Prediction and classification for finite element slope stability analysis by random field comparison

Abstract

This paper considers probabilistic slope stability analysis using the Random Finite Element Method (RFEM) combined with processes to determine the level of similarity between random fields. A procedure is introduced to predict the Factor of Safety (FoS) of individual Monte Carlo Method (MCM) random field instances prior to finite element simulation, based on random field similarity measures. Previous studies of probabilistic slope stability analysis have required numerous MCM instances to reach FoS convergence. However, the methods provided in this research drastically reduce computational processing time, allowing simulations previously considered too computationally expensive for MCM analysis to be simulated without obstacle. In addition to computational efficiency, the comparison based procedure is combined with cluster analysis methods to locate random field characteristics contributing to slope failure. Comparison measures are presented for slope geometries of an Australian open pit mine to consider the impacts of associated factors such as groundwater on random field similarity predictors, while highlighting the capacity of the similarity procedure for prediction, classification and computational efficiency.