Abstract
The initial terrain of a slope has a significant impact on the stability and stress state during excavation. In this study, the theory of elastic stress solutions under concentrated loads at the top of a wedge-shaped body was employed to develop a method for calculating the slope stress field and stability, considering terrain effects during excavation. The rationality of this method was validated by comparing the changes in the safety factor, stress of the sliding surface, and position of the sliding surface using the limit equilibrium method (LEM) and finite element method (FEM). The research findings indicated the following: (1) A sliding surface search method was proposed, leading to the development of a slope unloading stress analysis method (USAM) considering the influence of terrain. This method allows for the rapid and straightforward determination of the stress field and safety factor of the excavated slope simultaneously. (2) When the USAM was applied to analyze slopes with small heights, the safety factor tended to be slightly larger. This phenomenon can be attributed to the assumption made in the elastic stress solution theory for wedge tops subjected to concentrated loads. However, this assumption does not significantly affect the stability analysis of high slopes. (3) The calculated sliding surface stresses and potential sliding surface positions were close to those derived using the strength reduction method. This study introduces a new perspective for slope stability analyses and stress field solutions that consider terrain effects.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Data Availability
Some or all data, models, or code that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
References
Acharya B, Sarkar K, Singh AK, Chawla S (2020) Preliminary slope stability analysis and discontinuities driven susceptibility zonation along a crucial highway corridor in higher Himalaya, India. J Mt Sci 17:801–823. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-019-5524-6
Ai X, Leng WM, Xu F, Zhang QS, Zhai B (2020) Graphic method for computing horizontal additional stress in a new prestressed subgrade. Rock Soil Mech 41:253–266
Ai X, Wang L, Xu D et al (2021) Stability of artificial soil aggregates for cut slope restoration: A case study from the subalpine zone of southwest China. Soil till Res 209:104934. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2021.104934
Auchter NC, Romans BW, Hubbard SM (2016) Influence of deposit architecture on intrastratal deformation, slope deposits of the Tres Pasos Formation, Chile. Sediment Geol 341:13–26. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sedgeo.2016.05.005
Dai Z, Guo J, Luo H, Li J, Chen S (2020) Strength characteristics and slope stability analysis of expansive soil with filled fissures. Appl Sci 10:4616. https://doi.org/10.3390/app10134616
Deng DP, Zhao LH, Li L (2017) Limit equilibrium analysis for rock slope stability using basic Hoek-Brown strength criterion. J Cent South Univ 24:2154–2163. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11771-017-3624-4
Gao JM, Lin DZ (2001) Wedge stress theory and its application in engineering. China Coal Industry Publishing House, Beijing
Griffiths DV, Lane PA (2001) Slope stability analysis by finite elements. Geotechnique-London 51:653–654
Hu S, Li L, Zhao L, Zuo S, Huang D (2023) Strength reduction strategy for rock slope stability using the variation principle based on the Hoek-Brown failure criterion. Bull Eng Geol Environ 82:297. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-023-03303-3
Lee D, Chen P, Wu J, Chen H, Yang Y (2013) Method of mitigating the surface erosion of a high-gradient mudstone slope in southwest Taiwan. Bull Eng Geol Environ 72:533–545. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-013-0518-z
Lei J, Xiao SG (2019) Stability analysis method for anchored slopes considering stress dispersion effect in sliding mass due to anchor tensile forces. Chin J Geotech Eng 41:1724–1730
Li Z, Zhu YP, Yu J (2008) Calculation methods for active slope reinforcement based on stress control in critical slip surface. Chinese Journal of Rock Mechanics and Engineering: 979–989
Li Z, Yu J (2015) Stability analysis of slope under complex stress conditions based on multi-population genetic algorithm. Rock Soil Mech 36:1488–1495
Liu S, Su Z, Li M, Shao L (2020) Slope stability analysis using elastic finite element stress fields. Eng Geol 273:105673. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2020.105673
