A Method Combining Numerical Analysis and Limit Equilibrium Theory to Determine Potential Slip Surfaces in Soil Slopes

This paper describes a precise method combining numerical analysis and limit equilibrium theory to determine potential slip surfaces in soil slopes. In this method, the direction of the critical slip surface at any point in a slope is determined using the Coulomb’s strength principle and the extremum principle based on the ratio of the shear strength to the shear stress at that point. The ratio, which is considered as an analysis index, can be computed once the stress field of the soil slope is obtained. The critical slip direction at any point in the slope must be the tangential direction of a potential slip surface passing through the point. Therefore, starting from a point on the top of the slope surface or on the horizontal segment outside the slope toe, the increment with a small distance into the slope is used to choose another point and the corresponding slip direction at the point is computed. Connecting all the points used in the computation forms a potential slip surface exiting at the starting point. Then the factor of safety for any potential slip surface can be computed using limit equilibrium method like Spencer method. After factors of safety for all the potential slip surfaces are obtained, the minimum one is the factor of safety for the slope and the corresponding potential slip surface is the critical slip surface of the slope. The proposed method does not need to pre-assume the shape of potential slip surfaces. Thus it is suitable for any shape of slip surfaces. Moreover the method is very simple to be applied. Examples are presented in this paper to illustrate the feasibility of the proposed method programmed in ANSYS software by macro commands.

Limit equilibrium analysis for rock slope stability using basic Hoek–Brown strength criterion

Hoek–Brown(HB)strength criterion can reflect rock’s inherent failure nature,so it is more suitable for analyzing the stability of rock slopes.However,the traditional limit equilibrium methods are at present only suitable for analyzing the rock slope stability using the linear equivalent Mohr–Coulomb(EMC)strength parameters instead of the nonlinear HB strength criterion.Therefore,a new method derived to analyze directly the rock slope stability using the nonlinear HB strength criterion for arbitrary curve slip surface was described in the limit equilibrium framework.The current method was established based on certain assumptions concerning the stresses on the slip surface through amending the initial normal stressσ0 obtained without considering the effect of inter-slice forces,and it can satisfy all static equilibrium conditions of the sliding body,so the current method can obtain the reasonable and strict factor of safety(FOS)solutions.Compared with the results of other methods in some examples,the feasibility of the current method was verified.Meanwhile,the parametric analysis shows that the slope angleβhas an important influence on the difference of the results obtained using the nonlinear HB strength criterion and its linear EMC strength parameters.Forβ≤45°,both of the results are similar,showing the traditional limit equilibrium methods using the linear EMC strength parameters and the current method are all suitable to analyze rock slope stability,but forβ>60°,the differences of both the results are obvious,showing the actual slope stability state can not be reflected in the traditional limit equilibrium methods,and then the current method should be used.

Limit equilibrium stability analysis of slopes under external loads

Two calculation modes for the effect of external load on slope stability, i.e., mode I in which the external load is thought to act on slope surface, and mode II in which the external load is thought to act on slip surface along the force action line, were considered. Meanwhile, four basic distribution patterns of external load were used, of which complex external loads could be composed. In analysis process, several limit equilibrium methods, such as Swedish method, simplified Bishop method, simplified Janbu method, Spencer method, Morgenstern-Price(M-P) method, Sarma method, and unbalanced thrust method, were also adopted to contrast their differences in slope stability under the external load. According to parametric analysis, some conclusions can be obtained as follows:(1) The external load, with the large magnitude, small inclination angle, and acting position close to the slope toe,has more positive effect on slope stability;(2) The results calculated using modes I and II of external load are similar, indicating that the calculation mode of external load has little influence on slope stability;(3) If different patterns of external loads are equivalent to each other, their slope stability under these external loads are the same, and if not, the external load leads to the better slope stability,as action position of the resultant force for external load is closer to the lower sliding point of slip surface.

A New Approach to the Determination of the Critical Slip Surfaces of Slopes

A new method for the determination of the critical slip surfaces of slopes is proposed in this paper. In this paper, the original critical slip field method is extended in terms of the total residual moment, values of residual work as well as the unbalanced thrust force at the exit point for a given non-circular slip surface. The most critical slip surface with the maximum representative value for a prescribed factor of safety will be optimized and located using the harmony search algorithm. The prescribed factor of safety is modified with certain tiny interval in order to find the critical slip surface where the maximum representative value is zero. The aforementioned approach to the location of the critical slip surface is greatly different from the traditional limit equilibrium procedure. Three typical soil slopes are evaluated by use of the proposed method, and the comparisons with the classical approaches have illustrated the applicability of the proposed method.

