Progressive failure mechanism in one-dimensional stability analysis of shallow slope failures

In many slopes, overstressed zones can develop where the shear stress is larger than the available shear strength. Along a shear surface within a soil exhibiting a strain-softening behavior, the shear displacement increases while the available shear strength decreases. The excess shear stress is transferred from the overstressed zone to the adjacent zones, providing more shear strength. This stress-transferring mechanism induces stress redistribution within the slope and could enlarge the overstress zone. A one-dimensional model that satisfies the strain compatibility and force equilibrium is proposed for the stability analysis of a slope of strain-softening behavior. This paper’s objective is to facilitate the application of this model to estimate stress distribution along the failure surface of a strain-softening slope and thereafter the stability status. The study presents a set of specific solutions to this model by describing and demonstrating procedures to identify the pattern of a stress state and to calculate stress distribution within a one-dimensional, strain-softening slope. The progressive failure mechanism is also investigated by using the proposed approach. As the magnitude of released stress gets large enough, it induces an overstressed zone adjacent to the initial unstable zone and progressive failure develops. The proposed approach is also applied to study the pattern of stress redistribution. It is found that the pattern of stress redistribution is affected by the magnitude of released stress. It is too complex to be reasonably expressed by simple models. Though some limitations exist, the proposed approach serves as a simple tool for a better understanding of the progressive failure mechanism.     

岩石边坡滑移失稳的地球物理响应特征

根据边坡滑移失稳的地球物理模型,研究了岩石边坡失稳的电阻率、瑞利面波基阶模的相速度、波数等响应特征,揭示了边坡从稳定→失稳演化过程的电阻率、瑞利面波基阶模频散特征变化规律,从而实现了边坡失稳的电阻率、瑞利面波基阶模相速度、波数响应特征的提取。这些特征信息的获得为利用电法勘探方法、瑞利面波法探测岩石边坡失稳的滑动面或结构面位置提供了依据,同时为实时观测,预测预报岩石边坡失稳提供了理论支撑。     

Probabilistic infinite slope analysis

Research activity in the mechanics of landslides has led to renewed interest in the infinite slope equations, and the need for a more general framework for giving insight into the probability of failure of long slopes involving non-homogeneous vertical soil profiles and variable groundwater conditions. This paper describes a methodology in which parameters such as the soil strength, slope geometry and pore pressures, are generated using random field theory. Within the limitations of the infinite slope assumptions, the paper clearly demonstrates the important “seeking out” effect of failure mechanisms in spatially random materials, and how “first order” methods that may not properly account for spatial variability can lead to unconservative estimates of the probability of slope failure.     

Three-dimensional stability analysis of the Kettleman Hills landfill slope failure based on observed sliding-block mechanism

Previous studies of the Kettleman landfill slope failure of 1988 had concluded that the failure, which slid along the underlying liner interfaces with low shearing resistance, occurred as a result of attaining the critical waste fill height. These studies showed, however, some discrepancies in regard to the adopted material strength data as well as the computed factors of safety. Based on the observed sliding-block mechanism, a 3D analysis model was established herein which allowed for variations in material strength mobilization within the sliding mass and at the slip surface. With a careful consideration on the interface strength data, results of forward analysis for the pre-slide slope generally showed better agreement with the field observations. Results of backward analysis for the post-slide slope indicated a consistency in the estimated material strength with the laboratory test data. The current study also showed slightly higher computed 3D factors of safety than the associated 2D values, in both pre-slide and post-slide cases.     

