Displacement based multiple wedge slope stability analysis

Abstract

A method of slope stability analysis based upon multiple wedges is developed, accounting for kinematics in a similar way to proposals by Srbulov (1997) and Donald and Chen (1999). Instead of relying on almost arbitrary assumptions about stresses on wedge or slice boundaries to demonstrate an equilibrium of both forces and moments, the method works from simple assumptions about the kinematics of movement, increasing displacements and hence resisting forces iteratively until force equilibrium is attained. The procedure is simple and efficient, and ensures that interwedge forces developed by the movement are consistent with the shape of the sliding surface.

Distinct element method analyses of idealized bonded-granulate cut slope

“…In addition to theoretical analyses including methods of slices [3,4] and multiple wedges [5,6], slope instability problems are mainly analyzed by two methods:…”

Novel particle method for modelling the episodic collapse of soft coastal bluffs

“…3 shows an arbitrary failure surface as selected by the model. The wedge boundaries are angled such that they bisect the internal angle of the failure surface equally, due to assuming that any dilation can be neglected (McCombie, 2009). However, this can cause wedge boundaries to intersect, creating a potential source of significant error.…”

“…This method consistently over-predicts the disturbing force, thus producing a conservative estimate of slope stability. Non-circular failure slopes are conventionally analysed using a multiple wedge method (Donald and Chen, 1999;McCombie, 2009).…”

Analysis and Design Implications on Stability of Cofferdam Subjected to Water Wave Action

“…Methods have been widely used to assess the stability of slope (Krahn 2004;McCombie 2009). Two methods were mainly adopted in Finite Element Methods to analyze the stability of slope.…”