Effects of nonlinear strength parameters on stability of 3D soil slopes

Actual slope stability problems have three-dimensional(3D) characteristics and the soils of slopes have curved failure envelopes. This incorporates a power-law nonlinear failure criterion into the kinematic approach of limit analysis to conduct the evaluation of the stability of 3D slopes. A tangential technique is adopted to simplify the nonlinear failure criterion in the form of equivalent Mohr-Coulomb strength parameters. A class of 3D admissible rotational failure mechanisms is selected for soil slopes including three types of failure mechanisms: face failure, base failure, and toe failure. The upper-bound solutions and corresponding critical slip surfaces can be obtained by an efficient optimization method. The results indicate that the nonlinear parameters have significant influences on the assessment of slope stability, especially on the type of failure mechanism. The effects of nonlinear parameters appear to be pronounced for gentle slopes constrained to a narrow width. Compared with the solutions derived from plane-strain analysis, the 3D solutions are more sensitive to the values of nonlinear parameters.

Comparative study of material point method and upper bound limit analysis in slope stability analysis

The upper bound limit analysis(UBLA)is one of the key research directions in geotechnical engineering and is widely used in engineering practice.UBLA assumes that the slip surface with the minimum factor of safety(FSmin)is the critical slip surface,and then applies it to slope stability analysis.However,the hypothesis of UBLA has not been systematically verified,which may be due to the fact that the traditional numerical method is difficult to simulate the large deformation.In this study,in order to systematically verify the assumption of UBLA,material point method(MPM),which is suitable to simulate the large deformation of continuous media,is used to simulate the whole process of the slope failure,including the large-scale transportation and deposition of soil mass after slope failure.And a series of comparative studies are conducted on the stability of cohesive slopes using UBLA and MPM.The proposed study indicated that the slope angle,internal friction angle and cohesion have a remarkable effect on the slip surface of the cohesive slope.Also,for stable slopes,the calculation results of the two are relatively close.However,for unstable slopes,the slider volume determined by the UBLA is much smaller than the slider volume determined by the MPM.In other words,for unstable slopes,the critical slip surface of UBLA is very different from the slip surface when the slope failure occurs,and when the UBLA is applied to the stability analysis of unstable slope,it will lead to extremely unfavorable results.

GeoStudio软件Slope-W模块在堆浸场边坡稳定性分析中的应用

堆浸场边坡稳定性对于矿山堆浸场的经济性和安全环保性方面具有重要意义。基于极限平衡条分法原理开发的Geo Studio软件,其中的Slope-W模块作为一种岩土结构稳定性分析通用软件,能通过建立有限元模型,施加荷载和边界条件,有效模拟土条受力以及土条间作用力,建立力平衡和力矩平衡方程,求解堆浸场最危险滑弧以及最小安全系数,从而全面掌握堆浸场边坡抗滑稳定性。本文通过该软件在工程实例中的应用,为今后堆浸场的稳定性安全设计和评价提供了一定的参考依据。

广义对数螺旋型滑面模型的构建与验证

临界滑动面的合理确定是边坡稳定性分析的关键问题之一。传统的边坡滑动面假设方法构造生成的潜在滑动面形式单一,且无法考虑复杂边坡中土层强度参数变化对临界滑动面形状的影响,从而降低了边坡稳定性分析结果的可靠性。基于此,提出一种新的广义对数螺旋型滑面模型,该模型可生成包含传统圆弧滑动面和对数螺旋滑动面在内的多种形式的潜在滑动面;并针对非均质边坡中各土层抗剪强度不同的特点,采用多中心分段构造策略,将该滑面模型应用于非均质边坡稳定性分析中。基于极限平衡理论计算滑动面安全系数并搜索临界滑动面,对边坡进行稳定性评估。选取多个均质边坡及多种型式的非均质边坡(水平分层、倾斜分层和斜折线分层)经典算例与现有研究成果以及数值模拟软件获得的结果进行对比分析,验证该滑面模型的合理性与优势性。研究结果表明:文中方法计算所得安全系数与其他方法相比更小,相对误差在5%以内。能够得到传统滑动面假设方法下难以搜索到的临界滑动面,并与数值模拟结果吻合度较好,稳定性分析结果更接近实际情况。由此说明,此方法用于均质边坡及非均质边坡稳定性分析是合理可行的,有望为工程实践提供更优的临界滑动面解决方案。

