A Novel Global Stress Method for the Limit-Equilibrium Analysis of Slope Stability Considering Stress Constraint Conditions at Ends

Abstract

Slope stability analysis is an important research hotspot in geotechnical engineering. For a slope under general conditions, the tension stress zone (TSZ) is located at the rear edge and the shear stress elevated zone (SSEZ) is near the slope toe. The aforementioned phenomena influence the stresses of the slip surface (SOSS), which in turn affect the slope stability and make the slope instability present a progressive failure (PF) process. However, traditional limit-equilibrium (LE) methods constructed their calculation models based on slice division, which makes the tension–shear and PF mechanisms less or more difficult to be revealed. Thus, a novel global stress method for slope stability is here established in the framework of the LE theory. In the present method, the slope sliding body is regarded as a whole and the calculation uncertainty is placed on SOSS, the distribution of which is described by functions with some dimensionless variables. From these functions on SOSS, the slope PF pattern can be deduced. Meanwhile, stress constraint conditions (SCCs) at both ends of the sliding body are applied to intuitively demonstrate TSZ and SSEZ. Then, the slope LE state is solved with additional mechanical equilibrium conditions of the sliding body, and the global slope factor of safety is further obtained. After comparison and analysis of homogeneous and heterogeneous slope examples, the rationality and feasibility of the proposed method are verified. Furthermore, the influence on SOSS from TSZ and SSEZ is studied, and the slope PF characteristics are analyzed.