Probabilistic Analysis of Slope Using Finite Element Approach and Limit Equilibrium Approach around Amalpata Landslide of West Central, Nepal

The stability study of the ongoing and recurring Amalpata landslide in Baglung in Nepal’s Gandaki Province is presented in this research. The impacted slope is around 200 meters high, with two terraces that have different slope inclinations. The lower bench, located above the basement, consistently fails and sets others up for failure. The fluctuating water level of the slope, which travels down the slope masses, exacerbates the slide problem. The majority of these rocks are Amalpata landslide area experiences several structural disruptions. The area’s stability must be evaluated in order to prevent and control more harm from occurring to the nearby agricultural land and people living along the slope. The slopes’ failures increase the damages of house existing in nearby area and the erosion of the slope. Two modeling techniques the finite element approach and the limit equilibrium method were used to simulate the slope. The findings show that, in every case, the terrace above the basement is where the majority of the stress is concentrated, with a safety factor of near unity. Using probabilistic slope stability analysis, the failure probability was predicted to be between 98.90% and 100%.

RIGID FINITE ELEMENT AND LIMIT ANALYSIS

According to the lower-bound theorem of limit analysis the Rigid Finite Element Meth-od(RFEM)is applied to structural limit analysis and the linear programmings for limit analysis are deducedin this paper.Moreover,the Thermo-Parameter Method(TPM)and Parametric Variational principles(PVP)are used to reduce the computational effort while maintaining the accuracy of solutions.A better solution isalso obtained in this paper.

A pseudo-coupled numerical approach for stability analysis of frozen soil slopes based on finite element limit analysis method

To simplify the stability analysis of frozen soil slope, a pseudo-coupled numerical approach is developed. In this approach, the coupled heat transfer and water flow in frozen soils are simulated first, and based on the computed thermal-hydro field, the stability of frozen soil slope is evaluated. Although the shear strength for frozen soil is very complicated and is usually represented by a nonlinear MC failure criterion, a simple linear MC yield criterion is utilized. In this method, the internal friction angle is expressed as a function of volumetric ice content and the cohesion is fitted as a simple bilinear expression of Tand volumetric water content. To assess slope stability, the limit analysis is employed in conjunction with the recently developed a-section search algorithm. A frozen soil slope example is used to examine the proposed pseudo-coupled numerical approach, and numerical studies validate its effectiveness. Based on numerical results, it is seen that slope stability may be remarkably influenced by warming air （or grotmd surface） temperature. With increasing ground surface temperature, slope stability indicated by FOS may reduce to 1.0, implying that wanning air temperature could be a trigger of frozen soil slope failure.

Upper-bound limit analysis based on the natural element method

The natural element method （NEM） is a newly- developed numerical method based on Voronoi diagram and Delaunay triangulation of scattered points, which adopts natural neighbour interpolation to construct trial functions in the framework of Galerkin method. Owing to its distinctive advantages, the NEM is used widely in many problems of computational mechanics. Utilizing the NEM, this paper deals with numerical limit analysis of structures made up of perfectly rigid-plastic material. According to kinematic the- orem of plastic limit analysis, a mathematical programming natural element formulation is established for determining the upper bound multiplier of plane problems, and a direct iteration algorithm is proposed accordingly to solve it. In this algorithm, the plastic incompressibility condition is handled by two different treatments, and the nonlinearity and nons- moothness of the goal function are overcome by distinguishing the rigid zones from the plastic zones at each iteration. The procedure implementation of iterative process is quite simple and effective because each iteration is equivalent to solving an associated elastic problem. The obtained limit load multiplier is proved to monotonically converge to the upper bound of true solution. Several benchmark examples are investigated to validate the significant performance of the NEM in the application field of limit analysis.

PREDICTION FOR FORMING LIMIT OF AL2024T3 SHEET BASED ON DAMAGE THEORY USING FINITE ELEMENT METHOD

This paper presents the application of anisotropic damage theory to the study of forming limit diagram of A12024T3 aluminum alloy sheet. In the prediction of limiting strains of the aluminum sheet structure, a finite element cell model has been constructed. The cell model consists of two phases, the aluminum alloy matrix and the intermetallic cluster. The material behavior of the aluminum alloy matrix is described with a fully coupled elasto-plastic damage constitutive equation. The intermetallic cluster is assumed to be elastic and brittle. By varying the stretching ratio, the limiting strains of the sheet under biaxial stretching have been predicted by using the necking criterion proposed. The prediction is in good agreement with the experimental findings. Moreover, the finite element cell model can provide information for understanding the microscopic damage mechanism of the aluminum alloy. Over-estimation of the limit strains may result if the effect of material damage is ignored in the sheet metal forming study.