基于极限平衡理论与有限元强度折减法的某涉水高边坡稳定性分析

该文以深圳某大型涉水高边坡为研究对象,将极限平衡法和有限元强度折减法原理相结合,从边坡稳定性角度出发,应用理正及有限元软件分别对开挖边坡整体抗滑稳定性和局部面层塑性破坏进行计算分析。研究结果表明,原始边坡安全系数大于规范允许值,边坡防护结果符合稳定性要求,但边坡浅层面在地应力卸荷作用下仍会产生破坏问题,因此,采用锚杆框格梁支护结构来减少边坡面层卸荷崩解破坏对工程安全造成的影响,支护后边坡稳定系数为1.47,满足规范允许值要求。利用圆弧滑动极限平衡法对开挖边坡进行多断面整体稳定分析的同时,采用有限元软件对边坡典型断面的护坡结构进行设计,能够更为全面、准确、快速地分析大型边坡工程的整体抗滑稳定性,并满足局部稳定安全要求,可为类似工程提供借鉴。

岩体边坡临界滑动场计算方法及其在露天矿边坡设计中的应用

针对岩体介质的特殊性如不连续性、各向异性及非线性破坏准则， 提出建立岩体边坡临界滑动场的计算方法； 并将其应用于峨口铁矿露天边坡的设计，

基于矢量和分析方法的边坡滑面搜索

基于力是矢量这个基本概念,给出了边坡矢量和法安全系数的矢量表达式。在边坡荷载已知的情况下,运用有限元法计算得到边坡真实的应力分布状态,使用矢量和法安全系数并采用优化算法中的直接法搜索边坡的临界滑面。计算结果表明,使用矢量和分析法搜索得到的临界滑面位置与极限平衡法得到的滑面位置基本吻合,且安全系数相对误差最大为2.09%,验证了该方法在边坡稳定分析中的合理性与可靠性。矢量和分析方法与基于强度储备安全系数的分析方法不同,具有明确的物理和力学意义,且不需引入过多假设,公式简洁,易于进行三维边坡稳定分析,不需进行迭代计算,可在工程实际中得到广泛的运用。

软弱基底排土场变形破坏治理措施研究

针对软弱基底露天矿排土场普遍存在的变形破坏问题,结合胜利东二露天矿南排土场南帮边坡的工程实际,基于极限平衡理论,给出了通过探槽及滑坡变形反分析综合确定基底赋存条件及抗剪强度指标的方法;提出了对软弱基底排土场的变形治理措施;根据已有监测数据,对南帮边坡治理效果进行了评价。结果表明:在实施削坡减载措施后,各地表监测点的累计位移趋于平缓,边坡治理措施效果明显,解决了胜利东二露天矿迫切的安全问题,为同样具有软弱基底的其他露天矿排土场变形及破坏治理提供了指导。

改进的岩质边坡临界滑动场计算方法

针对岩体介质的不连续性的特点,将岩质边坡临界滑动场进行改进和推广。充分考虑结构面存在对岩质边坡稳定性的影响,对结构面采取新的处理方法,并基于岩体介质具有抗拉性的考虑,灵活设置张拉裂缝。用改进后的岩质边坡临界滑动场计算方法,编制相应的程序,对边坡进行数值模拟分析,使边坡在满足力与力矩平衡的条件下,按推力最大原则,快速、准确地找到岩质边坡临界滑动面并得出其相应的安全系数。并将此方法应用于5个算例和1个工程实例边坡的稳定性分析,和其他方法进行比较,结果说明改进后的该方法在岩质边坡稳定性分析中的准确性和高效性。

