Discussion of “Stability assessment of slopes with cracks using limit analysis”

Discussion of “Limit analysis of slopes with cracks: Comparisons of results”

“…In the literature the concept of potential tension crack is absent. The word "potential" is consistently used in Utili (2013), Utili (2014), Baker (2001) and Baker (2003) only for failure mechanisms, e.g. 'potential failure mechanism' or 'potential slip surface' whereas it is completely absent in Michalowski (2013).…”

“…with the legends inside each figure invariably saying "limit analysis method of Michalowski (2013)" and "limit analysis method of Utili (2013)", as if there is one problem being tackled, namely finding out c /γH and the features of the failure mechanism for slopes subject to tension cracks, by two different methods: limit analysis of Michalowski and limit analysis of Utili. Indeed, this is not the case and such a representation is misleading as it can be ascertained by the following statement from Michalowski's reply to (Utili, 2014)'s discussion (Michalowski, 2014): 'stability analysis with pre--existing cracks is applicable to slopes with pre--existing cracks, whereas the analysis with a crack forming as part of the collapse process is applicable to intact slopes. One can only state that for two slopes of the same geometry and built of the same soil, one intact and one with cracks, the critical value of the dimensionless group γH/c for the intact slope will not be lower than that for the slope with cracks.…”