Development of Finite Element Limiting Analysis Method and Its Applications in Geotechnical Engineering

The Finite Element Limiting Analysis Method(LELAM) has the advantage of combining a numerical analysis method with traditional limiting equilibrium methods.It is particularly applicable to the analysis and design of geotechnical engineering.In the early 20th century,FELAM has been developed vigorously in domestic geotechnical engineering over international common finite element procedures.It has made great achievements in basic theory research and computational precision,thus broadening the application fields in practical projects.In order to gradually make innovations in geotechnical design methods,some of our research results are presented,mainly including geotechnical safety factor definitions,the principles for use of the method concerned,the overall failure criterion,the deduction and selection of the yield criterion,and the measurement to improve the computational precision,etc..The application field has been broadened from two-dimensional to three-dimensional,from soil slope to jointed rock slope and foundation,from stable seepage to non-stable seepage,from slope and foundation to tunnel.This method has also been used in search of many hidden sliding surfaces of complex landslides,conducting the structural support design considering the interaction between the soil and the structure,and computing simulation foundation bearing plates load tests,etc..

PLASTIC LIMIT ANALYSIS OF INCOMPATIBLE FINITE ELEMENT METHOD

This paper describes an incompatible finite element model satisfying the consistency condition of energy to solve the numerical precision problem of finite element solution in perfectly plastic analysis. In this paper the reason and criterion of the application of the model to plastic limit analysis are discussed, and an algorithm of computing plastic limit load is given.

Comparative Study of Slope Soils Analysis by Using Limit Equilibrium and Finite Element Methods

The slope soil analysis remains a corporate concern in construction activities. Because of its significance, the evaluation of slope soil stability has called widespread attention to several researchers all over the world. Many methods have been technologically advanced to evaluate the stability of slopes soils founded on distinct expectations and circumstances. Every method has specific benefits and limits. This work makes a comparison among safety factors and slip surfaces of slopes soils based on using Limit Equilibrium and Finite Element methods. Therefore, SLIDE 6.0 and PLAXIS 8.0 software were used for Limit Equilibrium and Finite Element methods, respectively. The computations of safety factors were performed for diverse shapes of slopes including different types of soils. Failure surfaces and values of safety factors obtained were compared for both methods used. It was noticed that the safety factors obtained from Limit Equilibrium methods were larger than of which is obtained by the finite element code. Moreover, an important change is noticed between the slip surfaces obtained by using both approaches.

Limit load and failure mechanisms of a vertical Hoek-Brown rock slope

The problem considered in this short note is the limit load determination of a vertical rock slope.The classical limit theorem is employed with the use of adaptive finite elements and nonlinear programming to determine upper and lower bound limit loads of a Hoek-Brown vertical rock slope.The objective function of the mathematical programming problem is such as to optimize a boundary load,which is known as the limit load,resembling the ultimate bearing capacity of a strip footing.While focusing on the vertical slope,parametric studies are carried out for several dimensionless ratios such as the dimensionless footing distance ratio,the dimensionless height ratio,and the dimensionless rock strength ratio.A comprehensive set of design charts is presented,and failure envelopes shown with the results explained in terms of three identified failure mechanisms,i.e.the face,the toe,and the Prandtl-type failures.These novel results can be used with great confidence in design practice,in particularly noting that the current industry-based design procedures for the presented problem are rarely found.

Influence of confined water on the limit support pressure of tunnel face in weakly water-rich strata

In the process of shield tunneling through soft soil layers,the presence of confined water ahead poses a significant threat to the stability of the tunnel face.Therefore,it is crucial to consider the impact of confined water on the limit support pressure of the tunnel face.This study employed the finite element method(FEM)to analyze the limit support pressure of shield tunnel face instability within a pressurized water-containing layer.Subsequently,a multiple linear regression approach was applied to derive a concise solution formula for the limit support pressure,incorporating various influencing factors.The analysis yields the following conclusions:1)The influence of confined water on the instability mode of the tunnel face in soft soil layers makes the displacement response of the strata not significant when the face is unstable;2)The limit support pressure increases approximately linearly with the pressure head,shield tunnel diameter,and tunnel burial depth.And inversely proportional to the thickness of the impermeable layer,soil cohesion and internal friction angle;3)Through an engineering case study analysis,the results align well with those obtained from traditional theoretical methods,thereby validating the rationality of the equations proposed in this paper.Furthermore,the proposed equations overcome the limitation of traditional theoretical approaches considering the influence of changes in impermeable layer thickness.It can accurately depict the dynamic variation in the required limit support pressure to maintain the stability of the tunnel face during shield tunneling,thus better reflecting engineering reality.

