Lateral strength and critical depth in infinite slope stability analysis

Infinite slope (IS) method is the simplest limit equilibrium method for slope stability analysis. It gives reliable results for slides where the longitudinal dimension prevails on the depth of the landslide. Usually results are conservative since ignoring the effects of the strength along lateral bounds. Here, starting from the assumption of considering the effects of the shear strength along lateral bounds by a rectangular cross section, a new expression of the safety factor is investigated, based first on an elliptical and then on a parabolic cross section of the landslide mass. The safety factor evaluated in this way can be quite different from those returned by the classic formula of IS model, in particular when the width of the landslide is narrow with respect to its depth and the ratio between the width and the depth of the landslide is lower than 5. An interesting implication of the proposed model is that if cohesion differs from zero, there is a ‘critical depth’, where the safety factor has a minimum value. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

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.     

An analytical solution for rainfall infiltration into an unsaturated infinite slope and its application to slope stability analysis

Surficial slope failures in residual soils are common in tropical and subtropical regions as a result of rainfall infiltration. This study develops an analytical solution for simulating rainfall infiltration into an infinite unsaturated soil slope. The analytical solution is based on the general partial differential equation for water flow through unsaturated soils. It can accept soil–water characteristic curve and unsaturated permeability function of the exponential form into account. Numerical simulations are conducted to verify the assumptions of the analytical solution and demonstrate that the proposed analytical solution is acceptable for the coarse soils with low air entry values. The pore‐water pressure (pwp) distributions obtained from the analytical solution can be incorporated into a limit equilibrium method to do infinite slope stability analysis for a rain‐induced shallow slip. The analysis method takes into account the influence of the water content change on unit weight and hence on factor of safety. A series of analytical parametric analyses have been performed using the developed model. The analyses indicate that when the residual soil slope, consisting of a completely decomposed granite layer underlain by a less permeable layer, is subjected to a continuous heavy rainfall, the loss of negative pwp and the reduction in factor of safety were found to be most significant for the shallow soil layer and during the first 12 h. The antecedent and subsequent rainfall intensity, depth of a less permeable layer and slope angle all have a significant influence on the pwp response and hence the slope stability. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A simplex analysis of slope stability

The downhill simplex algorithm is applied to systematically locate the critical failure mechanism in slopes and to compute the minimum factor of safety. The proposed method is illustrated with three examples of circular and noncircular slope stability and its results are compared to previously published solutions. Although it is not the most efficient optimization procedure, the simplex method is versatile, robust, and simple. It is recommended to enhance slope stability programs by providing for an automatic search of the critical failure mechanisms.     

GIS数据用于复杂边坡三维极限平衡稳定分析

利用基于GIS（Geographic Information System,地理信息系统）栅格数据的三维极限平衡分析模型,可以充分考虑边坡的三维复杂空间特性。经过数据的获得、数据的处理、模型的建立和稳定性分析,不但给出了边坡的三维安全系数,而且给出了危险滑动面上的滑动力分布矢量图。结果表明,滑动面上力的分布极不均匀,呈现明显的复杂空间特性。     

基于遗传算法的边坡稳定性分析

边坡稳定性分析的关键是如何确定最危险滑动面。遗传算法是一种全局优化分析方法,克服了一般优化方法容易陷入局部最优解的缺点。由于工程实际中边坡几何形状的不规则和材料的非均匀性,真正的临界滑动面形状并不是都能用圆弧来准确描述的,研究任意型滑面情况下的稳定性很有必要。为更加合理地进行边坡的稳定性分析,利用遗传算法来搜索模拟边坡的最危险滑动面,在工程实例中进行具体应用,得到了非圆弧型滑动面,与其他软件计算结果对比,表明本文算法精度更高,适应性更广。     

边坡稳定分析的非线性有限元混合解法

在对有限元强度折减法和有限元迭代解法的优缺点分析的基础上,提出了边坡稳定分析的非线性有限元混合解法,该法将有限元强度折减法和有限元迭代解法联合运用于边坡稳定分析,充分利用了两种方法的优点。即由有限元强度折减法搜索边坡可能滑动面,将可能滑动面在网格中画出,由迭代解法逐步迭代求得其滑动面的安全系数。并以算例和工程实例说明了此种方法的正确性和合理性。     

