Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Probabilistic Stability Analysis of the Bois Brule Levee Considering the Effect of Spatial Variability of Soil Properties Based on a New Discretization Model

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Indian Geotechnical Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The paper presents a computational procedure for reliability analysis of earth slopes for which the probabilistic critical slip surfaces have been determined considering spatial variability of soils. The effect of spatial variability has been taken into account based on a newly developed discretization model which is free from the shortcomings of the discretization models available in the literature and all these shortcomings are demonstrated numerically in this paper. The developed algorithm is based on the First Order Reliability Method coupled with the Spencer Method of Slices valid for limit equilibrium analysis of general slip surfaces. A case study of the Bois Brule Levee has been reanalyzed using the developed technique and several observations have been discussed. The result obtained in this study clearly shows that the proposed model is considerably more conservative than other available models.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Griffiths DV, Fenton GA (2004) Probabilistic slope stability analysis by finite elements. J Geotech Geoenv Eng 130(5):507–518

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Schweiger HF, Peschl GM (2005) Reliability analysis in geotechnics with the random set finite element method. Comput Geotech 32:422–435

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Griffiths DV, Huang J, Fenton GA (2009) Influence of spatial variability on slope reliability using 2-D random fields. J Geotech Geoenviron Eng 135(10):1367–1378

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Hicks MA, Spencer WA (2010) Influence of heterogeneity on the reliability and failure of a long 3D slope. Comput Geotech 37:948–955

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Le TMH (2014) Reliability of heterogeneous slopes with cross-correlated shear strength parameters. Georisk Assess Manage Risk Eng Syst Geohazards 8(4):250–257

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Jha SK (2015) Effect of spatial variability of soil properties on slope reliability using random finite element and first order second moment methods. Indian Geotech J 45(2):145–155

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Cho SE (2010) Probabilistic assessment of slope stability that considers the spatial variability of soil properties. J Geotech Geoenviron Eng 136(7):975–984

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Ji J, Liao HJ, Low BK (2012) Modeling 2-D spatial variation in slope reliability analysis using interpolated autocorrelations. Comput Geotech 40:135–146

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Li KS, Lumb P (1987) Probabilistic design of slopes. Can Geotech J 24:520–535

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. El-Ramly H, Morgenstern NR, Cruden DM (2002) Probabilistic slope stability analysis for practice. Can Geotech J 39:665–683

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Low BK (2003). Practical probabilistic slope stability analysis. In: Proceedings of the soil and rock America, 12th Panamerican conference on soil mechanics and geotechnical engineering and 39th US rock mechanics symposium. MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts

  12. Babu GLS, Mukesh MD (2004) Effect of soil variability on reliability of soil slopes. Geotechnique 54(5):335–337

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Cho SE (2007) Effects of spatial variability of soil properties on slope stability. Eng Geol 92:97–109

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Low BK, Lacasse S, Nadim F (2007) Slope reliability analysis accounting for spatial variation. Georisk Assess Manage Risk Eng Syst Geohazards 1(4):177–189

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Hong H, Roh G (2008) Reliability evaluation of earth slopes. J Geotech Geoenviron Eng 134(12):1700–1705

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Wang Y, Cao Z, Au SK (2011) Practical reliability analysis of slope stability by advanced Monte Carlo simulations in a spreadsheet. Can Geotech J 48(1):162–172

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Li L, Wang Y, Cao Z, Chu X (2013) Risk de-aggregation and system reliability analysis of slope stability using representative slip surfaces. Comput Geotech 53:95–105

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Spencer E (1973) The thrust line criterion in embankment stability analysis. Geotechnique 23(1):85–100

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Duncan JM, Wright SG (1980) The accuracy of equilibrium methods of slope stability analysis. Eng Geol 16(1–2):5–17

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Rao SS (2009) Engineering optimization: theory and practice, 4th edn. Wiley, New York, pp 422–428

    Book  Google Scholar 

  21. Schittkowski K (1980) Nonlinear programming codes: information, tests, performance. Lecture notes in economics and mathematical systems, vol 183. Springer, New York

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  22. Haldar A, Mahadevan S (2000) Probability reliability and statistical methods in engineering design. Wiley, New York, pp 195–219

    Google Scholar 

  23. Hasofer AM, Lind NC (1974) A extract and invariant first order reliability format. J Eng Mech ASCE 100(EM-1):111–121

    Google Scholar 

  24. Low BK, Tang WH (2004) Reliability analysis using object-oriented constrained optimization. Struct Safety 26(1):69–89

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Huang J, Griffiths DV (2011) Observations on FORM in a simple geomechanics example. Struct Saf 33:115–119

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Bhattacharya G, Jana D, Ojha S, Chakraborty S (2003) Direct search for minimum reliability index of earth slopes. Comput Geotech 30(6):455–462

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Greco VR (1996) Efficient monte carlo technique for locating critical slip surface. J Geotech Eng Div ASCE 117(10):517–525

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Metya S, Bhattacharya G (2014) Probabilistic critical slip surface for earth slopes based on the first order reliability method. Indian Geotech J 44(3):329–340

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Vanmarcke EH (1977) Probabilistic modeling of soil profiles. J Geotech Eng Div ASCE 103(11):1227–1246

    Google Scholar 

  30. Donald IB, Giam PSK (1999) Soil slope stability programs review. Association for Computer Aided Design, Melbourne

    Google Scholar 

  31. Hassan AH, Wolff TF (1999) Search algorithm for minimum reliability index of earth slopes. J Geotech Eng Div ASCE 125(4):301–308

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Wolff TF, Hassan A, Khan R, Ur-Rasul I, Miller M (1995) Geotechnical reliability of dam and levee embankments, Technical report prepared for U.S. Army Engineer Waterways Experiment Station—Geotechnical Laboratory, Vicksburg, Miss

Download references

Acknowledgments

This research has been supported by the AORC Scheme of the INSPIRE Program of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Govt. of India and the first author is employed as a INSPIRE Fellow with DST support. This support is gratefully acknowledged.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology, Shibpur, Howrah, 711103, India

    Subhadeep Metya & Gautam Bhattacharya

Authors
  1. Subhadeep Metya
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Gautam Bhattacharya
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gautam Bhattacharya.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Metya, S., Bhattacharya, G. Probabilistic Stability Analysis of the Bois Brule Levee Considering the Effect of Spatial Variability of Soil Properties Based on a New Discretization Model. Indian Geotech J 46, 152–163 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40098-015-0163-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40098-015-0163-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation