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KEYWORDS Abstract In this paper, a comparison study has been carried out between the limit equilibrium
Slope stability; (conventional) methods and nite element method of estimation factor of safety of slopes under
Finite element method; the effect of rainfall. A case study is analyzed with the nite element method, and the results are
Numerical analysis; compared with outcomes from some of the well-known conventional methods namely: simplied
Conventional methods; Bishop Method (1955), simplied Janbu method (1954), and Fellenius method (1927).
Critical circle Moreover, slope stability concerning rainfall and inltration is analyzed. Specially, two kinds of
inltrations (saturated and unsaturated) are considered. Many slopes become saturated during peri-
ods of intense rainfall or snowmelt, with the water table rising to the ground surface, and water
owing essentially parallel to the direction of the slope and Inuence of the change in shear
strength, density, pore-water pressure and seepage force in soil slices on the slope stability is
explained. Finally, it is found that classical limit equilibrium methods are highly conservative
compared to the nite element approach. For assessment the factor of safety for slope using the
later technique, no assumption needs to be made in advance about the shape or location of the fail-
ure surface, slice side forces and their directions. This document outlines the capabilities of the nite
element method in the analysis of slope stability problems.
2014 Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Housing and Building National Research
Center.
1687-4048 2014 Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Housing and Building National Research Center.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.hbrcj.2013.10.002
The behaviour of Slopes Under Heavy rainfall 161
where:
A5 W1 kt Ub cos b Q cos d sin a 2
h
A6 Ub sin b Q sin d cos a 3
R
hc
Fig. 4 Division of potential sliding mass into slices. A7 kh W cos a 4
R
slice as a unique sliding block. All limit equilibrium methods of R = the resistance force
slope stability analysis divide a slide-mass into n smaller slices,
as shown in Fig. 4. Each slice is affected by a general system of Simplied Janbu Method
forces, as shown in Fig. 5. Three methods, which are based The simplied janbu procedure assumes that there are no
mainly on methods of slices, are used. interslice shear forces. The geometry of each slice is described
by its height, h, measured along its centerline, its width, b, and
Simplied Bishop Method by the inclinations of its base and top, respectively. Janbus
This method satises vertical force equilibrium for each slice method satises vertical force equilibrium for each slice, as
and overall moment equilibrium about the center of the circu- well as overall horizontal force equilibrium for the entire slide
lar trial surface. The simplied Bishop method also assumes mass (i.e., all slices). Vertical force equilibrium for each slice is
zero interslice shear forces. given by:
F RN=RT 15
Table 1 Parameters of the MohrCoulomb model.
where: RT is summation of driving moment, and RN is sum- Symbol Description Units
mation of resisting moment. Fig. 7 shows N, T as force
E Elasticity modulus [kN/m2]
T R:W: sin a 16 t Poissons ratio []
N RC:L tan u:W: cos a 17 un Eective friction angle [0] Degree
Cn Eective cohesion [kN/m2]
w Dilatancy angle [Degrees]
Finite Element Method Einc Incremental increase in [kN/m2/m]
elasticity modulus with depth
Fig. 11 Shading of the total displacement increments for un-saturated case using nite element program Plaxis.
Fig. 12 Shading of the total displacement increments for saturated case using nite element program Plaxis.
limit equilibrium methods namely: simplied Bishop Method Moreover, there is no wide variation in the factors of safety
[1], simplied Janbu method [2], and Fellenius method [3] give calculated using classical limit equilibrium methods because
low value for the safety factors for saturated and unsaturated they are assessed based on the same concept.
slopes. On the other hand, nite element method gives high However, there is a wide discrepancy between the conven-
safety factors for saturated and unsaturated slopes compared tional and nite element methods in assessment safety factors,
to the methods which are based on limit equilibrium concept. and this may be attributed to one of the following reasons:
The behaviour of Slopes Under Heavy rainfall 167
Fig. 13 Evaluation of safety factor for un-saturated case using nite element program Plaxis.
Fig. 14 Evaluation of safety factor for saturated case using nite element program Plaxis.
Classical limit equilibrium methods depend on the direc- the minimum factor of safety (FOS) against sliding or shear
tions of the forces acting on each slice in the slope are assumed; failure.
In nite element approach, the factor of safety emerges nat-
urally from analysis without the user having to commit to any Summary and conclusion
particular form of mechanism a priori;
Limit equilibrium methods require a continuous surface This paper represents a comparison study between nite ele-
passing the soil mass. This surface is essential in calculating ment method using shear strength reduction approach and
168 M. Rabie
[4] J.M. Duncan, State of the art: limit equilibrium and nite-
Table 3 Summary of results for factor of safety. element analysis of slopes, J. Geotech. Eng., ASCE 122 (7)
Method Factor of safety (1996) 577597.
[5] G.C. Xiong, Y.F. Ruan, J. Yang, Analysis on relation between
Unsaturated Saturated
rainfall and slope stability, Underground Space 1 (7) (2005)
Finite element method 2.547 1.953 10171020.
Simplied Bishop method 1.094 0.722 [6] M.J. Hu, R. Wang, P.C. Zhang, Primary research on the effect
Simplied Janbu method 1.093 0.728 of rainfall on landslide take the slope piled by old landslide in
Fellenius method 1.065 0.723 Jiangjiagou valley as example, Chinese J. Geotech. Eng. 23 (4)
(2001) 454457.
[7] G.Q. Qi, R.Q. Huang, Study on slope displacements due to
most widely used limit-equilibrium methods namely: simplied rainfall, Rock Soil Mech. (Chinese) 25 (3) (2004) 379382.
Bishop method [1], simplied Janbu method [2], and Fellenius [8] D.V. Grifths, P.A. Lane, Slope stability analysis by nite
method [3]. The main conclusion is that classical limit equilib- elements, Geotechnique 49 (3) (1999) 387403.
rium methods are highly conservative compared to the nite [9] H. Cedergren, Seepage, Drainage, and Flow Nets, second ed.,
element approach. For assessment of the factor of safety for John Wiley and Sons, New York, 1977.
slope using the later technique, no assumption needs to be [10] E.M. Dawson, W.H. Roth, A. Drescher, Slope stability analysis
by strength reduction, Geotechnique 49 (6) (1999) 835840.
made in advance about the shape or location of the failure sur-
[11] R.E. Hammah, J.H. Curran, T.E. Yacoub, B. Corkum, (2004).
face, slice side forces and their directions.
Stability Analysis Of Rock Slopes Using the Finite Element
Method. In Proceedings of the ISRM Regional Symposium
References EUROCK 2004 and the 53rd Geomechanics Colloquy,
Salzburg, Austria.
[1] A.W. Bishop, The use of slip circle in the stability analysis of [12] Plaxis Version 8.0, Tutorial manual.
slopes, Geotechnique 5 (1955) 717. [13] C. Xiao-dong, G. Hong-xian, S. Er-xiang, Analysis method for
[2] N. Janbu, Application of composite slip surfaces for stability slope stability under rainfall action, in: Chen et al. (Eds.),
analysis, Proc. Eur. Conf. Stabil. Earth Slopes, Stockholm 3 Landslides and Engineered Slopes, Taylor & Francis Group,
(1954) 4349. London, 2008, pp. 15071515.
[3] W. Fellenius, Erdstatische Berechnungen mit Reibung und
Koha sion (Adhasion) und unter Annahme kreiszylindrischer
Gleitachen, Ernst & Sohn, Berlin, 1927.