Technical Notes
Apr 13, 2018

Three-Dimensional Slope Stability Analysis of Convex Turning Corners

Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 144, Issue 6

Abstract

Slopes forming convex corners are often constructed in practice. Observed failures of such corners possess three-dimensional (3D) characteristics. Hence, assessing corner stability requires 3D analysis. This study used a variationally derived 3D mechanism to analyze the stability of convex turning corners. Results of 3D stability analysis are presented in a convenient form of stability charts considering the effects of pore-water pressure and seismicity. These charts allow for a quick assessment of the 3D factor of safety. Stability of a convex corner increases as its angle decreases. When corners are subjected to localized loading conditions, its stability could be more critical than the straight slopes forming the corner. Comparisons between the current method and results from existing analytical and numerical studies are conducted.

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Acknowledgments

This study was sponsored by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 41630638, 51508160, and 51578213), the National Key Basic Research Program of China (973 Program) (Grant No. 2015CB057901), the National Key Research and Development Program of China (Grant No. 2016YFC0800205), the 111 Project (Grant No. B13024), the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (Grant No. 2017B00814), and the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions (PAPD).

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Go to Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 144Issue 6June 2018

History

Received: Aug 9, 2017
Accepted: Jan 4, 2018
Published online: Apr 13, 2018
Published in print: Jun 1, 2018
Discussion open until: Sep 13, 2018

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Authors

Affiliations

Associate Professor, Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Geomechanics and Embankment Engineering, Hohai Univ., Nanjing 210098, China; Associate Professor, Jiangsu Province’s Geotechnical Research Center, No. 1 Xikang Rd., Nanjing 210098, China. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5517-7725. Email: [email protected]
Dov Leshchinsky [email protected]
Emeritus Professor, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Univ. of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716; Consultant, ADAMA Engineering, 12042 SE Sunnyside Rd., Suite 711, Clackamas, OR 97015 (corresponding author). Email: [email protected]
Professor, Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Geomechanics and Embankment Engineering, Hohai Univ., Nanjing 210098, China; Professor, Jiangsu Province’s Geotechnical Research Center, No. 1 Xikang Rd., Nanjing 210098, China. Email: [email protected]
Shangchuan Yang [email protected]
Assistant Professor, Dept. of Geotechnical Engineering, School of Civil Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong Univ., 610031 Chengdu, China. Email: [email protected]

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