Rankine Theory-Based Approach for Stability Analysis of Slurry Trenches

Abstract

Stability of slurry trenches during excavation is a major concern in design and construction. This paper presents an approach for stability analysis of slurry trenches based on Rankine’s theory of earth pressure. The proposed approach is verified via analysis of previously reported problems and is applied to a scenario with a nearby slope. The proposed approach gives the same factor of safety as that found by Coulomb force equilibrium methods. Scenarios with soil stratification and variably distributed surcharges can be analyzed by hand calculation when the proposed approach is used. The investigation also indicates that slurry trench stability is sensitive to surcharges from nearby slopes and that they require particular attention in design.