Slope failure simulations with MPM

Abstract

The simulation of slope failures, including both failure initiation and development, has been modelled using the material point method. By utilising a constitutive model which encompasses, in a simplified manner, both pre-and post-failure behaviour, the majority of types of geotechnical slope failure can be observed in the simulations. This is a step towards being able to better quantify the consequences of slope failures and thereby to a better quantification of risk. Numerical case studies involving various slope angles, heterogeneity and rainfall induced slope failures are presented to demonstrate the ability of the method to simulate commonly observed failure modes.

Interplay Between Friction and Cohesion: A Spectrum of Retrogressive Slope Failure

“…A long slope on a rigid inclined foundation is incorporated as the typical profile based on previous studies (Vardon et al., 2017; B. Wang et al., 2016, 2018), as shown in Figure 2. A total of 5,710 material points is generated, with each material point initially representing a space of $$0.2\times 0.2\,{\mathrm{m}}^{2}$$ (equal to grid cell size), to discretize the slope.…”

“…A long slope on a rigid inclined foundation is incorporated as the typical profile based on previous studies (Vardon et al, 2017;B. Wang et al, 2016B.…”

A fast and efficient MATLAB-based MPM solver: fMPMM-solver v1.1

“…It is an alternative to Lagrangian approaches (updated Lagrangian finite element method) that is well suited to problems with large deformations involved in geomechanics, granular mechanics or even snow avalanche mechanics. Vardon et al (2017) and Wang et al (2016c) investigated elasto-plastic problems of the strain localization of slumping processes relying on an explicit or implicit MPM formulation. Similarly, Bandara et al (2016), Bandara and Soga (2015), and Abe et al (2014) proposed a poro-elastoplastic MPM formulation to study levee failures induced by pore pressure increases.…”