Analysis of Earth-Rockfill Dam Slope Stability by Strength Reduction Method Based on Nonlinear Strength

Abstract

In the design process of the earth-rock dam, the slope stability problem was always focused on. The shear strength of rockfill in the earth-rock dam had strong nonlinear characteristics. The characteristic directly affected the factor of safety (FOS) of stability of dam slope and the determination of the critical slip surface. The shear strength parameter of rockfill was related to the minimum principal stress σ3 closely. And the value of σ3 had close relationship with the deformation characteristics of filling material and the process of dam filling etc. Strength reduction method has been widely used in solving the FOS of slope stability, and this method has the advantage on the searching of the critical slip surface. Combining the deformation and stress analysis of earth-rockfill dam filling process and the strength reduction method, this paper proposes a comprehensive method of dam slope stability analysis.