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Geotechnical Engineering
Practice & Design
Lecture 6:
Limit Equilibrium
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CONTINUUM
DISCONTINUUM
(distinct element, particle
flow codes, etc.)
(boundary element,
finite element,
finite difference, etc.)
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FS =
=
resisting forces
driving forces
shear strength
shear stress
DRIVING
force
RESISTING force
(i.e.shear strength)
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complicated geology
inaccessible
no testing budget
simple geology
$$$ spent on site
investigation
Data
none
complete (?)
Approach
investigation of
failure mechanism(s)
predictive
(design use)
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FS
Dw
w ) D cos 2 tan
D
D sin cos
c (
FS
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tan
tan
FS 0.5
tan
tan
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Effective Stress
High pore pressures may adversely affect the stability of a slope
due to a decrease in effective stresses.
= W sin
Factor
of Safety
Total Normal
Stress, n
Pore
Pressure
Effective
Stress
Effective Stress
constant =
Total Normal
Stress, n
Pore
Pressure
Effective
Stress
= n -
constant
[n ]
n f
As precipitation infiltrates the ground, the total normal stress remains relatively
unchanged but the pore pressure increases decreasing the effective normal stress
acting on the sliding surface (thereby decreasing the frictional strength component).
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shallow failure
deep-seated
failure
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=
=
=
=
=
weight of slice
mobilized shear forces at base of slice
effective normal forces on base
water pressure force on base
side forces exerted by neighboring slices.
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Duncan (1996)
Bromhead (1992)
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Duncan (1996)
The various Method of Slices procedures either make assumptions to make the
problem determinate (balancing knowns and unknowns), or they do not satisfy all
the conditions of equilibrium.
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11
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12
Duncan (1996)
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1.51
1.52
1.51
1.52
1.52
Duncan (1996)
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13
14
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15
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Uncertainty
Geotechnical engineers must deal with natural conditions that are largely
unknown and must be inferred from limited and costly observations. The
principal uncertainties have to do with the accuracy and completeness with
which subsurface conditions are known and with the resistances that the
materials will be able to mobilize (e.g. strength).
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Sensitivity Analysis
Sensitivity analyses allow for the determination of the "sensitivity" of
the safety factor to variation in the input data variables. This is done
by varying one variable at a time, while keeping all other variables
constant, and plotting a graph of safety factor versus the variable.
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Probability Analysis
Probabilistic analyses consider the variability of input parameters, and
provide the probability of failure based on a given probability distribution
function (defined through a known mean and standard deviations).
Probability distribution: A probability
density function (PDF) describes the
relative likelihood that a random variable
will assume a particular value. The area
under the PDF is always unity.
2.5%
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Probability of Failure
Remember that the PF and RI
calculated for the Overall
Slope, are not associated with
a specific slip surface, but
include the safety factors of
all global minimum slip surfaces
from the Probabilistic Analysis.
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Lake Sarez
length - 55.8 km
maximum width - 3.3 km
maximum depth - 500 m
maximum water volume - 16,074 km3
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Probabilistic analysis:
Gamma distribution
skewed towards lower
values of , with a
mean value of 40
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Lecture References
Bromhead, EM (1992). The Stability of Slopes (2nd Edition). Blackie Academic & Professional:
London.
Clayton, CRI, Simons, NE & Matthews, MC (1982). Site Investigation: A Handbook for Engineers.
Halsted Press: New York.
Duncan, JM (1996). Soil slope stability analysis. In Landslides: Investigation and Mitigation Special
Report 247. National Academy Press: Washington, D.C., pp. 337-371.
Eberhardt, E & Stead, D (2004). Incorporating the effects of groundwater and coupled
hydromechanical processes in slope stability analysis. Italian Journal of Engineering Geology and
Environment, Special Issue 1: 139-143.
Hoek, E & Bray, JW (1981). Rock Slope Engineering (3rd edition). Institution of Mining and
Metallurgy: London.
Hudson, JA & Harrison, JP (1997). Engineering Rock Mechanics An Introduction to the Principles .
Elsevier Science: Oxford.
Hungr, O, Salgado, FM & Byrne, PM (1989). Evaluation of a three-dimensional method of slope
stability analysis. Canadian Geotechnical Journal 26(4): 679-686.
Krahn, J (2003). The 2001 R.M. Hardy Lecture: The limits of limit equilibrium analyses. Canadian
Geotechnical Journal 40: 643-660.
Morgenstern, NR (1995). The role of analysis in the evaluation of slope stability. In Proceedings,
Sixth International Symposium on Landslides, Christchurch. A.A. Balkema: Rotterdam, pp. 1615-1629.
Wyllie, DC & Mah, CW (2004). Rock Slope Engineering (4th edition). Spon Press: London.
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