Limitations in the Back-Analysis of Strength from Failures
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 132, Issue 4
Abstract
Stability failures are often “back-analyzed” in an attempt to estimate the operative shear strength. In fact, back-analysis is commonly believed to be one of the most reliable ways to estimate soil and/or rock strength. However, this paper provides examples to illustrate specific situations in which back-analysis of failures can lead to misinterpretation of strength. Examples from earth and concrete gravity dams are used, and consideration is given to both two- and three-dimensional idealizations. The cases demonstrate that interpreted strength can be in significant error, and in practically all cases the errors are unconservative. Finally, this paper illustrates that back-analysis is reliable only when the model and all assumptions are reasonable and accurate representations of the real system.
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References
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 132 • Issue 4 • April 2006
Pages: 532 - 536
Copyright
© 2006 ASCE.
History
Received: Oct 31, 2003
Accepted: Nov 22, 2004
Published online: Apr 1, 2006
Published in print: Apr 2006
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