裂隙性粘土边坡渐进性破坏的FLAC模拟

裂隙性粘土是一种具有特殊性质的粘土,这种粘土边坡的破坏是渐进性的,传统的极限平衡法无法描述分析它的破坏过程和机理,也无法精确地判断它的长期稳定性。用FLAC程序对裂隙性粘土边坡的渐进性破坏过程进行了描述,算例表明在一定程度上用FLAC程序来模拟边坡渐进破坏和进行稳定性判断是可行的。     

Effect of spatial variability of shear strength on reliability of infinite slopes using analytical approach

This paper develops an analytical approach for reliability analysis of infinite slope stability in presence of spatially variable shear strength parameters. The analytical approach considers spatial autocorrelation of each parameter and cross-correlations between different parameters. It is robust, computational efficient and provides insight to the importance of spatial correlation scale on slope reliability analysis. This paper also explores the difference in continuous and discrete random fields and emphasizes the importance of fine discretization in relation to correlation scale. Finally, it shows that conditioning the stability analysis with information about trends and spatial data leads to reliability assessments with less uncertainty.     

边坡失稳过程模型试验研究

采用一个1 m×2 m×4 m（高×宽×长）的模型槽,对素土和加筋土边坡的失稳破坏过程进行了详细的试验研究。试验设计了30°、45°和60°共3种坡度,坡面考虑了平面和凸面两种形式。通过倾斜模型槽,触发模型边坡失稳破坏,利用数码摄像机采集边坡破坏的发生、发展过程和最终形态,并对裂缝的开展、滑坡体形态以及模型槽倾斜角度进行了归纳总结。结果表明：边坡破坏呈现三维形态,坡度和坡面形状对滑体形态影响较大;同一坡度下,凸坡较平坡容易失稳,二者裂缝位置基本一致;加筋后,提高了边坡稳定性,破坏形态也发生改变。研究成果有助于更深入了解边坡失稳破坏过程及破坏形态,为边坡治理提供科学依据。     

土坡渐进破坏的可靠度

在考虑土的抗剪强度参数的变异性及相关性的基础上,以可靠度的方法研究土坡渐进破坏问题。将滑动面上的土体按等弧长划分为n个土条,假设每个土条的安全余量服从正态分布,相邻两个土条的安全余量则服从二元正态分布,根据土条破坏传播的概率,计算土坡渐进破坏的概率以及土坡中裂缝开展长度的期望值, 并对算例的结果进行了讨论。     

入渗条件下某非饱和土坡稳定性的动态分析

土坡在进行稳定性计算时传统的极限平衡分析方法对于同一土体多采用单一的土体强度参数。近年来,人们致力于土体含水量与抗剪强度之间的关系研究,试验证明不同的含水量下土体的抗剪强度指标有很大变化。在连续的降雨条件下,在土体内部形成渗流改变土体的含水量会引起抗剪强度的变化,随时间和渗入量的不同土坡稳定性将随之改变。基于降雨条件下边坡饱和—非饱和渗流计算,利用土水分离土条自重法计算在不同时刻土坡的动态稳定系数,同时分析潜在滑动面的变化规律。     

应变软化土坡渐进破坏的可靠度分析

在考虑土性参数的不确定性和土体应变软化特性的基础上,以可靠度方法建立了边坡渐进破坏的极限状态方程。通过计算边坡局部破坏概率,确定边坡中最危险的土条,并推导出破坏起始于该土条,逐渐向两侧扩展的渐进破坏概率计算公式。该方法能很好地反映边坡局部破坏的产生、扩展及对边坡整体稳定性的影响,找到最贴近实际情况的破坏传播路径,为边坡稳定分析提供了理论依据。通过算例分析可知,滑动面上各个土条的局部破坏概率均不相等,破坏起始于中部第8土条,破坏先向上传递,后向下传递至坡脚,并非从坡脚向坡顶传递的牵引式破坏,或从坡顶向坡脚传递的推移式破坏。     

Numerical modelling of seismic slope failure using MPM

The Finite Element Method (FEM) is widely used in the simulation of geotechnical applications. Owing to the limitations of FEM to model problems involving large deformations, many efforts have been made to develop methods free of mesh entanglement. One of these methods is the Material Point Method (MPM) which models the material as Lagrangian particles capable of moving through a background computational mesh in Eulerian manner. Although MPM represents the continuum by material points, solution is performed on the computational mesh. Thus, imposing boundary conditions is not aligned with the material representation. In this paper, a non-zero kinematic condition is introduced where an additional set of particles is incorporated to track the moving boundary. This approach is then applied to simulate the seismic motion resulting in failure of slopes. To validate this simulation procedure, two geotechnical applications are modelled using MPM. The first is to reproduce a shaking table experiment where the results of another numerical method are available. After validating the present numerical scheme for relatively large deformation problem, it is applied to simulate progression of a large-scale landslide during the Chi-Chi earthquake of Taiwan in which excessive material deformation and transportation is taking place.     

