Stability Charts for 3D Failures of Steep Slopes Subjected to Seismic Excitation |
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| Authors: | Radoslaw L. Michalowski Tabetha Martel |
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| Affiliation: | 1Professor, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109 (corresponding author). E-mail: rlmich@umich.edu
2Formerly, Graduate Research Assistant, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109.
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| Abstract: | Design of slopes and analysis of existing slopes subjected to seismic shaking are carried out routinely using approximations of plane strain and substitution of a quasi-static load for the seismic excitation. A three-dimensional (3D) analysis of slopes is carried out, based on the kinematic theorem of limit analysis. A rotational failure mechanism is used with the failure surface in the shape of a curvilinear cone sector passing through the slope toe, typical of steep slopes. A quasi-static approach is used to develop stability charts allowing assessment of the factor of safety of slopes without the need for an iterative procedure. The charts are of practical importance in cases of excavation slopes and whenever a slope is physically constrained, preventing a plane failure. |
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| Keywords: | Slope stability Seismic effects Limit states Three-dimensional analysis Failures |
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