Probabilistic analysis of ultimate seismic bearing capacity of strip foundations

This paper presents a reliability analysis of the pseudo-static seismic bearing capacity of a strip foundation using the limit equilibrium theory. The first-order reliability method(FORM) is employed to calculate the reliability index. The response surface methodology(RSM) is used to assess the Hasofer e Lind reliability index and then it is optimized using a genetic algorithm(GA). The random variables used are the soil shear strength parameters and the seismic coefficients(khand kv). Two assumptions(normal and non-normal distribution) are used for the random variables. The assumption of uncorrelated variables was found to be conservative in comparison to that of negatively correlated soil shear strength parameters. The assumption of non-normal distribution for the random variables can induce a negative effect on the reliability index of the practical range of the seismic bearing capacity.

Soil spatial variability impact on the behavior of a reinforced earth wall

This article presents the soil spatial variability effect on the performance of a reinforced earth wall.The serviceability limit state is considered in the analysis.Both cases of isotropic and anisotropic non-normal random fields are implemented for the soil properties.The K arhunen-Loeve expansion method is used for the discretization of the random field.Numerical finite difference models are considered as deterministic models.The Monte Carlo simulation technique is used to obtain the deformation response variability of the reinforced soil retaining wall.The influences of the spatial variability response of the geotechnical system in terms of horizontal facing displacement is presented and discussed.The results obtained show that the spatial variability has an important influence on the facing horizontal displacement as well as on the failure probability.

Reliability analysis of shallow tunnels using the response surface methodology

A probabilistic study of a circular tunnel excavated in a soil mass using the response surface methodology(RSM)is presented.A deterministic model based on two-dimensional numerical simulations in a transversal section is used,and the serviceability limit state(SLS)is considered in the analysis.The model permits the surface settlement curve and the bending moment on the tunnel lining to be obtained.Only the soil parameters are considered as random variables.Thefirst-order reliability method(FORM)and the response surface methodology(RSM)are utilized for the assessment of the Hasofer-Lind reliability index(bHL)optimized by the use of a genetic algorithm(GA).Two assumptions(normal and non-normal distribution)were used for the random variables.The comparison analysis considering a correlation between the friction angle and the cohesion indicates that the results are conservative if a negative correlation among strength parameters is not taken into account.The assumption of a non-normal distribution for the random variables has an important effect on the reliability index for the practical range of values of surface settlements.