Undrained stability of an active planar trapdoor in non-homogeneous clays with a linear increase of strength with depth

Finite element limit analysis was employed to determine the upper and lower bound solutions of the active failure of a planar trapdoor in non-homogeneous clays that have a linear increase of strength with depth. Influences of cover ratio, dimensionless strength gradient and trapdoor roughness on predicted failure mechanisms and stability factors were determined. In all cases, the exact stability factors were accurately bracketed by computed bound solutions within 1%. Accurate closed-form equations to predict the exact estimates of stability factors, trapdoor pressure and factor of safety using the new proposed factors for the cohesion and strength gradient are presented.     

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.     

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。     

Undrained stability of wide rectangular tunnels

Upper bound rigid block methods and finite element limit analysis are applied to investigate the undrained stability of rectangular tunnels. Solutions for a range of soil properties and tunnel geometries are obtained for situations in which the tunnel is wider than it is high. The upper and lower solutions for tunnel stability, which accurately bracket the true collapse load, are summarised in a series of stability charts for use in tunnel design.     

Seismic rock slope stability charts based on limit analysis methods

Earthquake effects are commonly considered in the stability analysis of rock slopes and other earth structures. The standard approach is often based on the conventional limit equilibrium method using equivalent Mohr–Coulomb strength parameters (c and ?) in a slip circle slope stability analysis. The purpose of this paper is to apply the finite element upper and lower bound techniques to this problem with the aim of providing seismic stability charts for rock slopes. Within the limit analysis framework, the pseudo-static method is employed by assuming a range of the seismic coefficients. Based on the latest version of Hoek–Brown failure criterion, seismic rock slope stability charts have been produced. These chart solutions bound the true stability numbers within ±9% or better and are suited to isotropic and homogeneous intact rock or heavily jointed rock masses. A comparison of the stability numbers obtained by bounding methods and the limit equilibrium method has been performed where the later was found to predict unconservative factors of safety for steeper slopes. It was also observed that the stability numbers may increase depending on the material parameters in the Hoek–Brown model. This phenomenon has been further investigated in the paper.     

土坡稳定极限分析上限法中的多解性分析

土坡稳定极限分析上限法中采用了完全塑性区假定,即假定土坡内存在一个处处位于屈服面上的滑动体。将滑动体内部条块界面上的强度发挥系数视为优化变量,利用功能平衡方程得到了对于给定滑动面的多个安全系数,基于和声算法和潘家铮极值原理选择其中最大的安全系数作为该滑动面的抗滑稳定安全系数,利用该方法对于两个典型土坡算例进行了分析,将其结果与常规极限分析上限法结果进行了比较,给出了完全塑性区假定对计算结果的影响。     

Parametric studies of disturbed rock slope stability based on finite element limit analysis methods

This study employs the finite element upper bound and lower bound limit analysis methods to investigate the stability of inhomogeneous rock slopes. The differences in the stability numbers of the upper and lower bound solutions are bracketed within ±10.5% or better, and the stability numbers obtained are presented in rock slope stability charts. These stability charts can provide a convenient tool for preliminary stability designs of inhomogeneous rock slopes. Various recommended blasting damage zones are considered, and disturbance factors are used to represent damage levels. Results showed that rock mass disturbance could significantly influence the evaluation of rock slope stability.     

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。     

交变载荷作用下边坡的安定性分析

边坡稳定的极限分析方法只适用于比例加载的情况。当其上所受到的全部或部分载荷发生往复变化时,应该采用安定分析来评价边坡的安全性。通常边坡除了受到恒定的重力作用以外,地下水的作用也是一个不能忽视的因素。而由于降雨等原因,地下水位往往会在一定范围内往复变化,使得在稳定的地下水位以上的部分岩土体经常处于干湿循环的状态。根据率形式的Koiter机动安定定理,提出了考虑地下水位往复变化情况的边坡安定上限分析方法。利用抗剪强度参数折减定义的安全系数,定量地计算载荷变化对边坡稳定性的影响。最后通过一个直立边坡的简单算例证明了提出的分析方法的有效性。     

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。     

Stability of toroidal magnetic fields in the radiation zone of a star

The stability of a toroidal magnetic field in the rotating radiation zone of a star is analyzed to estimate the maximum possible magnitude of relic fields. Equations for small perturbations are obtained taking into account the finite diffusivity and the stabilizing effect of the subadiabatic stratification. The numerical solution of the eigenvalue problem indicates that the threshold field strength for the onset of instability in the radiation zone of the Sun is about 600 G. This figure sets an upper bound for the strength of the relic field. The assumption that magnetic instabilities are present in the solar radiation zone disagrees with the observed abundance of lithium. Our analysis of joint stability of toroidal field and nonuniform rotation shows that two-dimensional MHD solutions for the solar tachocline are stable against three-dimensional perturbations.     

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.     