极限分析有限元法讲座--Ⅱ有限元强度折减法中边坡失稳的判据探讨

边坡失稳,滑体滑出,滑体由稳定静止状态变为运动状态,同时产生很大的且无限发展的位移,这就是边坡破坏的特征。有限元中通过强度折减使边坡达到极限破坏状态,滑动面上的位移和塑性应变将产生突变,且此位移和塑性应变的大小不再是一个定值,有限元程序无法从有限元方程组中找到一个既能满足静力平衡又能满足应力-应变关系和强度准则的解,此时,不管是从力的收敛标准,还是从位移的收敛标准来判断有限元计算都不收敛。塑性区从坡脚到坡顶贯通并不一定意味着边坡破坏,塑性区贯通是破坏的必要条件,但不是充分条件,还要看是否产生很大的且无限发展的塑性变形和位移,有限元计算中表现为塑性应变和位移产生突变。在突变前计算收敛,突变之后计算不收敛,表征滑面上土体无限流动,因此可把有限元静力平衡方程组是否有解,有限元计算是否收敛作为边坡破坏的依据。-     

Assessing the impacts of a large slope failure using 3DEC: The Chiu-fen-erh-shan residual slope

This paper assesses the impact of Chiu-fen-erh-shan residual slope failure using a three-dimensional distinct element program. The simulation results indicate that rocks will severely damage the Lung-Nan path. The Taanshan syncline generates a depression zone adjoining to the slope toe and acts as a buffer zone to trap failing rocks. Some rocks will travel through the syncline, which poses a risk to visitors at the monument and the Shihmen observation deck. Few rocks will pass though the memorial park near the northern boundary of the slope. Visitors should be evacuated out of the impact area during a heavy rainfall event.     

降雨条件下北川斜坡破坏的数值模拟

本文采用FLAC的两相流模式和修正的Mohr—Coulomb模型,对北川地区震后土在降雨条件下的位移和速度矢量进行了数值模拟和分析,同时在室内进行了降雨条件下斜坡破坏的模型实验。分析结果表明：土体在沿坡面的最大水平位移发生在坡脚处,土体水平位移是衡量斜坡破坏的首要指标,可采用坡面特征点的位移突变作为斜坡破坏的判别标准;数值模拟得到的斜坡破坏与降雨历时关系与室内模型实验结果吻合较好。     

岩质边坡倾倒破坏的力学分析

以岩质边坡倾倒破坏地质过程分析为基础,假定岩体倾倒破坏过程中始终处于力平衡状态以及层面上下缘存在着阻止剪切错动破坏的层间阻力,岩体中某一点应力根据弹性力学原理可以简化为垂直的自重应力和水平的侧应力,将倾倒破坏岩体的力学过程概化为平面应变模型,并基于最大拉应力破坏准则,推导出岩体倾倒折断破坏深度的临界公式。实例计算及讨论表明,倾倒破坏临界深度理论适用范围广,并且考虑了边坡水平应力,计算结果更加符合实际破坏特征。另外,边坡坡角、岩层倾角及厚度对岩体倾倒破坏深度影响具有较大影响,特别是层面倾角50°～70°时边坡最易发生倾倒破坏。     

从边坡破坏特点谈高速公路勘察应注意的几个问题

分析了某段高速公路几处边坡破坏的特点,认为造成边坡破坏的原因主要是高速公路建设前期,公路边坡地质调绘、勘察工作不足,勘探工作布置不合理所致。提出高速公路勘察中应注重野外地质调绘,充分利用物探手段,合理布置勘探工作。     

