scholarly journals Study on shear strength of expansive soil considered softening and slope stability analysis with FLAC3D

Author(s):  
Junhua Wu ◽  
Yuhan Kuang ◽  
Ming Luo
2014 ◽  
Vol 51 (12) ◽  
pp. 1384-1398 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. L. Zhang ◽  
Delwyn G. Fredlund ◽  
Murray D. Fredlund ◽  
G. Ward Wilson

The linear form of the extended Mohr–Coulomb shear strength equation uses a [Formula: see text] parameter to quantify the rate of increase in shear strength relative to matric suction. When the [Formula: see text] value is unknown, a [Formula: see text] equal to 15° is sometimes used in the slope stability study to assess the influence of matric suction on the stability of a slope. In many cases, however, a [Formula: see text] value of zero is used, signifying that the effect of matric suction is ignored. Experiment results have shown that the relationship between the shear strength of an unsaturated soil and matric suction is nonlinear. Several semi-empirical estimation equations have been proposed relating the unsaturated shear strength to the soil-water characteristic curve. In this paper, the results of a study using two-dimensional slope stability analysis along with an estimated nonlinear shear strength equations is presented. The effects of using an estimated nonlinear shear strength equation for the unsaturated soils are illustrated using three example problems. Several recommendations are made for engineering practice based on the results of the example problems. If the air-entry value (AEV) of a soil is smaller than 1 kPa, the effect of matric suction on the calculated factor of safety is trivial and the [Formula: see text] value can be assumed to be zero. If the AEV of a soil is between 1 and 20 kPa, the nonlinear equations of unsaturated shear strength should be adopted. For soils with an AEV value between 20 and 200 kPa, an assumed [Formula: see text] value of 15° provides a reasonable estimation of the effects of unsaturated shear strength in most cases. For soils with an AEV greater than 200 kPa, [Formula: see text] can generally be assumed to be equal to the effective angle of internal friction, [Formula: see text], in applications where geotechnical structures have matric suctions around 100 kPa.


2006 ◽  
Vol 43 (10) ◽  
pp. 1074-1087 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu-Jie Wang ◽  
Paul Chiasson

A stochastic slope stability analysis method is proposed to investigate the short-term stability of unsupported excavation works in a soft clay deposit having spatially variable properties. Spatial variability of undrained shear strength is modelled by a stochastic model that is the sum of a trend component and a fluctuation component. The undrained shear strength trend, which is also spatially variable, is modelled by kriging or a random function. Slope stability analyses are performed on the stochastic soft clay model to investigate the contribution of spatial variability of undrained shear strength to a disagreement among high factors of safety computed from deterministic methods for slopes that have failed. Probabilities of failure as computed from the stochastic analyses give a better assessment of failure potential. Probability of failure values also correlate with time delay before failure. This phenomenon may be related to progressive failure or creep and to pore pressure dissipation with time.Key words: slope stability analysis, failure probability, spatial variability, stochastic modelling, geostatistics, vane tests, sensitive clay.


2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 163-169
Author(s):  
C. Rajakumar ◽  
P. Kodanda Rama Rao

The slope stability analysis is always under severe threats in many parts of nilgiris district, causing disruption, loss of human life and economy. The stability of slopes depends on the soil shear strength parameters such as Cohesion, Angle of internal friction, Unit weight of soil and Slope geometry. The stability of a slope is measured by its factor of safety using geometric and shear strength parameter based on infinite slopes. In this research, investigation was carried out at 5 locations in Kattery watershed in nilgiris district. The factor of safety of the slope determined by Mohr Coulomb theory based on shear strength parameter calculated from direct shear test which is a conventional procedure for this study. Artificial. Neural Network (ANN) Model is used to predict the factor of safety. The input parameters for the (ANN) are chosen as Cohesion, Angle of internal friction, Density and Slope angle and the factor of safety as output. The results obtained in ANN method were compared with that of conventional method and observed a good agreement between these two methods.


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