Analytical method for analysis of slope stability

An analytical method is presented for analysis of slope stability involving cohesive and non-cohesive soils. Earthquake effects are considered in an approximate manner in terms of seismic coefficient-dependent forces. Two kinds of failure surfaces are considered in this study: a planar failure surface, and a circular failure surface. The proposed method can be viewed as an extension of the method of slices, but it provides a more accurate treatment of the forces because they are represented in an integral form. The factor of safety is obtained by using the minimization technique rather than by a trial and error approach used commonly. The factors of safety obtained by the analytical method are found to be in good agreement with those determined by the local minimum factor-of-safety, Bishop's, and the method of slices. The proposed method is straightforward, easy to use, and less time-consuming in locating the most critical slip surface and calculating the minimum factor of safety for a given slope. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

基于GIS的边坡稳定性计算方法研究

结合GIS（地理信息系统）的空间分析能力和滑动面正应力分布假定模型,建立了基于栅格单元的三维边坡极限平衡模型,提出了基于GIS的边坡稳定性计算方法。该方法首先建立了基于栅格柱体单元的三维边坡稳定性分析模型,给出了模型参数在GIS中的空间表达式;其次,在极限平衡条件下,推导出滑体在GIS中的3个力平衡方程式和1个力矩平衡方程式,形成了用于求解三维安全系数的方程组;最后,基于摩尔-库仑强度准则,以及滑动面正应力分布的假定,求解三维安全系数。同时利用COM（组件对象模型）技术开发出一个基于GIS的三维边坡稳定性分析扩展模块,该模块可实现复杂的算法计算以及多种组合荷载下的稳定性计算,并通过算例验证了该模块的正确性和便利性。     

A comparative review of commercially-available software for soil slope stability analysis

Summary The main purpose of this paper is to carry out a comparative review of four commercial computer programs for the stability analysis of soil slopes. The review is carried out in two parts and should prove useful for potential users of the software. Part I reviews the facilities offered in terms of the range of limit equilibrium methods, the geotechnical modelling abilities, the operational features and the supporting documentation, and includes a general impression of friendliness. Part II assesses the use, accuracy and validity of each program by presenting and discussing the results of a number of model tests. Also included is a brief discussion of slope stability analysis, in particular the limit equilibrium method. The requirements of a practical computer program for soil slope stability analysis are defined and then used as a means of assessing the effectiveness of each program.     

Advanced seismic slope stability analysis

The objective of this study was to present an advanced methodology for assessing seismic slope stability by taking into account the uncertainties related to the main input parameters. The methodology was applied on a real landslide in order to show the advantages of using the proposed procedure and establish the baseline trends of dynamic response and calculated permanent seismic displacements. It involves the following steps: preliminary analysis, probabilistic static and seismic factor of safety analysis, and permanent seismic displacement analysis. Estimating post-failure maximum seismic deformation of landslide mass and sounding properties is the most important part of this study. It involves both Newmark sliding block method and continuum mechanics approach, applied for characteristic set of input values in order to have more accurate assessment of slope performance and determine the relative importance of input parameters. The results of the analysis showed the benefits of using the proposed step-by-step methodology. The obtained difference in the results between the two methods depends strongly on the set input data for a particular analysis.     