边坡全局临界滑动场(GCSF)理论及工程应用

在边坡稳定性分析时，通常采用单一的最小安全系数及其对应的临界滑动面表示边坡稳定性程度和潜在破坏范围，而忽略了安全系数稍大但潜在破坏范围更广或工程意义更重要的滑动面。临界滑动场方法不仅能够方便准确地逼近出任意形状临界滑动面，而且将所有其它危险滑动面同时显示出来，以剩余推力表示其稳定程度。本文在此基础上进行改进，提出边坡全局临界滑动场理论与建立方法。所有出口的任意形状局部临界滑动面及其安全系数都能在全局临界滑动场中反应出来，这样有利于全面合理地评价边坡的稳定性。文中将此理论验算了试验路堤，与实测结果吻合很好。最后给出工程应用实例，表明边坡全局临界滑动场理论具有一定的工程实用性。

库水位骤降时坝体渗流场及坝坡稳定性分析

为了研究水位骤降时影响上游坝坡稳定性的因素,模拟坝坡在水位骤降时的渗流场及稳定性变化。基于土体渗透性,材料的非线性特性及水位下降率,利用有限元法对库水位变化下的渗流场进行瞬态分析,得出的自由水面线和孔隙水压力耗散等结果应用于上游坝坡稳定性分析,坝坡稳定分析采用极限平衡法。实例分析表明:计算区域渗流场变化滞后于水位下降的时间;坝体渗透系数越小,水位骤降对其稳定性的不利影响越显著;水位下降速率越大,上游坝坡稳定性降低越快。

边坡稳定性研究方法与进展

较为系统地介绍了国内外边坡稳定性分析方法的研究现状与发展动态,重点深入分析了基于极限平衡理论和数值分析两种计算方法以及临界滑裂面搜索方法,并对这些方法的主要特征及优缺点进行简要的探讨。同时还介绍了三维边坡研究的动态,以及该领域今后研究方向的一些展望等,可供从事边坡研究的相关人员借鉴参考。

混合粒子群算法搜索土坡危险滑动面

基本粒子群优化算法存在着对惯性因子敏感、计算量大等缺点,通过借鉴和声搜索算法产生新解的策略和不连续飞行假定,构成了混合粒子群算法。首先,当粒子飞行超越边界时,采用和声搜索算法产生新解;此外还引入了不连续飞行假定,即在每次迭代步中,随机选择一些个体更新速度、位置向量,以利于减少计算量。随机给定10组参数,分别利用基本粒子群优化算法和混合粒子群优化算法对某复杂土坡的最危险滑动面进行了搜索。比较发现,混合粒子群算法能在较短的计算时间内得到更好的结果。

严格极限平衡条分法框架下的边坡临界滑动场

首先将严格极限平衡条分法进行改进，给出更实用的安全系数计算格式；然后将只满足力平衡条件的边坡临界滑动场数值模拟方法进行推广，建立一套能满足严格平衡条件的边坡临界滑动场计算方法。对文献中的算例进行计算比较，结果表明本文计算的临界滑动面比其它方法搜寻的临界面更危险，即得到更小的安全系数，展示了本文方法的精度与可靠性。

土坡稳定分析中模拟任意滑动面的新策略及其效率分析

土坡稳定分析中的临界滑动面搜索需要以有效地模拟滑动面策略为前提。本文基于对常用策略的分析,提出了几种新策略以模拟任意滑动面,并利用和声搜索算法和Spencer法联合进行土坡稳定分析,将新策略以及常用策略应用于4个土坡的临界滑动面搜索中,比较了采用不同策略的搜索效率。计算结果表明:对于简单的均质土坡,不同策略的效率相差不大;而对于复杂土坡,应用本文提出的新策略则比应用常用策略的效率高,且该策略适用于含规则、不规则软弱夹层土坡的计算。

基于余力矩的边坡临界滑动场方法及应用

基于常规极限平衡条分法的瑞典法、Bishop法以及不平衡推力传递法的条间力假定,将圆弧滑动面整体的滑动力矩与抗滑力矩之差定义为余力矩,在给定的安全系数下,利用简单有效的和声搜索算法寻求余力矩最大的滑动面作为给定安全系数下的危险滑动面,变化安全系数直至找到的危险滑动面的余力矩为零,该危险滑动面即为边坡的临界滑动面;鉴于取矩中心对计算结果的影响,对于非圆弧滑动面,采用滑面滑出端的余力替代余力矩作为控制指标,采用与圆弧滑动面下类似的寻找步骤即可得到非圆弧滑动面下的临界滑动面.通过两个典型土坡的算例分析证明了本文方法的可行性.