Slope Stability Charts for Two-Layered Purely Cohesive Soils Based on Finite-Element Limit Analysis Methods
Publication: International Journal of Geomechanics
Volume 15, Issue 3
Abstract
Stability charts for soil slopes, first produced in the first half of the twentieth century, continue to be used extensively as design tools, and draw the attention of many investigators. This paper uses finite-element upper and lower bound limit analysis to assess the short-term stability of slopes in which the slope material and subgrade foundation material have two distinctly different undrained strengths. The stability charts are proposed, and the exact theoretical solutions are bracketed to within 4.2% or better. In addition, results from the limit-equilibrium method (LEM) have been used for comparison. Differences of up to 20% were found between the numerical limit analysis and LEM solutions. It also shown that the LEM sometimes leads to errors, although it is widely used in practice for slope stability assessments.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
References
Baker, R., Shukha, R., Operstein, V., and Frydman, S. (2006). “Stability charts for pseudo-static slope stability analysis.” Soil. Dyn. Earthquake Eng., 26(9), 813–823.
Bishop, A. W. (1955). “The use of the slip circle in the stability analysis of slopes.” Géotechnique, 5(1), 7–17.
Cassidy, M. J., Uzielli, M., and Lacasse, S. (2008). “Probability risk assessment of landslides: A case study at Finneidfjord.” Can. Geotech. J., 45(9), 1250–1267.
Chang, M. (2002). “A 3D slope stability analysis method assuming parallel lines of intersection and differential straining of block contacts.” Can. Geotech. J., 39(4), 799–811.
Chen, J., Yin, J.-H., and Lee, C. F. (2003). “Upper bound limit analysis of slope stability using rigid finite elements and nonlinear programming.” Can. Geotech. J., 40(4), 742–752.
Donald, I. B., and Chen, Z. (1997). “Slope stability analysis by the upper bound approach: Fundamentals and methods.” Can. Geotech. J., 34(6), 853–862.
Duncan, J. M. (1996). “State of the art: Limit equilibrium and finite-element analysis of slopes.” J. Geotech. Engrg., 577–596.
Duncan, J. M., Brandon, T. L., Wright, S. G., and Vroman, N. (2008). “Stability of I-walls in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng., 681–691.
Fredlund, D. G., and Krahn, J. (1977). “Comparison of slope stability methods of analysis.” Can. Geotech. J., 14(3), 429–439.
Gao, Y., Zhang, F., Lei, G. H., Li, D., Wu, Y., and Zhang, N. (2013). “Stability charts for 3D failures of homogeneous slopes.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng., 1528–1538.
Gens, A., Hutchinson, J. N., and Cavounidis, S. (1988). “Three-dimensional analysis of slides in cohesive soils.” Géotechnique, 38(1), 1–23.
Griffiths, D. V., and Lane, P. A. (1999). “Slope stability analysis by finite elements.” Géotechnique, 49(3), 387–403.
Griffiths, D. V., and Marquez, R. M. (2007). “Three-dimensional slope stability analysis by elasto-plastic finite elements.” Géotechnique, 57(6), 537–546.
Han, C.-Y., Wang, J.-H., Xia, X.-H., and Chen, J.-J. (2012). “Limit analysis for local and overall stability of slurry trench in cohesive soil.” Int. J. Geomech., (Nov. 3, 2012).
Han, J., and Leshchinsky, D. (2004). “Limit equilibrium and continuum mechanics-based numerical method for analyzing stability of MSE walls.” Proc., 17th ASCE Engineering Mechanics Conf., ASCE, Reston, VA.
Hoek, E., and Bray, J. W. (1981). Rock slope engineering, Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, London.
Hoek, E., Read, J., Karzulovic, A., and Chen, Z. Y. (2000). “Rock slopes in civil and mining engineering.” Proc., Int. Conf. on Geotechnical and Geological Engineering, Technomic, Lancaster, PA.
Huang, C.-C., Tsai, C.-C., and Chen, Y.-H. (2002). “Generalized method for three-dimensional slope stability analysis.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng., 836–848.
Jiang, J.-C., and Yamagami, T. (2006). “Charts for estimating strength parameters from slips in homogeneous slopes.” Comput. Geotech., 33(6–7), 294–304.