地震效应和坡顶超载对均质土坡稳定性影响的拟静力分析

基于强度折减技术和极限分析上限定理,假定机动容许的速度场破坏面,考虑坡顶超载、水平和竖向地震效应影响推导了边坡稳定性安全系数的计算表达式。采用序列二次规划迭代方法（和内点迭代方法）对边坡安全系数目标函数进行能量耗散最小化意义上的优化计算,与多个算例的对比验证了其方法和程序计算的正确性;对影响土质边坡动态稳定性的一些因素进行了参数分析,分析表明：随着边坡倾角?、坡顶超载q、水平和竖向地震效应影响系数的增大,边坡稳定性安全系数显著下降;随着坡顶超载q、水平地震效应影响系数kh的增大、竖向地震效应影响系数kv的减小,边坡的潜在滑动面越来越深,潜在破坏范围越来越大。竖向地震效应对边坡稳定性也有一定影响,强震条件下的设计计算必须考虑竖向地震效应的影响。     

线性与非线性强度的土石坝坝坡稳定分析下限法

土石坝的坝坡稳定是影响土石坝安全的重要因素,传统的土石坝坝坡稳定采用的是瑞典圆弧法或者毕肖普法,其计算结果既不是下限解也不是上限解。在Sloan的工作基础上,基于有效应力的方式, 用有限单元思想离散结构物,建立满足平衡条件、间断条件、应力边界条件以及屈服条件的极限分析下限法的非线性规划模型,并且编制了相应的程序,应用到土石坝坝坡稳定性的计算中。考虑了地震荷载和渗流作用,采用迭代算法对土石坝进行非线性强度指标的坝坡稳定计算。最后,以几个典型土坡和具体的土石坝工程为算例,与多种方法的分析结果比较,表明了该方法的可行性。     

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.     

Lower bound limit analysis of an anisotropic undrained strength criterion using second‐order cone programming

In this paper, the formulation of the lower bound limit analysis of an anisotropic undrained strength criterion using second‐order cone programming is described. The finite element concept was used to discretize the soil mass into 3‐noded triangular elements. The stress field was modeled using a linear interpolation within the elements while stress discontinuities were permitted to occur at the shared edges of adjacent elements. An elliptical yield criterion was adopted to model the anisotropic undrained strength of the clay. A statically admissible stress field was defined by enforcing the equilibrium equations within all triangular elements and along all shared edges of adjacent elements, stress boundary conditions, and no stress violation of the anisotropic strength envelope cast in the form of a conic quadratic constraint. The lower bound solution of the proposed formulation was solved by second‐order cone programming. The proposed formulation of the anisotropic undrained strength criterion was validated through comparison of the model's predictions with the known exact solutions of strip footings, and was applied to solve undrained stability of a shallow unlined square tunnel. Computational performance between the proposed approach of second‐order cone programming and linear programming was examined and discussed.     

Implications of variationally derived 3D failure mechanism

This paper revisits the variational limit equilibrium (LE) analysis of three‐dimensional (3D) slope stability in the context of limit analysis (LA). It proves the kinematic admissibility of the 3D mechanism in LA, although it was derived from LE variational extremization. It also includes algorithms in the realm of LA that are associated with the variational mechanism. A comparison between the variational results and reported LA upper‐bound or LE closed‐form results is conducted. It demonstrates that the variationally derived mechanism consistently yields upper‐bound solutions for 3D symmetrical slopes that are as accurate as those produced by postulated mechanisms in LA. However, the results are more critical than those derived from spherical failure mechanism in LE. The generalized log spiral 3D mechanism rigorously legitimizes the variational slope stability analysis in both frameworks of mechanics LE and LA. Stability charts were produced where the 3D factor of safety can be assessed for a constrained length of failure, while including factors like pore water pressure and seismic loading. The results presented within this study demonstrate the capabilities of the variational 3D solution and can be used to evaluate approximate methods, numerical or closed‐form, developed in 3D slope stability analyses. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Scratch hardness–strength solutions for cohesive‐frictional materials

In this paper we develop analytical solutions for scratch hardness–strength relations for cohesive‐frictional materials of the Mohr–Coulomb and Drucker–Prager type. Based on the lower bound yield design approach, closed‐form solutions are derived for frictionless scratch devices, and validated against computational upper bound and elastoplastic finite element solutions. The influence of friction at the blade–material interface is also investigated, for which a simple computational optimization is proposed. Illustrated for scratch tests on cement paste, we show that the proposed solutions provide a convenient way to determine estimates of cohesion and friction parameters from scratch data, and may serve as a benchmark to identify the relevance of strength models for scratch test analysis. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Reliability back analysis of shear strength parameters of landslide with three-dimensional upper bound limit analysis theory

It is essential to determine the shear strength parameters c and φ on the sliding surface for stability evaluation and engineering design of a landslide. In this study, a new parameter back analysis method is proposed by combining the 2D/3D upper bound method of limit analysis and reliability theory to accurately determine the shear strength parameters for a 3D slope with a single failure surface. The proposed reliability back analysis method overcomes the shortcomings of the traditional deterministic analysis method of slope stability that cannot take into account the randomness and uncertainty of geotechnical parameters. Based on the reliability theory, two methods were studied: first-order reliability method (implemented by spreadsheet and Matlab, called spreadsheet method and constrained optimization method, respectively, in this paper) and Monte Carlo simulation. The optimized values of c and φ were obtained by establishing only one balance equation with the consideration of the pore water pressure or other complex conditions, which can solve the problem of the back analysis of strength parameters for a single 3D sliding surface condition. The correlation research showed that the negative correlation between c and φ greatly affected the back analysis results, and the reliability index values were conservative without considering such a negative correlation. A case study for the back analysis of shear strength parameters is conducted based on a practical landslide model with a broken line slip surface slope in Zhuquedong village, Luxi town, Xiangxi County, Hunan Province, China, and a suggestion for the selection of landslide cross section is presented. The results show that the back analysis results determined by the reliability theory coincide well with the survey and experimental results. The proposed method is found to be more accurate and effective in determining the values of shear parameters than that of the traditional deterministic inversion method.