Improved Undrained Strength Interpolation Scheme for Rapid Drawdown
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 142, Issue 6
Abstract
Linear interpolation between isotropically consolidated undrained strength envelopes and fully drained (effective stress) strength envelopes is commonly used to calculate undrained strengths for slope stability analyses of rapid drawdown. However, the current linear interpolation method presents numerical problems at low effective normal stresses with soils that possess an effective stress cohesion intercept. The resulting undrained shear strength envelopes are unrealistic at low normal stresses. An improved interpolation method has been developed that interpolates a single undrained strength envelope for the entire slip surface. The improved interpolation method produces identical results to the current method for cases where equals zero.
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Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank J. Michael Duncan and Thomas Brandon for their support and encouragement in this work. The first author is also grateful for the financial support of the Charles E. Via, Jr. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, the Center for Geotechnical Practice and Research, and the Institute for Critical Technology and Applied Science at Virginia Tech during the development of this work.
References
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VandenBerge, D. R., Duncan, J. M., and Brandon, T. L. (2014). “Rapid drawdown analysis using the finite element method.” Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA.
Wong, K. S., Duncan, J. M., and Seed, H. B. (1983). “Comparison of methods of rapid drawdown stability analysis.”, Univ. of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA.
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Published In
Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 142 • Issue 6 • June 2016
Copyright
© 2016 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jun 5, 2015
Accepted: Nov 16, 2015
Published online: Feb 8, 2016
Published in print: Jun 1, 2016
Discussion open until: Jul 8, 2016
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