Numerical Modeling of Soil-Nailed Slope Using Drucker–Prager Model

Abstract

AbstractSoil nailing is an efficient in-situ ground improvement technique that is being used extensively in the field to stabilize the unstable artificial or natural soil slopes. In this paper, a parametric study is done by varying the soil nailing parameters, namely the length (L) and the inclination of soil nails (α), with respect to the horizontal for a steep soil slope (β = 40°). A finite element method-based program (Optum G2) has been used to analyze the soil slope using the shear strength reduction method. The Drucker–Prager failure criterion is considered in this study to model the soil slope. A soil slope of height (H) 6 m is considered, and the nail inclination (α) is varied from 0° to 50° in 10° intervals from the horizontal to get the best orientation of nail arrangement and study their effects on the performance of the overall slope based on the calculated factor of safety of the soil slope. Findings of the present study indicate that the length and the inclination of the soil nail are the major governing parameters to control the stability of the slope and based on above-mentioned outcomes, optimum length, and the orientation of soil nail are recommended and the transition of possible modes of failure of the slope are discussed for reinforced and unreinforced slope.KeywordsSlope stabilitySoil nailDrucker–Prager criterionStrength reductionFactor of safety