Characterization of Stationary and Nonstationary Random Fields with Different Copulas on Undrained Shear Strength of Soils: Probabilistic Analysis of Embankment Stability on Soft Ground
Publication: International Journal of Geomechanics
Volume 22, Issue 7
Abstract
Soil properties are known to have high spatial variability and often fluctuate with depth. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of using different models to simulate the spatial variability of undrained shear strength (su) to calculate the failure probability of an embankment on soft ground. Two-dimensional random fields of su were generated based on one Gaussian and two non-Gaussian copulas, with stationary and nonstationary assumptions. Statistical parameters of su variation—mean, coefficient of variance, and scale fluctuation (correlation length)—were estimated from simulated and field data. Monte Carlo probabilistic analyses were performed on embankment stability based on both stationary and nonstationary random fields and all copula approaches; results showed more frequent embankment failures at low water levels in the embankment ditch. In particular, the nonstationary random field (su increases with depth) simulations more closely reflected real observed data, with higher probabilities of slope failure and lower mean factor of safety than the stationary random field simulations. Additionally, the non-Gaussian copulas provided simulated data that more accurately reflected observed field data, highlighting the importance of copula selection when characterizing soil parameter random fields.
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Data Availability Statement
All data and models generated or used during the study appear in the published article. The MATLAB codes that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Acknowledgments
This research was supported by the National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT) (Grant No. NRCT5-RSA63001-05) and the Ratchadapisek Sompoch Endowment Fund (2021), Chulalongkorn University, Thailand (Grant No. 764002-ENV). This research was also funded by Thailand Science research and Innovation Fund Chulalongkorn University, Thailand (Grant Nos. CU_FRB65 dis(18)_143_21_09). The first author (T.S. Nguyen) acknowledges the Ratchadapisek Sompot Fund (2021) for Postdoctoral Fellowship, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand. The second author (T.N. Phan) acknowledges the C2F Fund for Ph.D. Scholarship, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand.
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International Journal of Geomechanics
Volume 22 • Issue 7 • July 2022
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© 2022 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Aug 13, 2021
Accepted: Feb 22, 2022
Published online: May 10, 2022
Published in print: Jul 1, 2022
Discussion open until: Oct 10, 2022
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