Probabilistic Risk Assessment of Soil Slope Stability Subjected to Water Drawdown by Finite Element Limit Analysis

This study investigates the probabilistic stability of embankment slopes subjected to water level drawdown using the random field finite element method (RFEM) with strength reduction technology. The shear strength of soil properties was controlled by cohesion and internal friction angle for the slop...

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Main Authors: Xiaobing Wang, Xiaozhou Xia, Xue Zhang, Xin Gu, Qing Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-10-01
Series:Applied Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/12/20/10282
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author Xiaobing Wang
Xiaozhou Xia
Xue Zhang
Xin Gu
Qing Zhang
author_facet Xiaobing Wang
Xiaozhou Xia
Xue Zhang
Xin Gu
Qing Zhang
author_sort Xiaobing Wang
collection DOAJ
description This study investigates the probabilistic stability of embankment slopes subjected to water level drawdown using the random field finite element method (RFEM) with strength reduction technology. The shear strength of soil properties was controlled by cohesion and internal friction angle for the slope shear failure. The cohesion and internal friction angle were modeled by a random field following the log-normal distribution. The factor of safety (FOS) for the embankment slope with random soil is calculated by strength reduction technology. During the numerical simulation, the limit analysis upper bound and lower bound method are applied to the finite element method, respectively, to obtain the upper bound and lower bound value of the FOS. Seepage action is also considered during the water drawdown by setting five different water levels (WLs). A total of 1000 Monte Carlo simulations are performed for each work condition, resulting in histograms of the FOSs. The results show that the FOSs obtained by the random field model are all lower than those by the deterministic method. Even if the FOSs obtained by the two methods are close, there still exists the possibility of slope failure. Compared to the deterministic results, the RFEM method is more reasonable for evaluating slope stability.
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spelling doaj.art-0fd554545e2e429a80786cf75a7c88df2023-11-23T22:42:06ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172022-10-0112201028210.3390/app122010282Probabilistic Risk Assessment of Soil Slope Stability Subjected to Water Drawdown by Finite Element Limit AnalysisXiaobing Wang0Xiaozhou Xia1Xue Zhang2Xin Gu3Qing Zhang4College of Mechanics and Materials, Hohai University, Nanjing 211100, ChinaCollege of Mechanics and Materials, Hohai University, Nanjing 211100, ChinaDepartment of Civil Engineering and Industrial Design, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3BX, UKCollege of Mechanics and Materials, Hohai University, Nanjing 211100, ChinaCollege of Mechanics and Materials, Hohai University, Nanjing 211100, ChinaThis study investigates the probabilistic stability of embankment slopes subjected to water level drawdown using the random field finite element method (RFEM) with strength reduction technology. The shear strength of soil properties was controlled by cohesion and internal friction angle for the slope shear failure. The cohesion and internal friction angle were modeled by a random field following the log-normal distribution. The factor of safety (FOS) for the embankment slope with random soil is calculated by strength reduction technology. During the numerical simulation, the limit analysis upper bound and lower bound method are applied to the finite element method, respectively, to obtain the upper bound and lower bound value of the FOS. Seepage action is also considered during the water drawdown by setting five different water levels (WLs). A total of 1000 Monte Carlo simulations are performed for each work condition, resulting in histograms of the FOSs. The results show that the FOSs obtained by the random field model are all lower than those by the deterministic method. Even if the FOSs obtained by the two methods are close, there still exists the possibility of slope failure. Compared to the deterministic results, the RFEM method is more reasonable for evaluating slope stability.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/12/20/10282random fieldslope stabilityseepagespatial variabilitylimit analysis
spellingShingle Xiaobing Wang
Xiaozhou Xia
Xue Zhang
Xin Gu
Qing Zhang
Probabilistic Risk Assessment of Soil Slope Stability Subjected to Water Drawdown by Finite Element Limit Analysis
Applied Sciences
random field
slope stability
seepage
spatial variability
limit analysis
title Probabilistic Risk Assessment of Soil Slope Stability Subjected to Water Drawdown by Finite Element Limit Analysis
title_full Probabilistic Risk Assessment of Soil Slope Stability Subjected to Water Drawdown by Finite Element Limit Analysis
title_fullStr Probabilistic Risk Assessment of Soil Slope Stability Subjected to Water Drawdown by Finite Element Limit Analysis
title_full_unstemmed Probabilistic Risk Assessment of Soil Slope Stability Subjected to Water Drawdown by Finite Element Limit Analysis
title_short Probabilistic Risk Assessment of Soil Slope Stability Subjected to Water Drawdown by Finite Element Limit Analysis
title_sort probabilistic risk assessment of soil slope stability subjected to water drawdown by finite element limit analysis
topic random field
slope stability
seepage
spatial variability
limit analysis
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/12/20/10282
work_keys_str_mv AT xiaobingwang probabilisticriskassessmentofsoilslopestabilitysubjectedtowaterdrawdownbyfiniteelementlimitanalysis
AT xiaozhouxia probabilisticriskassessmentofsoilslopestabilitysubjectedtowaterdrawdownbyfiniteelementlimitanalysis
AT xuezhang probabilisticriskassessmentofsoilslopestabilitysubjectedtowaterdrawdownbyfiniteelementlimitanalysis
AT xingu probabilisticriskassessmentofsoilslopestabilitysubjectedtowaterdrawdownbyfiniteelementlimitanalysis
AT qingzhang probabilisticriskassessmentofsoilslopestabilitysubjectedtowaterdrawdownbyfiniteelementlimitanalysis