• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.57-64
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• 2011

Three-dimensional slope stability analysis was applied to a failed dual-lithology slope containing both granite and an andesitic dyke, taking account of the differences in shear strength of the different lithologies. A direct shear test of the soil-rock boundary was performed to examine the shear strength of two different types of failure surfaces within different lithologies, and a laboratory test was performed on an upper, weathered soil layer. The test results indicate that shear strength was lower at the soil-rock boundary than within the weathered soil layer. A representative geological section was subjected to two-dimensional slope stability analysis using a limit equilibrium method to assess whether the distribution of lithologies upon the slope influences the results of stability analysis. The results were then compared with those of three-dimensional slope stability analysis, for which input parameters can be varied according to the distribution of lithologies upon the slope. The three-dimensional analysis yielded safety factors of 1.26 under dry conditions and 0.55 under wet conditions, whereas the two-dimensional analysis yielded unstable safety factors of 0.92 and 0.32, respectively. These findings show that the results of stability analysis are affected by the distribution of different lithologies upon the slope. Given that the studied slope collapsed immediately after rainfall, it is likely that the results of the three-dimensional analysis are more reliable.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.359-369
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• 2022

In slope stability analysis for landslides, mountains have various slopes and geographical features, and hence it is necessary to estimate stability using rigorous analysis methods. In this study, after the analysis of infiltration behavior through unsaturated layers due to rainfall, the stability of landslide was estimated to account for the variation of pore water pressures. In the analysis of slope stability, a three-dimensional slope analysis was compared with an infinite slope analysis in a case study of terrain in which an actual landslide occurred. In the three-dimensional slope stability analysis, it was found that the location of the failure and the failure area were predicted accurately based on the detailed geological information despite the variation of geographical features.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.97-111
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• 2015

The kinematical approach of limit analysis is used to estimate the three dimensional stability analysis of rock slopes with nonlinear Hoek-Brown criterion under earthquake forces. The generalized tangential technique is introduced, which makes limit analysis apply to rock slope problem possible. This technique formulates the three dimensional stability problem as a classical nonlinear programming problem. A nonlinear programming algorithm is coded to search for the least upper bound solution. To prove the validity of the present approach, static stability factors are compared with the previous solutions, using a linear failure criterion. Three dimensional seismic and static stability factors are calculated for rock slopes. Numerical results of indicate that the factors increase with the ratio of slope width and height, and are presented for practical use in rock engineering.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.947-955
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• 2018

In this study, we propose a three-dimensional simplified slope stability analysis using a hybrid-type penalty method (HPM). In this method, a solid element obtained by the HPM is applied to a column that divides the slope into a lattice. Therefore, it can obtain a safety factor in the same way as simplified methods on the slip surface. Furthermore, it can obtain results (displacement and strain) that cannot be obtained by conventional limit equilibrium methods such as the Hovland method. The continuity condition of displacement between adjacent columns and between elements for each depth is considered to incorporate a penalty function and the relative displacement. For a slip surface between the bottom surface and the boundary condition to express the slip of slope, we introduce a penalty function based on the Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion. To compute the state of the slip surface, an r-min method is used in the load incremental method. Using the result of the simple three-dimensional slope stability analysis, we obtain a safety factor that is the same as the conventional method. Furthermore, the movement of the slope was calculated quantitatively and qualitatively because the displacement and strain of each element are obtained.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.181-194
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• 2019

Due to the seepage of groundwater, the resisting force of slopes decreases and the sliding force increases, resulting in significantly reduced slope stability. The instability of most natural slopes is closely related to the influence of groundwater. Therefore, it is important to study slope stability under groundwater seepage conditions. Thus, using a simplified seepage model of groundwater combined with the analysis of stresses on the slip surface, the limit equilibrium (LE) analytical solutions for two- and three-dimensional slope stability under groundwater seepage are deduced in this work. Meanwhile, the general nonlinear Mohr-Coulomb (M-C) strength criterion is adopted to describe the shear failure of a slope. By comparing the results with the traditional LE methods on slope examples, the feasibility of the proposed method is verified. In contrast to traditional LE methods, the proposed method is more suitable for analyzing slope stability under complex conditions. In addition, to facilitate the optimization of drainage design in the slope, stability charts are drawn for slopes with different groundwater tables. Furthermore, the study concluded that: (1) when the hydraulic gradient of groundwater is small, the effect on slope stability is also small for a change in the groundwater table; and (2) compared with a slope without a groundwater table, a slope with a groundwater table has a larger failure range under groundwater seepage.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.71-81
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• 2018

