Abstract
This study presents rigorous lower and upper bounds on the dimensionless stability number for unsupported circular and square excavations made in Mohr-Coulomb soils with high levels of friction angles. The bounds bracket the true stability numbers to within a few per cent for circular excavation and are obtained using recently developed 3D numerical limit analysis techniques. The results, obtained for Mohr-Coulomb soils, are given in the form of dimensionless stability charts for different height to radius (half width) ratios of the excavation and different values of soil friction angle. Finally, an expression that approximates the dimensionless stability numbers for unsupported circular and square excavations has been devised for the use by practicing engineers.
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