Seismic stability for reinforced 3D slope in unsaturated soils with pseudo-dynamic approach

Abstract

Within the framework of limit analysis, the seismic stability of reinforced 3D slope in unsaturated soils is investigated, and the effects of nonhomogeneous and anisotropic soils are considered. In geotechnical engineering, reinforcement is commonly used to improve slope stability. Due to complex geological processes, soils are nonhomogeneous and anisotropic. Because of matric suction, the unsaturated property is considered in engineering. Using the analytical approach, a set of formula is proposed, which can evaluate the seismic stability of reinforced 3D slope in unsaturated soils. This work uses a pseudo-dynamic approach to consider the earthquake action, solves the work rates at two levels of time and space, and finally adopts a layer-wise summation means to get the outcomes done by seismic force. According to the energy balance relationship, analytical expressions are obtained in this study for the required reinforcement strength. The sensitivity analysis is conducted on some parameters, such as reinforcement distribution patterns, slope angle and so on. For three different patterns, the downwardly triangular distribution (DTD) pattern gets the best results, the upwardly triangular distribution (UTD) pattern obtains the worst outcomes, and the uniformly distribution (UD) pattern is between the UTD and DTD pattern.