Soils are mostly nonhomogeneous and anisotropic in nature. In this study, nonhomogeneity and anisotropy of soil are taken into consideration by assuming that the cohesion increases with depth linearly and also varies with respect to direction at a particular point. A three-dimensional rotational failure mechanism is adopted, and then a three-dimensional stability analysis of slope is carried out with the failure surface in the shape of a curvilinear cone in virtue of the limit analysis method. A quasistatic approach is used to develop stability charts in nonhomogeneous and anisotropic soils. One can easily read the safety factors from the charts without the need for iterative procedures for safety factors calculation. The charts are of practical importance to prevent a plane failure in excavation slope whether it is physically constrained or not. Then the most suitable location of piles within the reinforced slope in nonhomogeneous and anisotropic soils is explored, as well as the interactions of nonhomogeneous and anisotropic coefficients on pile reinforcement effects. The results indicate that piles are more effective when they are located between the middle and the crest of the slope, and the nonhomogeneous coefficient as well as the anisotropic coefficient will not only influence the most suitable location for piles but also affect the calculated safety factor of existing reinforced slope. In addition, the two coefficients will interact with each other on the effect on slope reinforcement.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.375-384
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• 2022

The variation of the undrained shear strength (c_u) is an important consideration for assessing slope stability in engineering practice. Previous studies focused on the three-dimensional (3D) stability of slopes in normally consolidated clays generally assume the undrained shear strength increases linearly with depth but does not vary in the horizontal direction. To assess the 3D stability of slopes with spatially varying undrained shear strength, the kinematic approach of limit analysis was adopted to obtain the upper bound solution to the stability number based on a modified failure mechanism. Three types failure mechanism: the toe failure, face failure and below-toe failure were considered. A serious of charts was then presented to illustrate the effect of key parameters on the slope stability and failure geometry. It was found that the stability and failure geometry of slopes are significantly influenced by the gradient of c_u in the depth direction. The influence of c_u profile inclination on the slope stability was found to be pronounced when the increasing gradient of c_u in the depth direction is large. Slopes with larger width-to-height ratio B/H are more sensitive to the variation of c_u profile inclination.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.1183-1191
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• 2018

Reliability analysis is generally regarded as the most appropriate method when uncertainties are taken into account in slope designs. With the help of limit analysis, probability evaluation for three-dimensional rock slope stability was conducted based upon the Mote Carlo method. The nonlinear Hoek-Brown failure criterion was employed to reflect the practical strength characteristics of rock mass. A form of stability factor is used to perform reliability analysis for rock slopes. Results show that the variation of strength uncertainties has significant influence on probability of failure for rock slopes, as well as strength constants. It is found that the relationship between probability of failure and mean safety factor is independent of the magnitudes of input parameters but relative to the variability of variables. Due to the phenomenon, curves displaying this relationship can provide guidance for designers to obtain factor of safety according to required failure probability.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.59-76
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• 2016

The non-linear Hoek-Brown failure criterion has been widely accepted and applied to evaluate the stability of rock slopes under plane-strain conditions. This paper presents a kinematic approach of limit analysis to assessing the static and seismic stability of three-dimensional (3D) rock slopes using the generalized Hoek-Brown failure criterion. A tangential technique is employed to obtain the equivalent Mohr-Coulomb strength parameters of rock material from the generalized Hoek-Brown criterion. The least upper bounds to the stability number are obtained in an optimization procedure and presented in the form of graphs and tables for a wide range of parameters. The calculated results demonstrate the influences of 3D geometrical constraint, non-linear strength parameters and seismic acceleration on the stability number and equivalent strength parameters. The presented upper-bound solutions can be used for preliminary assessment on the 3D rock slope stability in design and assessing other solutions from the developing methods in the stability analysis of 3D rock slopes.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.47-52
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• 2015

In the slope stability analysis and design, Limit Equilibrium Method (LEM) and Shear Strength Reduction technique (SSR) are mainly used. Both methods are able to perform two and three dimensional analysis. SSR is considered to be more sensitive and more reasonable than LEM by many researchers. However, in practice LEM is still widely used because of the increase of analysis time and complexity of the model in SSR. In this study, three dimensional analysis of the protruding rock slope is performed by SSR in order to study the effects of protruding length using rock slope FLAC 3D. In this study, as results of analysis variations of the safety factor have been studied according to slope angle, slope height, the soil strength, protruding slope length projected variables. The results show that the factor of safety as more affected by the shapes of the protruding rock slope than the rock strength.