Abstract
Geological materials have randomness in nature. Statistical analysis can help revealing the variation pattern of the material parameters and the reliability of the slope. In this paper, the probability distribution and variability of shear strength parameters of typical Q2 and Q3 loess in Northwest China were statistically analysed using the collected geological survey data in Yan`an, Shaanxi Province. Resulting probability properties were applied to the reliability analysis for the natural and fill slope in loess area using the Monte Carlo Method. Finally, an optimization analysis was carried out for the fill slope in the background engineering project. Research results show that normal distribution and lognormal distribution can be used to describe the statistical properties of c and φ of Q2 and Q3 loess. Variance of c is large while the variability of φ is relatively small. The influence of the variability of φ on the reliability index of loess natural slope is generally larger than that of c. On the contrary, influence of the variability of c on the reliability index of the fill slope is generally greater than that of φ, which is related to the structural and uniformity of the soil. Finally, relation between slope height and minimum gradient coefficient is linear when the failure probability of fill slope is less than 10%. Results in this study can be used as a reference for the slope design and construction for the cut and fill engineering in loess area.
Highlights
In the design and construction of slope engineering, shear strength parameters are the most important aspects affecting the engineering quality
Reliability analysis is the method to estimate the uncertainty of the slope failure, which takes the randomness and variability of input variables into consideration, and the calculated failure probability or reliability index is more reasonable than a single safety factor resulting from a stability analysis
In the reliability analysis of slope, probability distribution models for the strength parameters of soils directly affect the calculation results [2]. erefore, appropriate probability distribution models and accurate distribution parameters are key to the accuracy of the analysis results
Summary
In the design and construction of slope engineering, shear strength parameters are the most important aspects affecting the engineering quality. In the reliability analysis of slope, probability distribution models for the strength parameters of soils directly affect the calculation results [2]. E distribution probability model and variability of soil strength parameters have great influence on the calculation results of reliability [2]. To study the probability distribution and variability of shear strength parameters of typical Q2 and Q3 loess in Northwest China, geological survey data were collected and statistically analysed from two cut and fill engineering project in Yanan, Shaanxi Province, and LvLiang, Shanxi Province of China (Figure 1). Resulting probability properties were applied to the reliability analysis for the natural and fill slope in loess area using the Monte Carlo Method. Results in this study can be used as a reference for the slope design and construction for similar cut and fill engineering in loess area
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