Simplified Numerical Implementation in Slope Stability Modeling
Publication: International Journal of Geomechanics
Volume 15, Issue 3
Abstract
This paper mainly focuses on numerical implementations in slope instability computations through three simplified numerical procedures, i.e., FEM, mesh-free method (MFM), and spectral-element method (SEM), in one sample problem that was originally solved by the FEM. This work validates all three numerical procedures through comparison of the results with the sample problem, and also briefly describes all three numerical procedures and their scopes and limitations. Among the three procedures, the SEM-based procedure is found to be more effective in handling simple to complex problems of a small- to large-scale size because of its effective computational capacity as well as higher degree of work accuracy. For this, a newly released open-source program has been used along with two other programming codes developed in FEM and MFM platforms. This work also presents a sample simulation of large-scale slope stability using the -refinement (i.e., meshing), -refinement (i.e., mapping), and -refinement (i.e., meshing and mapping) technique of the SEM approach in different instability conditions, such as soil saturation and pseudostatic seismic loading. Furthermore, the SEM procedure can be effectively applied to slope stability modeling for numerical stability and accuracy in small- to large-scale mountain failure.
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Acknowledgments
The author acknowledges the support and suggestions provided by Professor R. Yatabe and Assistant Professor N. P. Bhandary from Ehime University, Matsuyama, Japan, and Professor P. B. Khadka from Tribhuvan University, Institute of Engineering, Lalitpur, Nepal.
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Published In
International Journal of Geomechanics
Volume 15 • Issue 3 • June 2015
Copyright
© 2014 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Nov 30, 2012
Accepted: Mar 4, 2014
Published online: Apr 18, 2014
Published in print: Jun 1, 2015
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