Luo Y, Xiao M (2023) Stability analysis for pre-reinforced piles within high cutting slope. Eur J Environ Civ En 27:2529–2541. https://doi.org/10.1080/19648189.2020.1763852
Michalowski RL, Park D (2020) Stability assessment of slopes in rock governed by the Hoek-Brown strength criterion. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 127:104217. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrmms.2020.104217
Mirmazloumi SM, Wassie Y, Nava L et al (2023) InSAR time series and LSTM model to support early warning detection tools of ground instabilities: Mining site case studies. Bull Eng Geol Environ 82:374. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-023-03388-w
Nguyen LC, Tien PV, Do T (2020) Deep-seated rainfall-induced landslides on a new expressway: A case study in Vietnam. Landslides 17:395–407. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10346-019-01293-6
Qin H, Yin X, Tang H, Cheng X, Yuan H (2023) Method of stress field and stability analysis of bedding rock slope considering excavation unloading. KSCE J Civ Eng 27:4205–4214. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12205-023-0035-y
Quinta-Ferreira M, Andrade PS, Lemos L, Saraiva A (2013) Cut slopes failures on the Triassic beds in Coimbra, Portugal. Bull Eng Geol Environ 72:383–396. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-013-0483-6
Rafiei Renani H, Martin CD (2020) Slope stability analysis using equivalent Mohr-Coulomb and Hoek-Brown criteria. Rock Mech Rock Eng 53:13–21. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-019-01889-3
Tan LJ, Zhang HN, Sheng HW, Xia KZ (2014) Mechanism of bedding-slip failure of gently inclined rock slope due to hydraulic pressure. J Yangtze River Sci Res Inst 31:47–53
Vyazmensky A, Stead D, Elmo D, Moss A (2010) Numerical analysis of block caving-induced instability in large open pit slopes: A Finite Element/Discrete Element Approach. Rock Mech Rock Eng 43:21–39. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-009-0035-3
Wang DQ, Zhu YP (2014) Additional stress apply to analyzing the stability of prestressed anchor support. Eng Mech 31:196–202
Wu SC, LmQ H, Li ZP, Guo C, Zhou JX (2018) Discussion on the methods for determining slope safety factor based on stress state of the sliding surface. J China Univ Min Technol 47:719–726
Xu ZL (2016) Elastic mechanics. Higher Education Press, Beijing
Yang KB, Zhu YP (2021) Soil slope stress state and stability analysis based on unloading effect of slope surfaces. Eng Mech 38:95–104
Yu HS, Salgado R, Sloan SW, Kim JM (1998) Limit analysis versus limit equilibrium for slope stability. J Geotech Geoenviron 124:1–11. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)1090-0241(1998)124:1(1)
Zhang W, Wang D (2020) Stability analysis of cut slope with shear band propagation along a weak layer. Comput Geotech 125:103676. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compgeo.2020.103676
Zhou J, Qin C, Pan Q, Wang C (2019a) Kinematic analysis of geosynthetics-reinforced steep slopes with curved sloping surfaces and under earthquake regions. J Cent South Univ 26:1755–1768. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11771-019-4131-6
Zhou Y, Zhang F, Li B (2019b) Static and seismic stability charts for three-dimensional cut slopes and natural slopes under short-term undrained conditions. Adv Civ Eng 2019:1–18. https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/1914674
Acknowledgements
We express our heartfelt thanks to the editors and reviewers for providing very valuable suggestions to improve the quality of our manuscript.
Funding
The study is financially supported by Key R & D Program of Yunnan, China, Grant No. 202303AA080010 and Traffic Science and Technology Project of Yunnan Province, China (Grant No. [2020]-74 and Grant No. [2020]-98).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Contributions
All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection and analysis were performed by Xu Cheng, Hui Qin and Yachen Xie. The first draft of the manuscript was written by Xu Cheng and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Competing interests
The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
Supplementary Information
Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Cheng, X., Tang, H., Qin, H. et al. Stress field and stability calculation method for unloading slope considering the influence of terrain. Bull Eng Geol Environ 83, 60 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-024-03557-5
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-024-03557-5