Effects of Soil Properties Uncertainty on Reliability Index of Slope

Abstract

A probabilistic analysis procedure and related algorithms were based on the Monte Carlo simulation method that considers the variability of soil properties in this paper. A homogenous slope example provide insight into the effects of uncertainty due to the variability of soil properties on slope stability .Taking soil parameters cohesion c, friction angle, gravity γ as the basic random variables, the reliability index are calculated using Monte Carlo simulation method taking into account the uncertainties of these basic random variables. The calculated results are compared for four recognized methods of slope stability, which are Ordinary method, simplified Bishop method, simplified Janbu method and Morgenstern Price method. And the influence of soil parameters’ probability distribution model (i.e. the normal distribution and the log–normal distribution), variation coefficient, mean value, correlation between parameters on the reliability index of slope is discussed. The study shows that different soil properties have different influence degree on the reliability index with regard to the slope reliability analysis.