Probabilistic Slope Stability Analysis by Finite Elements

Griffiths, D. V.; Fenton, Gordon A.

doi:10.1061/(asce)1090-0241(2004)130:5(507)

Cited by 808 publications

(293 citation statements)

References 17 publications

(11 reference statements)

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“…Figure 9 suggests that the probability of failure of the vertical cut with largely correlated undrained shear strength eld can be approximately estimated by a straight line of the form suggested by Eq. (16). It can be seen that the agreement is fairly acceptable.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 77%

“…In recent years, a more rigorous method of probabilistic geotechnical analysis has been pursued in which nonlinear nite element/di erence methods are combined with random eld generation techniques (e.g., [16][17]). This method, called the \Random Finite Element/Di erence Method" (RFEM/RFDM), fully accounts for spatial correlation and averaging and is also a powerful slope stability analysis tool that does not require a priori assumptions related to the shape or location of the failure mechanism.…”

Section: Random Finite DI Erence Methods (Rfdm)mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Several new slope stability analyses have been done using this method and the stochastic nite element method [16][17][18][19][20][21].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Uncertainty assessment of critical excavation depth of vertical unsupported cuts in undrained clay using random eld theorem

Chenari

2016

Scientia Iranica

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KEYWORDSCritical excavation depth; Probability of failure; Spatial variability; Random nite di erence method; Random limit equilibrium method.Abstract. Classical methods such as limit equilibrium or limit analysis, dealing with the stability analysis of open cuts and trenches and calculation of critical excavation depth for them, do not fully satisfy the theoretical requirements for stability problems leading to di erent solutions depending on the adopted method. It is now appreciated that geomaterials exhibit considerable heterogeneity, caused by the lithological and inherent variation, which cannot be fully covered by simple methods. This paper highlights the uncertainty embedded in critical excavation depth calculation, arising from spatial variability of shear strength parameters, using Random Finite Di erence Method (RFDM) and Random Limit Equilibrium Method (RLEM). In the present study, the lognormally distributed undrained shear strength is considered spatially correlated throughout the domain. Surface cohesion value and the shear strength density were introduced as the deterministic parameters along with the coe cient of variation of undrained shear strength and its scale of uctuation as stochastic parameters; these parameters were studied to see their e ect on uncertainty in critical excavation depth estimation. The results clearly demonstrated the uncertainty in critical excavation depth arising from the inherent variability of shear strength parameters using the RFDM results; however, RLEM did not prove to re ect such uncertainty e ciently due to local averaging in prescribed failure surfaces.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 77%

Section: Random Finite DI Erence Methods (Rfdm)mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Uncertainty assessment of critical excavation depth of vertical unsupported cuts in undrained clay using random eld theorem

Chenari

2016

Scientia Iranica

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“…The random finite element method (RFEM) (Griffiths and Fenton 2004) is a rigorous approach to reliability analysis that can be used for the stability analysis of slopes with uncertainty in the spatial variability of (strength) parameters. It combines random field theory with finite element analysis to evaluate the range of structural responses in MCS.…”

Section: Random Finite Element Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Investigating the Influence of Conditional Simulation on Small-Probability Failure Events Using Subset Simulation

Eijnden

Hicks

2017

Geo-Risk 2017

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“…Over recent years with advances in computing power there has been renewed interest in simulation methods, with numerous authors proposing quasi Monte Carlo methods (Malkawi et al, 2001;Wang et al, 2011;Cheng et al, 2015) as a means of finding the critical probabilistic slip surface. Simulation techniques can be used to find both the system reliability (Griffiths & Fenton, 2004;Huang et al, 2010) and the reliability index for a given slip surface. However, this paper proposes an alternative approximate technique for rapidly finding the system reliability of a slope with multiple failure mechanisms.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

System reliability of slopes using multimodal optimisation

2016

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Many engineered and natural slopes have complex geometries and are multi-layered. For these slopes traditional stability analyses will tend to predict critical failure surfaces in layers with the lowest mean strength. A move toward probabilistic analyses allows a designer to account for uncertainties with respect to input parameters that allow for a more complete understanding of risk. Railway slopes, which in some cases were built more than 150 years ago, form important assets on the European rail network. Many of these structures were built at slope angles significantly higher than those allowed in modern design codes. Depending on the local geotechnical conditions these slopes may be susceptible to deepseated failure; however, a significant number of failures each year occur as shallow translational slips that develop during periods of high rainfall. Thus, for a given slope, two potential failure mechanisms might exist with very similar probabilities of failure. In this paper a novel multimodal optimisation algorithm ('Slips') that is capable of detecting all feasible probabilistic slip surfaces simultaneously is presented. The system reliability analysis is applied using polar co-ordinates, as this approach has been shown to be less sensitive to local numerical instabilities, which can develop due to discontinuities on the limit state surface. The approach is applied to two example slopes where the complexity in terms of stratification and slope geometry is varied. In addition the methodology is validated using a real-life case study involving failure of a complex slope.

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Probabilistic Slope Stability Analysis by Finite Elements

Cited by 808 publications

References 17 publications

Uncertainty assessment of critical excavation depth of vertical unsupported cuts in undrained clay using random eld theorem

Uncertainty assessment of critical excavation depth of vertical unsupported cuts in undrained clay using random eld theorem

Investigating the Influence of Conditional Simulation on Small-Probability Failure Events Using Subset Simulation

System reliability of slopes using multimodal optimisation

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