Progressive Failure of Reinforced Slopes Subjected to Seismic Loads Using Horizontal Slice Method

This paper presents a new method, which could consider progressive failure of reinforced slopes subjected to seismic loads within the framework of limit equilibrium method and pseudo-static approach. The failure surface has been modeled employing a generalized log spiral and the sliding block was divided into horizontal slices. Two types of safety factors have been used. One is for the overall stability, defined for the whole sliding wedge, and the other represents the local stability of each slice. Peak strength parameters have been used to determine the most critical slip surface and the length of reinforcements. Then the analysis is repeated applying the peak strength parameters for slices, with safety factor more than unity and residual strength parameters for slices, with safety factor less than unity. At last the required reinforcement strength required to maintain the stability of slope is determined. The results of the presented method have been compared with published data. It has been concluded that Horizontal Slice Method (HSM) could properly model progressive failure in seismic condition and represents more realistic results.