Stochastic Modeling of Progressive Failure in Heterogeneous Soil Slope

Abstract

Accurate and efficient simulation of the slope stability, certainly gives the reliable approach for the hazard preparedness. However, inherent difficulties associated with the slope failure make the situation very difficult. First, the computation of fracture path based on the strict mathematical formalism is cumbersome especially for the progressive failure phenomenon. Second, due to the lack of reliable knowledge on material properties, stochastic simulation is necessary. Stochastic modeling together with the progressive failure phenomenon is apparently difficult task. In this paper, heterogeneous slope is simulated considering the progressive failure phenomenon using the modified finite element method introducing the fracture along the edge of the meshes thus incorporating the time evolution of the fracture surface. This is achieved by restructuring the tessellation in every fracture stage. Unlike remeshing this technique only increases the number of total nodes while number of meshes remaining same, which is simple and natural. Further, in this research, effect of uncertainty in the material properties upon the uncertainty in the response of soil slope has been evaluated, hence giving the reliable probabilistic estimation of the factor of safety, failure surface and deformation of the slope. Thus the simulation based on the more reliable understanding of the material properties and the efficient numerical procedure for the progressive failure phenomenon can give the reliable result of the simulation for the heterogeneous soil slope thus enabling the more accurate way for hazard preparedness.