Evaluation Method for Non-linear Shear Strength of Gravel Materials

자갈질 재료의 비선형적 전단강도 특성 평가법

It is well known that the peak strength envelope of geomaterials with no cohesion, such as sand, gravel and rockfill, exhibits significant curvature over a range of stresses. In a practical design of slope, however, the linear Mohr-Coulomb's failure envelope is used as a failure criterion and consequently gives inaccurate safety factors, especially for some ranges of small normal stresses on shallow failure surfaces. Necessity of a nonlinear shear strength envelope in slope stability analysis is on this point. Hence, this study describes how to evaluate nonlinear shear strength of gravel fill materials using the results of large triaxial tests under consolidated-drained condition, and compares the safety factors from slope stability analyses for a homogeneous gravel fill or rockfill embankment incorporating the non-linearity of strength, so as to show its effects on safety factors.