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Deterministic Seismic Stability Analysis of Reinforced Slopes using Pseudo-Static Approach

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Iranian Journal of Science and Technology, Transactions of Civil Engineering Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Limit equilibrium analyses were conducted using pseudo-static approach to investigate the behavior of a typical reinforced slope under seismic loading. Slope height, slope face inclination, internal friction angle of the fill materials and seismic acceleration coefficients were all varied so that the length and tensile strength requirements of the geosynthetic reinforcement layers were determined for different factor of safety (FS) values. The influence of failure mechanism (i.e. external and internal) on geosynthetic required length and tensile strength for a certain value of FS was also discussed. According to the results, for a particular FS value, there was a minimum geosynthetic length and tensile strength to ensure that the internal or external failure mechanism will occur. Regardless of the failure mechanism, increasing the slope height was shown to critically increase the minimum safety demands in terms of the geosynthetic tensile strength as well as its length. Moreover, the seismic acceleration coefficients were found to substantially alter the pullout capacity of the reinforcement layers in the passive zone, thus changing the geosynthetic strength requirement. Nevertheless, this impact has been less significant when the slope was subjected to a vertical downward seismic acceleration.

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All data, models or codes that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

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The authors of the paper certify that they have NO affiliations with or involvement in any organization or entity with any financial interest or non-financial interest in the subject matter or materials discussed in this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Civil Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, University of Guilan, Persian Gulf Highway, P.B: 41996-13776, Rasht, Guilan, Iran

    Mahtab Fatehi, Iman Hosseinpour, Reza Jamshidi Chenari & Meghdad Payan

  2. Rocscience Incorporations, 54 St., Patrick St, 6137704857, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Sina Javankhoshdel

Authors
  1. Mahtab Fatehi
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  2. Iman Hosseinpour
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  3. Reza Jamshidi Chenari
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  4. Meghdad Payan
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  5. Sina Javankhoshdel
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Correspondence to Iman Hosseinpour.

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Fatehi, M., Hosseinpour, I., Jamshidi Chenari, R. et al. Deterministic Seismic Stability Analysis of Reinforced Slopes using Pseudo-Static Approach. Iran J Sci Technol Trans Civ Eng 47, 1025–1040 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40996-022-00970-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40996-022-00970-2

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