Seismic Stability of the Slope Containing a Laterally Loaded Pile by Finite-Element Limit Analysis

Abstract

In this study, the seismic stability of a slope containing a laterally loaded pile under seismic conditions is evaluated by the finite-element limit analysis (FELA) approach. The seismic action is idealized as a horizontal seismic coefficient, ranging from 0 to 0.3, within the framework of the pseudo-static approach, and applied as an accelerogram of earthquakes to the numerical model in the seismic analysis. By means of the adaptive meshing technique, the finite-element method, and limit theorem of plasticity, the slope failure mechanism need not be presumed in advance. The feasibility of the FELA is validated by comparing the obtained factors of safety and critical sliding surfaces with those provided by published literature. Based on this, the effects of various factors (e.g., horizontal seismic coefficient, internal friction angle, cohesion, slope angle, slope height, and lateral load atop the pile) on the factor of safety and failure mechanism, with a normalized parameter (seismic-multiplier) is proposed. Furthermore, some detailed design tables and four representative slope failure patterns are presented to estimate the seismic stability of the slope containing a laterally loaded pile.