A study to incorporate engineering probability techniques into deterministic slope stability methods

Abstract

It is very difficult to provide reasonable solutions with respect to the uncertainties of soil parameters in general slope stability analyses based on deterministic nature. In order to identify the effects of these uncertainties on searching a critical slip surface, probabilistic approaches should be employed in the rational engineering manner. In this study, the efforts to incorporate couples of engineering probabilistic techniques into existing deterministic slope stability analysis methods were conducted. Using UTEXAS 3, a slope stability analysis computer program developed by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (U.S. COE), this study provides the results of these probabilistic slope stability analyses in terms of probability of failure or reliability index. The effects of different deterministic methods and probabilistic methods on quantifying slope reliability are comprehensively investigated through the inspection of a proje ct embankement slope stability. Probabilistic methods for slope stability analysis appears to allow more comprehensive comparisons of slope reliability than does deterministic methods with safety factors alone.