Kim, J., Salgado, R., and Yu, H. S. (1999). “Limit analysis of soil slopes subjected to pore-water pressures.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng., 49–58.
Koppula, S. D. (1984). “Pseudo-static analysis of clay slopes subjected to earthquakes.” Géotechnique, 34(1), 71–79.
Krabbenhoft, K., Lyamin, A. V., Hjiaj, M., and Sloan, S. W. (2005). “A new discontinuous upper bound limit analysis formulation.” Int. J. Numer. Methods Eng., 63(7), 1069–1088.
Li, A. J., Cassidy, M. J., Wang, Y., Merifield, R. S., and Lyamin, A. V. (2012). “Parametric Monte Carlo studies of rock slopes based on the Hoek–Brown failure criterion.” Comput. Geotech., 45(Sep), 11–18.
Li, A. J., Lyamin, A. V., and Merifield, R. S. (2009a). “Seismic rock slope stability charts based on limit analysis methods.” Comput. Geotech., 36(1–2), 135–148.
Li, A. J., Merifield, R. S., Lin, H. D., and Lyamin, A. V. (2014). “Trench stability under bentonite pressure in purely cohesive clay.” Int. J. Geomech., 151–157.
Li, A. J., Merifield, R. S., and Lyamin, A. V. (2009b). “Limit analysis solutions for three dimensional undrained slopes.” Comput. Geotech., 36(8), 1330–1351.
Li, A. J., Merifield, R. S., and Lyamin, A. V. (2010). “Three-dimensional stability charts for slopes based on limit analysis methods.” Can. Geotech. J., 47(12), 1316–1334.
Li, A. J., Merifield, R. S., and Lyamin, A. V. (2011). “Effect of rock mass disturbance on the stability of rock slopes using the Hoek–Brown failure criterion.” Comput. Geotech., 38(4), 546–558.
Loukidis, D., Bandini, P., and Salgado, R. (2003). “Stability of seismically loaded slopes using limit analysis.” Géotechnique, 53(5), 463–479.
Lyamin, A. V., and Sloan, S. W. (2002a). “Lower bound limit analysis using non-linear programming.” Int. J. Numer. Methods Eng., 55(5), 573–611.
Lyamin, A. V., and Sloan, S. W. (2002b). “Upper bound limit analysis using linear finite elements and non-linear programming.” Int. J. Numer. Anal. Methods Geomech., 26(2), 181–216.
Manzari, M. T., and Nour, M. A. (2000). “Significance of soil dilatancy in slope stability analysis.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng., 75–80.
Merifield, R. S., Sloan, S. W., and Yu, H. S. (1999). “Rigorous plasticity solutions for the bearing capacity of two-layered clays.” Géotechnique, 49(4), 471–490.
Michalowski, R. L. (1989). “Three-dimensional analysis of locally loaded slopes.” Géotechnique, 39(1), 27–38.
Michalowski, R. L. (2002). “Stability charts for uniform slopes.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng., 351–355.
Michalowski, R. L., and Martel, T. (2011). “Stability charts for 3D failures of steep slopes subjected to seismic excitation.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng., 183–189.
Morgenstern, N. R., and Price, V. E. (1965). “The analysis of the stability of general slip surfaces.” Géotechnique, 15(1), 79–93.
Nadukuru, S. S., and Michalowski, R. L. (2013). “Three-dimensional displacement analysis of slopes subjected to seismic loads.” Can. Geotech. J., 50(6), 650–661.
Shiau, J. S., Merifield, R. S., Lyamin, A. V., and Sloan, S. W. (2011). “Undrained stability of footings on slopes.” Int. J. Geomech., 381–390.
Taylor, D. W. (1937). “Stability of earth slopes.” J. Boston Soc. Civ. Eng., 24, 197–246.
Yu, H. S., Salgado, R., Sloan, S. W., and Kim, J. M. (1998). “Limit analysis versus limit equilibrium for slope stability.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng., 1–11.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
International Journal of Geomechanics
Volume 15 • Issue 3 • June 2015
Copyright
© 2014 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Mar 25, 2014
Accepted: Jul 15, 2014
Published online: Aug 8, 2014
Published in print: Jun 1, 2015
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.