Internal soil moisture response to rainfall-induced slope failures and debris discharge

Predictions of rainfall-induced fast-moving mass flow and/or debris flows require better knowledge of the mechanism controlling the debris discharge of slopes in debris source areas. A series of rainfall tests on 0.32 m-deep, 0.7 m-high, 1.35 m-wide sandy slopes resting on a bi-linear impermeable rigid base was performed. Soil moisture content and solid discharge measurements were performed to gain insights into the rainfall-induced retrogressive slope failure. The solid (or debris) discharge is a result of the wash-out of the fluidized slope toe by the interflow along the soil–bedrock interface. Characteristics of the failure process for the slopes are represented by mass wasting curves or ‘solid discharge (Q_s) vs. time (t)’ curves which are functions of the rainfall intensity and/or the cumulative rainfall. The mass wasting curves have inflection points representing transitions from minor toe failures into remarkable retrogressive failures. The first inflection point of the soil moisture (ω) vs. t curve measured at the soil–bedrock interface signaling the arrival of the descending ‘wet front’, may serve as a precursor for predicting the onset of an abrupt solid discharge induced by shallow slope failures. The time of peak water content measured at the soil–bedrock interface may approximate the time of 5% total solid volume discharge. Up to the time of 5% of total slope volume discharge, a fully saturated state (S_r  100%) was never observed at the 0.2 m-below-surface zone; however, it was observed along the soil–bedrock interface at near-toe zone of the slope, regardless of the intensity of rainfall investigated. Retrogressive failures were essentially associated with nonuniformly distributed water content in the slope. For both the 0.2 m-below-surface zone and the soil–bedrock interface, a more uniform distribution of S_r along the full height of the slope was found for slopes subjected to high rainfall intensities of 47 and 65 mm/h than that for the slope subjected to a low rainfall intensity of 23 mm/h. At the inflection point of the Q_s vs. t curve and 5% of total solid volume discharge, values of S_r at a certain distance from the toe for the soil–bedrock interface were higher than those measured at the same distance from the toe for the 0.2 m-below-surface zone, indicating the effect of infiltration-induced interflow along the soil–bedrock interface and its effects on the fluidization of the slope toe and the retrogressive failure of the slope.     

Efficient subset simulation for evaluating the modes of improbable slope failure

For analyzing low probability slope failures, a modified version of subset simulation, based on performance-based subset selection rather than the usual probability-based subset selection, is combined with the random finite element method. The application to an idealized slope is used to study the efficiency and consistency of the proposed method compared to classical Monte Carlo simulations and the shear strength reduction (SSR) method. Results demonstrate that failure events taking place without strength reduction have different modes of failure than stable slopes brought to failure by SSR. The correlation between sliding volume and factor of safety is also demonstrated.     

基于多场耦合数值分析的膨胀土边坡浅层膨胀变形破坏机制研究

膨胀土地区大量工程实践表明,发生在膨胀土边坡浅表层一定深度范围内的牵引式滑坡现象非常普遍,对于该种渐进性边坡破坏模式,传统极限平衡分析无法反映其失稳状态和破坏机制。借鉴温度场中温度膨胀系数的定义和数值处理方法,以室内无荷/有荷膨胀率试验成果为依据,对膨胀土的湿度膨胀系数进行了反演拟合,得到低荷载条件下含水率-膨胀系数近似符合线性关系。基于降雨作用下膨胀土边坡破坏的大型静力物理模型试验成果,采用FLAC非饱和二相流模型模拟降雨引起的边坡湿度场分布变化状态,引入含水率-膨胀系数的线性关系,提出一种适用于膨胀土边坡的湿度场-膨胀变形场-应力场的多场耦合数值分析方法,并藉此对物理模型试验进行仿真。结合模型试验和多场耦合数值分析,阐述膨胀土边坡浅层渐进性破坏机制的本质是水力边界条件变化引起的膨胀土膨胀变形作用。