线性。因此,为了研究非线性破坏准则对地基承载力的影响,基于上限定理,通过“切线法”引进变量,根据能量耗散情况,将承载力问题转变为非线性规划问题,运用“序列二次规划算法”求出地基承载力的最优解。数值计算结果表明,当非线性破坏准则转变为线性破坏准则时,非线性参数对地基承载力有重要影响。     

Parametric Monte Carlo studies of rock slopes based on the Hoek–Brown failure criterion

Probabilistic evaluation of slope failures is increasingly seen as the most appropriate framework for accounting for uncertainties in design. This paper performs reliability assessments for rock slopes based on the latest version of the Hoek–Brown failure criterion. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the use of a new form of stability number for rock slope designs that has been recently developed from finite element upper and lower bound limit analysis methods, and to provide guidance for its use in probabilistic assessments. The analyses show that by using this newly proposed stability number, the probability of failure (P_f) obtained from case studies agrees well with the true state of the slope. In addition, this paper details a procedure to determine the magnitude of safety factor required for rock slope design.