Strength reduction and step-loading finite element approaches in geotechnical engineering

The finite element limit analysis method has the advantages of both numerical and traditional limit equilibrium techniques and it is particularly useful to geotechnical engineering.This method has been developed in China,following well-accepted international procedures,to enhance understanding of stability issues in a number of geotechnical settings.Great advancements have been made in basic theory,the improvement of computational precision,and the broadening of practical applications.This paper presents the results of research on（1） the efficient design of embedded anti-slide piles,（2） the stability analysis of reservoir slopes with strength reduction theory,and（3） the determination of the ultimate bearing capacity of foundations using step-loading FEM（overloading）.These three applications are evidence of the design improvements and benefits made possible in geotechnical engineering by finite element modeling.

ELASTIC MODULUS REDUCTION METHOD FOR LIMIT LOAD EVALUATION OF FRAME STRUCTURES

A new strategy for elastic modulus adjustment is proposed based on the element bearing ratio （EBR）,and the elastic modulus reduction method （EMRM） is proposed for limit load evaluation of frame structures. The EBR is defined employing the generalized yield criterion,and the reference EBR is determined by introducing the extrema and the degree of uniformity of EBR in the structure. The elastic modulus in the element with an EBR greater than the reference one is reduced based on the linear elastic finite element analysis and the equilibrium of strain energy. The lower-bound of limit-loads of frame structures are analyzed and the numerical example demonstrates the flexibility,accuracy and effciency of the proposed method.

Finite element analyses of slope stability problems using non-associated plasticity

In recent years, finite element analyses have increasingly been utilized for slope stability problems. In comparison to limit equilibrium methods, numerical analyses do not require any definition of the failure mechanism a priori and enable the determination of the safety level more accurately. The paper compares the performances of strength reduction finite element analysis(SRFEA) with finite element limit analysis(FELA), whereby the focus is related to non-associated plasticity. Displacement-based finite element analyses using a strength reduction technique suffer from numerical instabilities when using non-associated plasticity, especially when dealing with high friction angles but moderate dilatancy angles. The FELA on the other hand provides rigorous upper and lower bounds of the factor of safety(FoS) but is restricted to associated flow rules. Suggestions to overcome this problem, proposed by Davis(1968), lead to conservative FoSs; therefore, an enhanced procedure has been investigated. When using the modified approach, both the SRFEA and the FELA provide very similar results. Further studies highlight the advantages of using an adaptive mesh refinement to determine FoSs. Additionally, it is shown that the initial stress field does not affect the FoS when using a Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion.

RIGID FINITE ELEMENT AND ITS APPLICATIONS IN ENGINEERING

Rigid Finite Element Method (RFEM) was proposed to simulate the mechanical behavior of discontinuous structures such as rock and soil structures. The authors' work on the theory and applications of RFEM is summarized in this paper. Based on the theory of RFEM, the Elastic Body-Seams Model (EBSM) is proposed to take the deformation and damage of rock masses into account.

Limits to foundation displacement of an extra high voltage transmission tower in a mining subsidence area

Given the background of a transmission tower erected on a particular mining subsidence area,we used finite element modeling to analyze the anti-deformation performance of transmission towers under a number of different load conditions,including horizontal foundation displacement,uneven vertical downward displacement,wind loads and icing conditions.The results show that the failure in stability of a single steel angle iron represents the limit of the tower given ground deformation.We calculated the corresponding limits of foundation displacements.The results indicate that compression displacement of the foundation is more dangerous than tension displacement.Under complex foundation displacement conditions,horizontal foundation displacement is a key factor leading to failure in the stability of towers.Under conditions of compression or tension displacement of the foundation,wind load becomes the key factor.Towers do not fail when foundation displacements are smaller than 1% (under tension) or 0.5% (under horizontal compression or single foundation subsidence) of the distance between two supports.

LIBS Detection of Heavy Metal Elements in Liquid Solutions by Using Wood Pellet as Sample Matrix

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy （LIBS） has been applied to the analysis of heavy metals in liquid samples. A new approach was presented to lower the limit of detection （LOD） and minimize the sample matrix effects, in which dried wood pellets absorbed the given amounts of Cr standard solutions and then were baked because they have stronger and rapid absorption properties for liquid samples as well as simple elemental compositions. In this work, we have taken a typical heavy metal Cr element as an example, and investigated the spectral feasibility of Cr solutions and dried wood pellets before and after absorbing Cr solutions at the same experimental conditions. The results were demonstrated to successfully produce a superior analytical response for heavy metal elements by using wood pellet as sample matrix according to the obtained LOD of 0.07 ppm for Cr element in solutions.