拟静力法边坡稳定分析的改进

拟静力法简单适用,在地震边坡稳定分析中发挥了很大作用,积累了较丰富的经验。传统上滑动体都是按竖向条分的。考虑地震惯性力时,竖向条分在计算地震惯性力和抗滑力矩时存在计算上的不合理,从而使地震惯性力与实际值有误差,抗滑力矩偏小。而考虑地基中的地震荷载时,安全系数的计算结果是不确定的,没有一个客观的最小安全系数计算结果。在分析了误差产生的机理后,对拟静力法的计算进行了改进。算例表明,改进后拟静力法计算结果是合理的。     

边坡稳定性评价的模糊层次分析方法

针对常用边坡稳定性分析方法的复杂性和局限性,将层次分析法和模糊数学理论结合起来,建立了边坡稳定性评价的模糊层次分析模型,同时应用该评价模型对清江隔河岩水电站厂房高边坡进行了分析评价。结果表明,使用该模型可以使边坡稳定性评价更全面、更科学、更符合实际,该方法简便可行,结论可靠,具有一定的优越性,为决策者提供了有力的参考和支持。     

A new approach to analysis of landslide slope stability

This paper is based on data from engineering-geological research on the landslide slopes of the Moscow River valley from the site of a proposed bridge crossing reconstruction. A method for delineating the slippage surface is suggested, which allows a more reliable evaluation of landslide stability and pressure for planning and decision-making purposes during the reconstruction of the bridge crossing, and an appropriate mitigation strategy.     

A critical analysis of some variational methods in slope stability analysis

During the last ten years the Calculus of variations technique has been applied to solve the problem of stability of slopes. All published methods are essentially based on the attainment of a functional and the search for its absolute minimum or maximum by vanishing its first variation. Obviously this statement of the problem is valid only if such a minimum or maximum exists and can be obtained by making the first variation of the functional equal to zero. So, these implicit hypotheses must be checked. This work analyses from this point of view the validity of the methods proposed by ‘Baker and Garber’, ‘Chen’ and ‘Castillo and Revilla’, and demonstrates that the first two methods are incorrectly stated while the third one is correct at least in the case of a frictionless soil.     

Three dimensional analysis of slope stability

A 3-D mathematical approach to slope stability, which is based on limiting equilibrium and variational analysis, is presented. In the initial formulation there are three unknown functions: the slip surface, the normal stress and the shear stress direction over this surface. The minimum factor of safety is sought through variational extremization. The analysis indicates that the factor of safety is independent of the normal stress distribution over the critical slip surface. It also indicates that the direction of the elementary shear force over the slip surface depends on the slip surface function, but not on the normal stress function. The analysis yields a non-linear first order partial differential equation, relating the slip surface and its first partial derivatives. By limiting the analysis to symmetrical problems an ordinary differential equation, governing the slip surface path on the plane of symmetry, is derived. This equation enables the development of a numerical procedure to determine the minimal factor of safety of symmetrical 3-D slopes. Two possible failure modes are determined for homogeneous slopes. One mode consists of finite 3-D sliding body and the second represents cylindrical failure. Numerical analyses for some simple cases, of homogencous slopes are presented.     

水库边坡稳定的可靠度分析

根据水库边坡的勘察资料,确定了边坡稳定性分析的力学模型,推导了滑面面积的计算公式,采用不平衡推力传递法进行了边坡稳定的定值法分析和可靠度分析。可靠度分析中,分别讨论了滑面强度参数及几何参数的变异性对边坡稳定性的影响。计算结果表明,不考虑参数变异性的定值法分析结果所得边坡的安全系数过高,偏于危险。水库边坡的可靠度分析结果表明：滑面几何参数的变异性对边坡稳定的可靠指标或失效概率影响很大。因此,对于岩质边坡的稳定性分析,不仅要重视研究滑面强度参数的变异性,也要重视研究滑面几何参数的变异性。     

边坡稳定分析的自适应性局部网格加密解法

常规的有限元强度折减法在确定边坡塑性区时,不能直观地反映出塑性区的形状和滑裂面位置,计算结果精度低。在塑性区范围内进行网格局部加密,不仅使安全系数的计算精度大幅度提高,而且可求出滑裂面的形状和位置。针对求解塑性区搜索滑裂面这一具体问题,提出塑性应变界限值网格加密准则,采用自适应性网格局部加密技术求解边坡的滑裂面和稳定安全系数。数值计算结果表明,所提出的加密准则能正确地确定滑裂面的形状和位置,计算所得稳定安全系数和理论稳定安全系数仅相差0.2 %。