Stability Analysis of Slope Considering the Energy Evolution of Locked Segment

Researches on the energy evolution of the key blocks is helpful to reveal the failure process of locked-segment type slope, whose stability is governed by the locked segment along the potential slip surface. In order to study the failure mechanism of the locked segment in the process of slope progressive failure due to strength attenuation, a series of stability analysis on the numerical models of locked-segment type slope were implemented to record the relationship curve between energy and strength reduction coefficient. Then, according to the variation law and characteristic of energy evolution, the failure process of the locked segment was divided into four stages: elastic stage, initial damage stage, extensive damage stage and failure stage. And the reduction coefficient corresponding to the peak of the energy evolution curve was employed to achieve landslide warning. In addition, the method to determine the safety factor of locked-segment type slope was given, and its reliability was verified by comparing with other traditional methods. Finally, the formula for calculating the initial sliding velocity was presented based on the residual strain energy which is defined as the elastic strain energy of the locked segment when the slope is unstable.