Stress based forming limit diagram for formability characterization of 6061 aluminum

Two numerical criteria of forming limit diagram（FLD） criterion and ductile fracture criterion（DFC） are presented for FLD prediction of 6061 aluminum. The numerical results are compared with the experimental FLD and also punch＇s load-displacement curve of experimental samples. Experimental FLD of this study is calculated using hemispherical punch test of Hecker. Experimental FLD is converted to FLSD and imported to the Abaqus software to predict necking of samples. Numerical results for FLSD prediction were compared with experimental FLSD. Results show that ductile fracture criterion has higher accuracy for FLD and FLSD prediction of 6061 aluminum. Comparison of numerical and experimental results for force-displacement curve of punch shows that numerical results have a good agreement with experiment.

Prediction of fracture limits of Ni-Cr based alloy under warm forming condition using ductile damage models and numerical method

The stretch forming and the deep-drawing processes were carried out at 300 and 673 K to determine the safe forming and fracture limits of IN625 alloy.The experimentally obtained strain-based fracture forming limit diagram(FFLD)was transformed into a stress-based(σ-FFLD)and effective plastic strain(EPS)vs triaxiality(η)plot to remove the excess dependency of fracture limits over the strains.For the prediction of fracture limits,seven different damage models were calibrated.The Oh model displayed the best ability to predict the fracture locus with the least absolute error.Though the experimentally obtained fracture limits have only been used for the numerical analysis,none of the considered damage models predicted the fracture strains over the entire considered range of stress triaxiality(0.33<η<0.66).The deep drawing process window helped to determine wrinkling,safe and fracture zones while drawing the cylindrical cups under different temperature and lubricating conditions.Further,the highest drawing ratio of 2 was achieved at 673 K under the lubricating condition.All the numerically predicted results of both stretch forming and deep drawing processes using the Hill 1948 anisotropic yielding function were found to be good within the acceptable range of error.

Accurate analysis of limiting human dose of non-lethal laser weapons

In order to maximize the lethality and reversibility of the non-lethal laser weapons(NLLW) at the same time and thus provide a theoretical basis for the R&D of laser weapons in the future,this paper accurately analyzed the limiting biological dose of irreversible damage to human skin caused by the NLLW.Firstly,based on the burn theory in medicine and the actual tactical background,this paper redefines the evaluation criteria of the limiting laser dose of NLLW to the human body.Secondly,on the basis of anatomical knowledge,a 5-layer finite element model(FEM) of superficial skin is proposed,constructed and verified,which can accurately describe the limiting reversible damage.Based on the optimized Pennes bioheat transfer equation,the diffusion approximation theory,the modified Beer-Lambert law,the Arrhenius equation,and combined with dynamic thermophysical parameters,this paper highly restored the temperature distribution and accurately solved the necrotic tissue distribution inside the human skin irradiated by 1064 nm laser.Finally,it is concluded that the maximum human dose of the1064 nm NLLW is 8.93 J/cm^(2),8.29J/cm^(2),and 8.17 J/cm^(2) when the light spots are 5 mm,10 mm and15 mm,respectively,and the corresponding output power of the weapon is 46.74 W,173.72 W and384.77 W.Simultaneously,the temperature and damage distribution in the tissue at the time of ultimate damage are discussed from the axial and radial dimensions,respectively.The conclusions and analysis methods proposed in this paper are of great guiding significance for future research in military,medical and many other related fields.

The use of the node-based smoothed finite element method to estimate static and seismic bearing capacities of shallow strip footings

The node-based smoothed finite element method(NS-FEM)is shortly presented for calculations of the static and seismic bearing capacities of shallow strip footings.A series of computations has been performed to assess variations in seismic bearing capacity factors with both horizontal and vertical seismic accelerations.Numerical results obtained agree very well with those using the slip-line method,revealing that the magnitude of the seismic bearing capacity is highly dependent upon the combinations of various directions of both components of the seismic acceleration.An upward vertical seismic acceleration reduces the seismic bearing capacity compared to the downward vertical seismic acceleration in calculations.In addition,particular emphasis is placed on a separate estimation of the effects of soil and superstructure inertia on each seismic bearing capacity component.While the effect of inertia forces arising in the soil on the seismic bearing capacity is non-trivial,and the superstructure inertia is the major contributor to reductions in the seismic bearing capacity.Both tables and charts are given for practical application to the seismic design of the foundations.