Limit Analysis of Slope Stability by Rigid Finite-Element Method and Linear Programming Considering Rotational Failure

Abstract

The authors present a numerical limit analysis on the slope stability in this paper using the rigid finite-element method (RFEM). The novelty of this study is the consideration of the rotational component of the centroid velocity for each element, as well as a generalized overturning failure criterion governing the element rotation. By combining the generalized rotation failure criterion with the Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion, the RFEM-based upper and lower bound limit analysis is formulated as a typical primal and dual linear programming problem and is solved effectively by a primal-dual interior-point method. The proposed formulation and methodology are validated by three classical soil or rock slope stability problems. Numerical results confirm the necessity of considering the rotation mechanism in RFEM-based limit analysis for slope stability in order to achieve realistic predictions.

Stability assessment of high-steep cut slope debris on a landslide (Gumushane, NE Turkey)

“…Each human activity that impacts the natural environment changes the natural morphology, stress conditions, and natural balance (Alemdag et al 2013(Alemdag et al , 2014, resulting in the triggering of various landslide types. Many landslides throughout the world have been investigated and reported by researchers (e.g., Genc 1993;Fell et al 1996;Hungr et al 1999;Tarcan and Koca 2001;Ferreira 2007;Mantovani et al 2010;Jaiswal et al 2011) andmany researchers (e.g., Fellenius 1936;Janbu 1954aJanbu , b, 1968Janbu , 1973Bishop 1955;Bishop and Morgenstern 1960;Lowe and Karafiath 1959;Morgenstern and Price 1967;Spencer 1967;US Army Corps of Engineers 1970;Sarma 1973;Chung and Fabbri 1999;Tunusluoglu et al 2007;Gurocak et al 2008;Kahatadeniya et al 2009;Nefeslioglu et al 2010;Di Maio et al 2010;Dag et al 2011;Ferrari et al 2011;Zheng 2012;Liu and Zhao 2013;Jeldes 2013;Gu et al 2014;Alemdag et al 2015) have conducted slope stability studies as part of the landslide literature. Different methods have been used in these studies, which were conducted at either local or regional scale according to the type of problem and the properties of the soil.…”

Investigation on the Stability of Fissured Slopes Reinforced with Anchor Cables under Seismic Action

“…Antão et al [24] attempted the finite-element upper bound limit analysis, where the presence of a crack of specified location and depth was included in the stability analysis of a slope reinforced with sheet pile. Liu and Zhao [25] conducted a numerical limit analysis on a wet slope with a tension crack in the upper slope surface using the rigid finite-element method (RFEM). Another powerful approach for stability analysis of fissured slopes is the upper bound theorem of limit analysis (UBLA).…”

“…Another powerful approach for stability analysis of fissured slopes is the upper bound theorem of limit analysis (UBLA). In many situations, upper bound theorems have proven to be more robust and efficient than the conventional LE method [25]. Based on the UBLA method, Utili [26] investigated the effect of location and depth of vertical cracks on slope stability.…”

Influence of Anisotropy and Nonhomogeneity on Stability Analysis of Fissured Slopes Subjected to Seismic Action

“…erefore, stability analysis of the fissured slopes is a very important practical engineering problem. e used traditional methods to analyze the effects of cracks on the stability of slopes have been categorized as follows: finite element limit analysis (FELA) methods [4,5] and limit equilibrium (LE) methods [6][7][8][9][10]. Baker [11] described the procedure of the limit equilibrium method with variational extremization for the evaluation of the effect of tensile cracks of the cohesive-frictional soil slope.…”