Abstract:

The location of three-dimensional critical slip surfaces of slopes is a very important problem that has not been thoroughly solved. Observing that any point on a critical slip surface is a local maximum point of the equivalent strain in vertical direction, the strength reduction technique is used to bring the slope into the critical state. Then, a set of vertical lines are arranged within a horizontal plane. Finding out the maximum point of the equivalent plastic strain on each of the vertical lines, a group of discrete points on the critical slip surface will be obtained. Last, the discrete points are smoothed by means of the thin-plate smoothing spline; and the position of the critical 3D slip surface is determined. The proposed procedure is confirmed through the applications of the convex slopes, a typical kind of 3D slopes.

Key words: slope stability, 3D critical slip surface, convex slope, thin-plate smoothing spline