Reliability- Based Stability Analysis of Slope

Abstract

In Geotechnical engineering, the design and construction is done based on the Factor of Safety obtained from the deterministic approach. This Factor of safety doesn’t take into account the source and amount of uncertainty associated with the soil properties. Therefore, reliability based approach for the stability analysis has to be done to consider these uncertainties. In the present study, reliability-based stability analysis of slope has been made for using Finite Element Method, Upper bound Limit Analysis and Analytical method given by Low (1989). The commercially available software PLAXIS 2D-V9.02 is used for Finite Element Method and LimitState:GEO for Limit Analysis. The limit state function is developed using response surface methods. Full factorial design is used for development of response surface models. In this study, reliability analysis is done using first order reliability method. The need for reliability analysis and the corresponding reliability index and factor of safety is discussed. The study is validated by analyzing a case study of James Bay dykes. Parametric study has been done varying the soil and slope properties and modification has been made in the equation given by Low’s equation of Factor of Safety.