Limit Analysis for 3D Stability of Unsaturated Inhomogeneous Slopes Reinforced with Piles

Abstract

Achieving slope stabilization by placing anti-slide piles has become an effective slope-reinforcement technique in geotechnical engineering. Based on the limit analysis method, this study investigated the 3D stability of unsaturated inhomogeneous piled slopes, incorporating three failure patterns: toe-failure, face-failure, and base-failure. The suction and effective unit weight profile under different effective saturation were considered and the soil cohesion was assumed as varied linearly with depth. A theoretical analysis of the lateral force acting on a row of rigid anti-slide piles with the same spacing in a row through plastically deforming soils is described while considering the soil suction and inhomogeneity. In addition, a new formula was developed to calculate the lateral forces provided by a row of piles. The genetic algorithm (GA) was used to obtain the minimum value of the factor of safety FS and the corresponding critical slip surface. The results of the study were compared with those of the existing literature to verify the feasibility of the proposed approach. In addition, the influences of key parameters on FS of 3D piled slopes were investigated by parametric analysis. The numerical results indicate that piled slope stability will be underestimated when the 3D effects and suction are not considered, and soil inhomogeneity has a negative impact on piled slope stability. It was also found that the probability for the occurrence of face-failure increases with increasing inhomogeneity and decreasing suction-induced effect, and the occurrence of face-failure significantly reduces the pile reinforcement effect. In addition, when the anti-piles are located at the slope toe, the base-failure mechanism yields the critical values of FS in most cases. This study can provide several reasonable suggestions for engineering applications and a theoretical basis for further studies on the stability of slopes reinforced with piles.