Sliding surface searching method for slopes containing a potential weak structural surface

• Main Authors: Aijun Yao, Zhizhou Tian, Yongjun Jin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2014-06-01
• Series: Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering
• Subjects: Weak structural surface; Potential sliding surface; Slope stability; Simplex-finite stochastic tracking method
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S167477551400033X

Weak structural surface is one of the key factors controlling the stability of slopes. The stability of rock slopes is in general concerned with set of discontinuities. However, in soft rocks, failure can occur along surfaces approaching to a circular failure surface. To better understand the position of potential sliding surface, a new method called simplex-finite stochastic tracking method is proposed. This method basically divides sliding surface into two parts: one is described by smooth curve obtained by random searching, the other one is polyline formed by the weak structural surface. Single or multiple sliding surfaces can be considered, and consequently several types of combined sliding surfaces can be simulated. The paper will adopt the arc-polyline to simulate potential sliding surface and analyze the searching process of sliding surface. Accordingly, software for slope stability analysis using this method was developed and applied in real cases. The results show that, using simplex-finite stochastic tracking method, it is possible to locate the position of a potential sliding surface in the slope.