Slope stability analysis based on a multigrid method using a nonlinear 3D finite element model

doi:10.1007/s11709-013-0190-1

Front Struc Civil Eng

2013, Vol. 7

Issue (1) : 24-31 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11709-013-0190-1

RESEARCH ARTICLE

Slope stability analysis based on a multigrid method using a nonlinear 3D finite element model

Yaoru LIU¹(

), Zhu HE¹, Bo LI², Qiang YANG¹

1. State Key Laboratory of Hydroscience and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; 2. Changjiang Institute of Survey, Planning, Design and Research, Wuhan 430010, China

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Abstract

The rigid-body limit equilibrium method cannot reflect the actual stress distribution in a rock mass, and the finite-element-based strength reduction method also has some problems with respect to convergence. To address these problems, a multi-grid method was adopted in this study to establish a structural grid for finite element computation and a slip surface grid for computing slope stability safety factors. This method can be used to determine the stability safety factor for any slip surface or slide block through a combination of nonlinear finite element analysis and limit equilibrium analysis. An ideal elastic–plastic incremental analysis method based on the Drucker–Prager yield criterion was adopted in the nonlinear finite element computation. Elasto-plastic computation achieves good convergence for both small load steps and large load steps and can increase computation precision to a certain extent. To increase the scale and accuracy of the computation, TFINE, a finite element parallel computation program, was used to analyze the influence of grid density on the accuracy of the computation results and was then applied to analysis of the stability of the Jinping high slope. A comparison of the results with results obtained using the rigid-body limit equilibrium method showed that the slope stability safety factors determined using finite element analysis were greater than those obtained using the rigid-body limit equilibrium method and were in better agreement with actual values because nonlinear stress adjustment was considered in the calculation.

Keywords slope stability multi-grid method nonlinear finite element method

Corresponding Author(s): LIU Yaoru,Email:liuyaoru@tsinghua.edu.cn

Issue Date: 05 March 2013

Cite this article:

Yaoru LIU,Zhu HE,Bo LI, et al. Slope stability analysis based on a multigrid method using a nonlinear 3D finite element model[J]. Front Struc Civil Eng, 2013, 7(1): 24-31.

URL:

https://academic.hep.com.cn/fsce/EN/10.1007/s11709-013-0190-1
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fsce/EN/Y2013/V7/I1/24

Fig.1 Typical block of slope

Fig.2 Deflection angle from intersecting line to surface shear force

Fig.3 Slip surface and structural mesh design

Fig.4 Area vector design

Fig.5 Diagram of elastic-plastic stress adjustment

Fig.6 High slope of Jinping arch dam

Fig.7 Calculation mesh

Fig.8 Key sliding block

Tab.1 Material parameters of left slope

Tab.2 Data and safety factor of block

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