Mapping the 3D effect for slope stability analyses of quick clay slopes
Mapping the 3D effect for slope stability analyses of quick clay slopes
Industry quite often utilizes 2D limit equilibrium analyses to check the stability of sensitive and quick clay slopes. However, such analyses fail to capture the post peak reduction in undrained shear strength of these clays. In this work, finite element modelling with an appropriate constitutive model, capable of capturing strain softening, was used to compare 2D analyses against 3D analyses. Different slope widths were analysed, and results demonstrated that the width of the 3D model controls the width of the failure surface and thus also the factor of safety. The effect of strain softening was studied by means of simulations with and without strain softening. To emphasise the importance of considering spatially varying undrained shear strengths for strain softening clays, results from simulations with constant undrained shear strength were compared to ones with spatially varying undrained shear strengths. The analyses were used to develop a map for 3D effect factors for various kinds of idealized slopes with varying width, slope angle/height and undrained strength profiles.
S. S. Nagula; Laura Anne Rodvand; H. P. Jostad; S. A. Degago
18th European Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (ECSMGE2024)
B - Geohazards
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